Hi all, any advice would be very much appreciated. About a month ago I woke up one day to find my face and body had swollen up quite dramatically. I thought initially it was an allergy reaction but after 4 days I had gained 7kg. I went to the doctor and had bloods as I've had thyroid issues for years (usually hyperthyroid). Bloods showed I had gone from hyper to suddenly very hypo-thyroid. He said the weight gain was most likely edema and that I need one more set of bloods before starting t4. I've been on and off t3 all of my life as my levels vary a lot. I've never had this kind of reaction though and it's been almost a month and the swelling is still not judging. I'm very worried that perhaps this is fat gain and I'm going to have to cope with the extra weight. It's making me really depressed and reclusive as I'm also recovering from anorexia. I hate my body and feeling so crap and tired all of the time. Any advice and opinions on what is going on would be very much appreciated!
Many thanks!
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immi94
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I have been swinging between hypo and hyper for years and years but i went through a phase of self medicating to try and manipulate my weight. I was severely anorexic for 10 years. Have been in recovery for a year and a half. Him was 17-18 before this massive gain. should also note I've had 2 thyroid storms in the past and a mass on my thyroid was found as a child also.
Did you have any thyroid antibody tests for you thyroid? Eating disorders can definitely aggravate thyroid disorders and vice Versa!
Do you see a specialist about your anorexia recovery? It's very common to have rebound weight gain , just for a period of time, while the body readjusts. During that time you'll experience bloating and water retention as your body fights to hold on to food. Your metabolic rate will be turned down to preserve and try to keep you alive.
I think it's a good idea your doctor is going the watch and wait approach for a short while. In the meantime make sure your me eating breakfast , get that metabolism fired up early.
Has the mass gone or can your doctor still feel it ?
It's water-weight. You can't put on fat that fast. It's not possible.
I see you've added your results above, but no ranges. I'm afraid results are meaningless without ranges because they vary from lab to lab. So, if you could add them, that would help.
Anorexics often end up hypo, but it does sound as if you could have Hashi's, too. So, you really need your antibodies tested.
Thanks all its just messing with my head as I feel so huge and physically shitty! I'll have a look for the ranges!! The doctor didn't say anything about the lump. Tbh my gp is a bit shit. They literally blame everything on the ED. I've been under specialist ed treatment on and off for years and was put on a section multiple times during the time I had the thyroid storm and had a study dine on me whilst seeing endo. I got to a very low bmi and they discharged me from all help to try and push me into.recovery- which I did. Im a stubborn arse and though "I'll show you!". But obviously there have been multiple repercussions which no I'm not sure how to cope with!!
Trust your GP too. He wants to help you. Just remember the people advising you in here are also sick patients with various long term health problems, who will love to tell you that you also have the same problems. None of them are medically trained.
And we still know more about our thyroid than most GPs will ever know! In fact, our accumulated knowledge here is probably better than any endo too, so don't be so quick to dismiss us! Most doctors have just a very boring 1 hour lecture on the thyroid during their 5 years of medical training... we have years and years' worth of direct experience, not only of the condition itself, but also of the utter ignorance displayed by most GPs and endos!
i just pointed out most on here are diagnosed with a long term chronic health condition themselves. Still doesnt make you qualified.
You can't tell patients to ignore their "stupid doctors" when you don't even know if they have been ignorant or not. And "most doctors" doesn't mean all. Some doctors also have way more experience and knowledge about it than you'll ever have. Some are endos themselves.
Just stating facts. I've got to go back to work now so I can't reply further.
in reply to
When you say direct experience ? What do you mean? Are you medically trained? Do know the patients whole medical background?
I am not medically trained just like most of us here, but I have lived with this condition for the best part of 20 years and I think that affords me a degree of expertise on 'living with it'...
Most GPs don't seem very qualified either. All they've done is read textbooks that are available to anyone and gone to a few lectures (and got drunk a lot if they are anything like the medics I was at uni with). They learn how to look up diseases on a computer and pick a drug. It's a red letter day if a doctor even looks at you instead of the keyboard, let alone palpates something.
But you don't know if this particular patients doctor is like that. There's no evidence suggesting that. Or on a lot of other posts for that matter.
Some, are clearly ignorant.
If you hate doctors so much, don't go to see them. Most people on here are sick and frustrated with their disease and blame their gp that they aren't feeling better. Hashimotos can be tough mentally.
I don't agree with encouraging young patients to join in on your gp bashing campaign. It's very dangerous! For all you know they could have other significant medical problems that YOU don't know of, contributing problems etc. And there you are telling them what to do not knowing the full story.
I'm sorry you've had rubbish doctors. Most (including me) have very kind sympathetic caring doctors who get them feeling well.
I don't think sitting at a computer all day long is healthy for anyone ?
If you hate your gp so much, don't go to them. Simple as that really.
You've all had a rough ride. That's why you're on here. But plenty of people have hashimotos and are living brilliant healthy lives ! Not sat behind a computer trying to drag everyone down with them!
Instead of wanting to start an internet war I joined this forum for people that have had similar experiences to ask their opinions. I have a brain, I'm not stupid and actually yes my doctor is shite. That's fantastic yours is great but mine is not hence why I am reaching out. The only person bringing people down here seems to be you.
Immi, are you taking any other tablets? I was put on Felodipine for a while and with in a short space of time like you I was full of water. Face, hands, thighs etc. Much better since I stopped it but still take two different diuretics a day just to see my toes.
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in reply to
Really!! well after 20 years of suffering because of GPS endocrinologist and one in particular that had me in a coma I definitely don't agree with that comment.
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