I need a rant but also any help you can give.

[josiebloggs]

What I believe to be thyroid issues go untreated yet again - the blood tests 'prove' I don't have a problem with my thyroid (thanks GP). I'm beginning to feel like a hypochondriac but thankfully I'm not being treated like one (yet). I'm pretty sure that's because I've had cancer twice so they don't want to tip me over the edge! So what's happened now? Hives - and what comes up when you look into the possible causes of hives? Hashimoto's, the very problem I've been trying to get a diagnosis for! The left side of my neck is swollen as is the area above the left clavicle and now I have hives down my left side.

I'm post menopausal, post cancer treatment and have a growing list of 'problems' that are all medicated separately.

Amytriptaline - post treatment nerve problems

Asthma and eczema - various lotions and potions. Also blepharitis and rosacea

Those conditions aren't related to my thyroid I don't think so anyway. In addition I have;

Tinnitus

Omeprazole - GERD

Statins being pushed - cholesterol of 12.4

Medication for constipation

High blood pressure - medicated

And the latest, ranitidine (300mg) and cetirizine for hives. Just looking at the info leaflet for ranitidine and it doesn't fill me with confidence. It's not a PPI but it does affect stomach acid production and if, as I now think, my gut problems are low stomach acid not high then this isn't going to help.

Anyone have any experience of taking PPI's and ranitidine? Any other info/advice would be good. Thanks x

[Nanaedake]

What reason did the doctor give for swollen neck and have you had an ultrasound on your neck? Did you get a result for Thyroglobulin antibodies?

[josiebloggs in reply to Nanaedake]

Hi and thanks for your reply. My swollen neck is apparently 'not that bad'. Previous test results are

Test results April 2018 - TSH 1.3(0.2-4.5) FT4 13(9-21) B12 755(180-2000) Folate 16.8(2.8-20) Vit D 92(25-162)

Test results July 2018 - Total T3 1.5(0.9-2.4) FT3 3.4(2.5-4.9) Anti Thyroid Peroxidase 41.8(0-100)

I haven't had the whole range of tests done at once, just bit by bit. I stopped all my supplements in May after getting the cholesterol result and looking further into possible causes (which led me here). I'm going to have the whole range of thyroid and vitamin tests done privately in October - I'm hoping that if my supplements were masking anything this should then become obvious.

I think, as others have found, if it doesn't show in the blood tests then it isn't a problem!

My alternative is to push for a scan on my neck - I could tell my gp I'm worried it's cancer related and then she'll refer me. I shouldn't have to do that though and I'm not sure if a scan would be helpful in identifying a thyroid issue.

[Nanaedake in reply to josiebloggs]

A scan may reveal cysts on your thyroid which may confirm thyroid disease. TgAb (Thyroglobulin Antibodies) indicates raised antibodies although this can be present due to other conditions including cancers. Worth discussing with GP.

[josiebloggs in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks for taking the time to help. I think I'm going to push for a scan and blood tests but if not, get a full range of blood tests done asap.

[humanbean]

I've taken both PPIs and ranitidine, but not at the same time. I wish that I'd understood about low/high stomach acid before I ever began the PPIs. I've had gut problems since my teens and that was many decades ago. I no longer take the PPIs, but I do take ranitidine. The reason for taking it now is because I have to take an NSAID for pain, twice a day, every day, and NSAIDs cause erosion of the stomach lining unless you protect it with an acid reducer or blocker.

I have researched on the subject of low stomach acid and how to deal with it. If I could come off the NSAID I would do everything I could to come off the ranitidine, if at all possible.

It is worth reading up on the subject of low/high stomach acid because it makes managing the problem to our best advantage easier if we understand it. I've found the following links to be very helpful.

scdlifestyle.com/2012/06/hy...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/ho...

scdlifestyle.com/2013/10/4-...

For an in-depth explanation of how low stomach acid arises in many people (although it doesn't cover thyroid as a cause, the mechanism of how low stomach acid causes indigestion and heartburn still applies to us) :

chriskresser.com/what-every...

chriskresser.com/the-hidden...

chriskresser.com/more-evide...

chriskresser.com/how-your-a...

chriskresser.com/how-your-a...

chriskresser.com/get-rid-of...

[josiebloggs in reply to humanbean]

Thank you. My plan is to come off the PPI but it's very difficult. I'm wondering if I could take the ranitidine but stop the omeprazole. Then it might be easier to stop the ranitidine. I've been taking it for 4 years now and despite trying to stop several times I haven't yet succeeded.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low stomach acid can often be misdiagnosed as high stomach acid

Very similar symptoms, very different treatment

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

pulsetoday.co.uk/clinical/m...

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

You need TG antibodies tested. NHS won't test TG antibodies if TPO are not over range

healthline.com/health/antit...

If supplementing vitamin D, look at importance of magnesium as well especially if been on PPI

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

healthy-holistic-living.com...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...


betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

easy-immune-health.com/magn...

Strictly gluten free diet often helps improve poor gut function

[josiebloggs in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for taking the time to help. I'm going to get the full range of blood tests privately asap I think. I'm assuming that something must be going on if I now have hives. My body's struggling with something it doesn't like - I look a right mess!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to josiebloggs]

Yes full testing is first step

Getting vitamins optimal, thyroid levels correct and often strictly gluten free diet, especially if you have high thyroid antibodies (Hashimoto's)

Hives and Hashimoto's are often linked

hypothyroidmom.com/chronic-...

verywellhealth.com/thyroid-...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Links about gluten and Hashimoto's

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

[Anne-Elise]

Taking Amytriptaline made my tinnitus worse and it is still terrible months after I stopped taking it.

[josiebloggs in reply to Anne-Elise]

Thank you, I didn't realise that was one of the possible side effects! I'm pretty sure my tinnitus started before I was prescribed these meds but it could still be having an effect I guess. I feel like stopping everything and starting again but even that could cause problems