Hi all. Following a horrible week of symptoms I've finally decided to take charge of my own health and have further tests done. I have benefitted massively from advice here so thanks to everyone who has so far responded to my posts. It truly is comforting to know you're not alone, not going mad and it's not all in your head.
My worst symptoms currently are epigastric pain (used to be occasional but recently daily since a month ago), nausea, chest pain, cold hands and feet, leg/arm pains/weakness, stabbing pains lower legs, fast heart rate when walking, hair loss, nightmares/sleep issues and some numbness in toes.
I've decided to order MMA, homocysteine and IFA. Also considering TPO and TGAb as I'm confused about recent thyroid function results from Medichecks.
I have a question regarding the above mentioned tests. Will any medication I am currently taking affect any of the above tests to the point that it would be a waste of time to have them done? List of meds is HRT (3 years), Omeprazole (almost 3 weeks), low dose 75mg aspirin per day, Bisoprolol beta-blocker, Ramipril ACE inhibitor, Pravastatin and Amitriptyline.
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pj16
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The very fact that you need to take all those medications would indicate that you do have a thyroid problem. High cholesterol (statins), low stomach acid (omeprazole), heart problems/high blood pressure (beta blockers), depression (Amitriptyline) are all hypothyroid symptoms. So, I would say that getting further testing done is essential. You shouldn't need to take all those drugs.
Thanks greygoose. That's exactly what I've been thinking. Cardiologist put me on most of those medications after he discovered (CT Angiogram) that I had moderate artery disease. I'm beginning to think that I might not need to be on some of the medications. My overall cholesterol level before medication was about 5.5 but my triglycerides were low and HDL cholesterol very good. My blood pressure has never been high, in fact if anything it's usually on the low side. He assured me I would benefit from the statin. My GP has me trying Omeprazole for stomach pain but I've been taking it for 2 weeks and it hasn't made a difference. I take Amitriptyline for vulvodynia. The only medication I might need is Bisoprolol as my heart rate is very high when I go walking. Having said all that I am becoming more and more convinced that ALL of my symptoms could actually be due to a deficiency in one thing and/or another. I can't deny the moderate artery disease but I don't think it's the reason for any/all of my health issues.
Cholesterol will be slightly raised - or very raised - if your FT3 is low. It's not a problem and no way do you need a statin! I could go on at length about that, but I'll spare you my lecture. lol
Omeprazole is a terrible thing to take and will probably do more harm than good. It should only be taken for short periods, anyway. Your stomach acid is more likely to be low than high.
I would be very wary of taking an antidepressant for a problem like vulvodynia, because it sounds as if your doctor thinks 'it's all in your head'!
Yeah. Vulvodynia sounds like a fungus infection or low oestrogen. I fail to see how an anti-depressant is going to help that. Mine cleared up within days of starting bioidentical HRT - I had vagifem pessaries as well as the rest of the HRT to start with specifically to help this. Have you had your sex hormones tested?
I agree ppis like omeprazole are only supposed to be prescribed for a short time, like 6 weeks but folk seem to be on them for years. Stomach acid has a real purpose. I had a bit of Barretts, erosion caused by reflux. For me, the culprit appears to be lactose. I used Andrews salts for reflux, did the trick for me. Since going lactose free, no more symptoms. I refused omeprazole btw. I had tried it in the past. Upset my stomach, specifically gave me the squirts.
Really? Gave me constipation! All the years I've been hypo, and never had constipation - even when taking iron tablets - until they put me on a PPI drip in hospital! Taken me five years to sort things out again. Ghastly things!
I think there are special requirements for the above mentioned tests, and the PA Society people would know what they are. I'm not knowledgeable on what those requirements are, but I think one of those tests needs blood to be taken in a hospital so that the blood can be put on ice and taken directly to the lab for testing.
Very good points you've all raised. So until I decide to maybe wean myself off some medication is it worth having extra tests done? I don't want to waste the money if current medication would affect test results.
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
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. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
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 and/or dairy. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
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Ask doctor for further tests for my daughter?
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Please can you help with confusing test results?
