Terribly sorry to bother anyone. Long story short. Totally hypo and getting dryer and more "cuddly" by the actual minite. Been messed around by gps for 10 years , finally got to see an endocrinologist last week. (Could not contain my excitement )
Came away with him saying I have a goitre (after years of me insisting people and gps touch my neck because it's messed up I can bloody feel it's not right,) hahaha. I was right hmmmmmmmmm? .
Anyway I don't know if he was annoyed at me for snorting in his face at his feeble attempt at slagging off T3, or if he was serious , but he said the reason I'm hypo (he thinks) is because I'm on tramadol and lyrica?. And he wants me weaned off?!!!!. WTF?.
I did mention that the reason I down opiates is because of the pain I'm in , I know tramadol is evil and blablabla.
But it is genuinely the only thing that has eased the pain I'm in.
I just stared at the ground for the rest of the appointment and he mentioned an MRI.
I'm confused.
I was really really hopeful that he wasn't an idiot. :'(.
Don't suppose anyone has any ideas about what to do?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
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Do you have any recent blood test results and ranges to add, so members can advise?
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need enhanced access to see blood results.
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up. They can no longer charge for printing out, rules changed after May 25th 2018
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have high thyroid antibodies
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after test. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
Is this how you do your tests?
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's.
Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Your pain could be due to low nutrient levels, in particular vitamin D which is common in people with thyroid conditions. Take Slowdragon's advice and get vitamins tested and post thyroid results along with vitamin results. Remember to include the laboratory ranges which we need to interpret results.
What is the Endo looking to diagnose or exclude with the MRI?
Not agreeing with endoknob…. Not not not but about Lyrica … among the many many awful symptoms it caused for my husband he got a TSH of 9 and through the floor ft3 and 4. Since stopping Lyrica he has gradually become himself again after nearly 4 nightmare years. Euythroid on no meds. May cause hypothyroidism is actually in the known side effects included in the box. Thought I'd say. 😏
Thank you so much for your replies. I'll try to get on later with results etc. I've got dyscalculia so it's really confusing and slow for me with figures.
I was a high dose tramadol user , I also took pregabalin/ gabapentin / Duloxetaine and lots and lots of codeine.
I still believe I have thyroid issues but my numbers are just the right side of normal and the Gp would never do any more tests.
However coming off of all my medications apart from 1 30 mg tab of Duloxetaine has made the world of difference to my health and mental wellness.
Do it, come off the meds, do it slowly and one drug at a time with medical supervision. You will have pain yes, but you will get your life back and learn to manage pain with other methods.
Yes I agree get the vitamin levels checked, especially D the B group magnesium etc. Improve your gut health that will also help.
These meds are dangerous long term and eventually you will feel better.
You will have pain yes, but you will get your life back and learn to manage pain with other methods.
What other methods do you suggest for people coming off pain killers? Getting people to come off painkillers without any plan on how to cope with it just sounds like a recipe for making people suffer.
I said with medical supervision, long term use of them Ian medication is not good for the brain or gut, tramadol also acts as an ssri and combined with other similar meds can cause serotonin syndrome.I have Fibromyalgia, sacroiliac joint disorder, joint hyper mobility syndrome and knees that need replacing. I know about pain management and you can do it with out strong opiates and psychotropic drugs - or those than mess with electrical activity in your brain. Good nutrition good gut health and support from a medical person is absolutely necessary to do this. Always put a plan in place ensure your support network is there - that is just common sense
I’m with you Mrsbear0512! I can’t tell you how many people that I know who have followed the exact advice you’ve given for almost the exact same medicines and have found their health greatly improved. I didn’t know Lyrica could cause hypo thyroid conditions but I don’t doubt it. Recently in consumer reports it was mentioned that if you’re taking more than one drug don’t think 1+1+1 , etc. but especially in older people above 50 think 3×3×3 . The report mentioned that none of the studies or very few of them have been done with medicines in combination with other medicines and that it’s largely a wild experiment and each individual. I know from experience that there are other ways to manage pain and that long-term use of painkillers is no way to live.
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