Are these symptoms of thyroid conditions?

[Yoshi12]

Good afternoon,

Sorry to bother you all, was looking for some advise, I have come from the PAS community. Wondered if these symptoms could be thyroid symptoms. I am under investigation at present.

Shortness of breath on exertion (stairs, washing etc)

Increased heart rate on exertion up to 125bpm on one flight of stairs, up a block of flats 145bpm

Palpitations with ectopic beats (PVCs) after exertion. (witnessed on ECG)

Feel rubbish standing too long and increases heart rate to 112 bpm

Fatigue

General weakness, (unable to rip open packets)

No energy

Poor sleep (difficulty getting to sleep some nights but also waking in the night for urinating, more than once, napping in the day also).

Muscle twitches

Back pains and legs ache and restless

Very irritable

Pins and needles sensation to left hand

Had some chest pains previously but not as severe now, was worse when I was more active.

Poor balance

I do suffer headaches and migraines (migraines worsened in amount last year)

Alcohol intolerance

Feel car lights at night are too bright

Some blurred vision

Tinnitus

When I place my head on a pillow with ear downwards can hear whooshing noises and heart beat on both ears.

Shakiness feeling to upper limbs.

Swollen fingers waking up and eases throughout the day

Some loose stools with one accident of not making it.

Some of these symptoms I have had for a long time some are new, mainly the ectopics and chest pains, which started Monday 25th February 2019.

I have a b12 deficiency, intrinsic factor was negative (only tested once) so no official PA diagnosis, on 3 monthly injections, last one was 1st February 2019. First found in 2016 but not fully treated till April 2018. I have no faith in GP from my B12 experience. I thought my symptoms were B12 related as I know they are so similar but recent blood tests normal (ill add a picture of them).

My chest pain and ectopic heart beats were picked up by A&E and they suggested thyroid as a cause, I am waiting back a TSH blood test from the A&E but has been nearly two weeks and do not have them back to my GP yet. I will ask GP for the other blood tests too, T3 and T4 and thyroid antibodies. (have an appointment tomorrow with GP). TSH was tested in December 2017 which was 1.19 mu/l (range 0.27-4.20 mu/l)

I ask for help as my GP is pushing anxiety diagnosis, I have had this pushed on be previously in 2012/2013 and due to this my low B12 was missed and don’t want the same thing to happen again. Its so hard when so many conditions cause similar symptoms. I have done the NHS mood assessment and I scored 3 out of 24 depression and 2 out of 21 for anxiety, I do really feel this is not the cause of my symptoms.

Any opinions please and be honest? I want all this sorted and soon getting fed up now of a constant battle with the GP.

Thank you

Jennifer

:o)

[Fox78]

Hello

A lot of what you describe I had before I was diagnosed with a very under active thyroid and I still get some of the symptoms now

Are they thinking this is hypo or hyper?

I would ask for antibodies to be tested too to see if this is autoimmune but definitely sounds very similar to my symptoms x

[Yoshi12 in reply to Fox78]

Thank you for your reply.

They just think anxiety and that's all they want to do gave me an iapt psychotherapy leaflet. The A&E suggested thyroid said my symptoms we're screaming thyroid, I went due to the chest pains. I just added a photo of recent blood tests and last thyroid was TSH which was tested in December 2017 which was 1.19 mu/l (range 0.27-4.20 mu/l)

I see gp tomorrow so will ask for full range of thyroid tests.

Thank you

Jennie

[Fox78 in reply to Yoshi12]

So your tsh was raised slightly back then

Yes definitely ask them for t4 t3 tsh and antibodies

I hope you get on ok x

[SilverAvocado in reply to Yoshi12]

I disagree with Fox78, I'd say this is a pretty ideal TSH.

On thyroid hormone replacement we tend to want a lower TSH, but for those with a healthy thyroid it will be between about 1 and 1.8. M

This short report contains a very useful graph: web.archive.org/web/2004060...

However, not all thyroid illness will give a raised TSH. You really want to see a full thyroid panel to know the full situation. Have you ever had freeT4 or freeT3 tested?

