Hypothyroid AND Pernicious Anaemia. How to unpick the two?

[Benji76]

Hi folks. Seems to me that symptoms for these two conditions are very similar. I am convinced I have PA. Won’t bore you, no diagnosis yet though, despite being put on 3 monthly injections anyway. I now self inject because I find I need it more like every week. This keeps me going, but symptoms come back far too soon.

My thyroid TSH was tested two years ago. I was a 6, flagged by the lab as hypothyroid. My GP dismissed this. I asked for this to be monitored - my sister is hypothyroid- but it wasn’t. I am no longer with that GP.

So, tomorrow I want to see my new GP and ask him to check my thyroid, expecting him to find that I am well and truly hypo.

I am thinking that B12 injections help me feel ok. But B12 May not necessarily be the actual problem sometimes. Therefore, if I get my thyroid on track I should hopefully need to inject B12 less.

But, will everything then be put down to thyroid? Will thyroid treatment interfere with B12?

Anybody else been here?

[silverfox7]

You might like to post on the PA Section of HealthUnlocked as well.

[Benji76 in reply to silverfox7]

Thank you. Yes, I already did. 🙂

[silverfox7 in reply to Benji76]

Good! I read both and its surprising how many things overlap!

[Benji76 in reply to silverfox7]

I know silver fox. This is my dilemma...

[Polaris]

I and three others in my family have Hashimoto's and PA/B12def. I, personally, found B12 symptoms to be far more subtle and varied than Hashi's. They creep up very slowly over time and may not be recognised (put down to ME/CFS, the aging process, etc. ) until the lack of sufficient B12 starts to affect the myelin surrounding the nerves beginning the more severe neurological symptoms that can affect the brain, balance (proprioception), mood, mouth, eyes, ears, muscles, fingers, toes, legs, etc. eventually raising homocysteine and MMA to a level that risks cardiac and vascular disease, strokes, dementia etc.

Good luck with your appointment, Benjie. More info in this recent reply:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Benji76 in reply to Polaris]

Thanks Polaris. Yep. I’m certain of PA because what you describe, the subtle build up over many years, is how it happened for me. I’ve been told I have depression, chronic fatigue, ibs - everything but PA. By the time injections started I had significant neurological trouble. I self inject because doctors were not open to listening to me about that. Currently seeing a neurologist who suspects MS because of issues with tests. Demyelination May have occurred (and presumably not been fixed despite injections). Lumbar puncture coming up soon. Interesting, therefore, that you mention MS in your other thread. There have been some other things cropping up over the last couple of years though too, that appear to be strong indicators of hypothyroidism. Plus, the bloods over a year ago suggest the same. I’m just not sure how switched on my doctors are going to be about treating these as concurrent conditions.

[Benji76]

This conversation with doc has been postponed, due to (another) kidney infection cropping up and taking precedence. I’ll try to remember to update this post when I’ve seen the GP on this issue. Feel free to prod me.

[Polaris]

I'm so sorry Benji - you have a lot to deal with.....

After struggling to get a Hashi's diagnosis many years ago, it still seems shocking to me that medicine is so test based and patients are left to cope alone with such obvious symptoms of ill health. My sister, daughter and I were eventually very lucky to have had the advice of Dr S, a virologist, who was willing to go out on a limb and put his patients first.

I really hope you feel better very soon.

PS. I'm sure your determination to persevere with a thyroid diagnosis and self inject for PA/B12def. will pay off in the end. If it's any comfort, it's taken Thiroyd NDT and two years of S.I. B12 every other day (sometimes every day) but I'm beginning to have long spells of feeling normal again - and I'm an oldie !

[klr31]

Low B12 is common with hypothyroidism.

Karen