Desperate thyroid issues

[WREN81]

Hi I'm new here and would appreciate others thoughts and advice

I have a maternal history of every aunty, my my mum and grandmother hypothyroidism as well as myself and my daughter having been born with auto immune diseases that affect our bowels in particular quite seriously

I've been feeling ill with a new list if symptoms on top of my usual medical stuff so tired, loosing nearly all of my underarm and eyebrow hair, such dry skin, hoarse voice, muscle cramps, loss of appetite and seriously frustratingly not being able to think straight to make but a few!

It's been an 18 month fight with the GPS to get them to listen I still having seen an endo I got a call from the GPS to say I had to make an appointment this week to see a gp to discuss my blood results the receptionist was very vague about the results but did say my b12 was really low as well as iron and when pushed to say she said my tsh was 0.81 but she couldn't go into any more of the results

I have to be honest I got desperate last month to feel a little more normal I took some levothyroxine and after about three week I did start to feel a difference in my concentration levels sleep habits and appetite as well as my throat feeling less constricted I'd stopped the meds about 3_4wks before this blood test

I suppose I'm asking how do I get past the go to see the endo and what do people make of these results all be it vague?

Thank you for taking to time to read a maybe respond I'm pulling my hair out (the parts that aren't falling out of their own accord )

Love and light

[HughH]

Your family history of thyroid and autoimmune issues points to a genetic condition known as Impaired Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormone, sometimes called Thyroid Hormone Resistance. It causes hypothyroid symptoms and requires very high Free T3 levels (often above the top of the normal range) in the body to overcome the resistance.

It causes low stomach acid, resulting in poor absorption of minerals and B12.

[shaws Administrator]

Request from your doctor a Full Thyroid Function Test. Blood draw has to be at the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water). If you were taking thyroid hormone replacements you'd allow a 24 hour gap between dose and test and take afterwards.

Request a Full Thyroid Function Test - especially as it's already a family trait.

You need TSH, T3, T4, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. if doctor wont do all of these we have private labs that do home pin-prick tests and make sure you are well hydrated a couple of days before blood draw.

You also need B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be optimum too.

Get a print-out of the results with the ranges and put on a new post for comments.

T4 (levothyroxine) is an inactive hormone and has to convert to T3 (liothyronine) and it is T3 which is required in all of our millions T3 receptor cells for us to feel well and for our metabolism to work normally.

[WREN81 in reply to shaws]

Yes I named a few symptoms but I could go on and on it's affected everything!

I'm presuming this is the blood test I have now had via the gp I'll find out when I see him on the 28th and post further to see what you think thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies. You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

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

You will need to wait at least 6-8 weeks to test after taking ANY Levothyroxine,Otherwise results will be skewed

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you did the test?

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges

Anything not tested by GP, Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[WREN81 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you I'm presuming so I know the receptionist mentioned very low b12 folate but skirted over the rest saying I needed to speak to the Dr I didn't realise I could insist on a print out if I don't get this before I'll certainly do so when I see the gp on the 28th

My blood test was done in the afternoon unfortunately why are the gp's are acting like angry doorman as far as referring to the endo's what is behind this way of thinking? Again thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to WREN81]

Definitely get copies of test results BEFORE seeing GP

Come back with results on new Post and ask advice on here before seeing GP if possible

Low B12 and folate can be DUE to low thyroid or a problem in its own right

If you have previously had such low iron that you needed infusion, GP should be looking for cause

Low ferritin/iron common with hypothyroid

Ask for coeliac blood test too

[Tnhundley]

B12 deficiency is very serious and caused most of my issues, though I mistakenly blamed them all on my thyroid.

You may have Pernicois Anemia, an inability to absorb B12 through your stomach. But even so, you need B12 shots with low levels, supplements will not be sufficient to bring your levels up fast enough.

See if these seem familiar.

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

[WREN81 in reply to Tnhundley]

Thank you so much both me and my daughter tick a ridiculous amount of those signs and symptoms I'm going to order a test for both of us privately either way thyroid this or both this may be our halleiulgh breakthrough not that I'd want this but to live with it all without the correct meds is awful

[Tnhundley in reply to WREN81]

If you are supplementing any form of B vitamins your levels won’t be accurate- go on symptoms, not levels, if your levels seem high!

[WREN81 in reply to Tnhundley]

Ok

Majority of the symptoms are there and theyd said my b12 was extremely low whatever that means just waiting on my print out being ready and the drs app

[WREN81]

I certainly won't be now I know this I'm at the end of my tether with these symptoms they're affecting my family work life so much

[WREN81]

I'm sorry to hear this I know I have had severe anaemia in the past once enough to require a transfusion

[WREN81]

I see so I'm assuming I have been anaemic it's not that I'm bring lapse I have many medical issues and surgeries procedures and sometimes I loose track