[Yoshi12 in reply to SilverAvocado]

sorry late reply. I have not had any other tests for thyroid other than that one TSH in December 2017, I had another TSH done on 28th February and still waiting results back from this. I asked GP on monday to do further thyroid tests and he said only if the TSH comes back abnormal. I also asked for a range of other blood tests from advice from others on this post and was denied them also.

I did get a referral to cardiology though, which seems pointless to me till we have ruled other conditions out with basic blood tests.

However, since then I have ordered and carried out the thyroid plus blood test on medichecks and posted that off today so we can see what result we get there.

Thank you for your help..

Jennie

xx

[SilverAvocado in reply to Yoshi12]

You're very welcome I hope the Medichecks comes back with some clues! Make a new post with the results and members will comment.

[Yoshi12 in reply to SilverAvocado]

I will do thank you. Xx

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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 as well

Low vitamin D extremely common when any Thyroid issues. Low vitamin D can cause insomnia,

Results above

B12 is clearly high due to injections

Folate is very low

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial. It can also help keep B12 more level between injections

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet in morning).

Or Jarrow B-right is another option

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Ferritin is quite low too. Really needs to be half way in range. Increasing your intake of iron rich foods, such as liver or liver pate once a week

Supplementing a daily good quality vitamin C may help improve iron absorption too

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

Recommended on here that 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

Have you ever noticed any gut symptoms related to eating gluten rich foods, or dairy?

Both gluten and dairy intolerance are common result of autoimmune thyroid disease

Very common to be misdiagnosed with "anxiety" when it's actually autoimmune thyroid disease

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Yoshi12 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your very informative advice.

I am writing a letter to my GP now for tomorrow to request all of the above. They seem to want to do the basics to get through and fob me off. He stated no action from the blood tests above and both my folate and ferritin have been lower in the past without treatment and folate treated in 2016 when my B12 was 138.

I am taking a multi vitamin from a supermarket but when I look at vitamins I mainly look for the B complex.

I am not vegetarian and since my B12 situation I am more conscious of my diet.

I was lactose intolerant as a child with projectile vomiting but seemed to phase out as I grew up. I have not noticed any symptoms related to those foods but my friend who has coeliac condition has mentioned gluten to me before as she feels this could be a factor, think I was tested for coeliac condition at some point in the past.

My vitamin D was low in October 2016 at 46 and then 24 in March 2017 (range 50-200nmol/L), had treatment of medications and never tested again by NHS was told they do not test vitamin D anymore as everyone is low over winter months. I tested it again privately in September 2018 and was 75nmol/L with same reference range.

Previously my folate has been 2.1 then 15.4 after medications in 2016, then in 2017 was 8.8, 7.1, 6.7, and early 2018 3.4 (reference range 3-20 ug/l) and on the private test in september was 6.1 (3.1-20.5 ug/l), I usually up my folic acid intake around my B12 injection to help. Ferritin was 19 in 2013, 22 in 2016, 47 and 19 in 2017 (range 10-200 ug/l) then was 29 in september on private blood test (22-275 ug/l). I have felt unwell since 2013/2012.

My TSH has only been tested once in December 2017 which was 1.19 mu/l (range 0.27-4.20 mu/l), I did not understand it then and needing the other tests to go with it. I strongly feel anxiety is not the answer and do not want another misdiagnosis.

Ill bear in mind your tip for when I get my blood test, early morning and fasting and dont mention it, ;O)

Thank you

Jennie

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Yoshi12]

Persistent low vitamins with supplements suggests coeliac disease or gluten intolerance

gluten.org/resources/health...

Would suspect you may have gluten or lactose intolerance. Both common with autoimmune thyroid disease

You don't need ANY obvious gut symptoms

Clearly gut function is compromised for some reason and nutrient absorption is poor

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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

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

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

[Yoshi12 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you very much I will research this information tomorrow with your links. Jennie

[Yoshi12 in reply to Yoshi12]

Good afternoon,

I asked the GP for the thyroid tests you suggested and the vitamin D and further folate and ferritin investigation and was declined them all. :o)

He said if my ferritin had stayed low end around 19/20 he would have (which it has been for the last few years), but as it has now jumped up to 40 odd he wont do it. He said he would chase the A&E for the TSH they did over two weeks ago and said they would only do the other thyroid tests if that one came back abnormal.

However he has referred me for cardiology and did another ECG which confirmed the ectopic beats are still there.

Thank you for you help, I have now ordered and carried out the thyroid plus home blood test on medichecks to get some answers and then once they are back I will follow up the intolerance checks.

Thank you

Jennie

xx

[Angel_of_the_North]

Folate looks low: try supplementing with methylfolate. Ferritin is too low and low iron can cause breathlessness and fatigue, as can both underactive and overactive thyroid. Ectopic beats can be low T3 or something else completely. Adrenal problems can cause all these symptoms. So full iron panel (but GP probably won't do it as ferritin is "normal"), TSH, Free T4, Free T3, TPO and TG antibodies, short synacthen test. But I suspect you'll have a hard time getting them.

[Yoshi12 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you too. I'll ask the gp for all of those. If you don't ask you don't get right. Really appreciate the help and advice from everyone.

Jennie

[Yoshi12 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Good afternoon,

I asked the GP for all of those and as you suspected was declined them all. :o)

He said if my ferritin had stayed low end around 19/20 he would have (which it has been for the last few years), but as it has now jumped up to 40 odd he wont do it. He said he would chase the A&E for the TSH they did over two weeks ago and said they would only do the other thyroid tests if that one came back abnormal.

However he has referred me for cardiology and did another ECG which confirmed the ectopic beats are still there.

Thank you for you help, I have now ordered and carried out the thyroid plus home blood test on medichecks to get some answers. The things we have to do to help ourselves.

Jennie

xx

[Yoshi12]

Thank you very much. I will ask the GP at my appointment tomorrow. I'll bear that in mind for the blood test. Thanks.

Jennie

[Yoshi12 in reply to Yoshi12]

Good afternoon,

I asked the GP for all of those test you suggested and was declined them all. :o)

He said he would chase the A&E for the TSH they did over two weeks ago and said they would only do the other thyroid tests if that one came back abnormal.

However he has referred me for cardiology and did another ECG which confirmed the ectopic beats are still there.

Thank you for you help, I have now ordered and carried out the thyroid plus home blood test on medichecks to get some answers.

Thanks

Jennie

xx

[shaws]

These links might be helpful:-

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

If our thyroid hormones are low, we can have a number of the above symptoms. Thyroid hormones run our whole metabolism from head to toe. T4 is the inactive hormone and should convert to the Active thyroid hormone which is needed in our millions of T3 receptor cells.

I am afraid, we have to do the studying/learning in order to recover our health as few doctors seem to know any symptoms at all. They seem to rely upon the TSH and maybe T4 alone instead of the range of tests as suggested by Slowdragon. Also follow the advice for blood draw. It makes a big difference in the TSH if it is early a.m. instead of later in the day.

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

[Yoshi12 in reply to shaws]

Good afternoon,

Sorry for my delayed reply. Thank you for the information and advice. It is all really helpful and I do not know where we would all be without forums such as these. PAS has been very helpful to me.

I asked the GP for a range of blood tests including the thyroid ones suggested in the posts above and was declined them all. :o)

He said if my ferritin had stayed low end around 19/20 he would have (which it has been for the last few years), but as it has now jumped up to 40 odd he wont do it. He said he would chase the A&E for the TSH they did over two weeks ago and said they would only do the other thyroid tests if that one came back abnormal.

However he has referred me for cardiology and did another ECG which confirmed the ectopic beats are still there.

Thank you for you help, I have now ordered and carried out the thyroid plus home blood test on medichecks to get some answers.

Jennie

xx

[shaws in reply to Yoshi12]

It's a shame we have to do it ourselves but at least the members will respond when you post the results/ranges and you will have a staarting point to decide what your nest step will be.

[Yoshi12]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Update post with medicheck results if anyone wants to look. State all normal so not looking thyroid related.

Thank you everyone.

Jennie xx