A few months ago, I was diagnosed with a b12 deficiency, after taking supplements for 5-6 months, my deficiency is most likely treated according to the b12 serum level test, but my symptoms are still there. They feel better but only a little better. A lot of people in the pernicious anemia forum advised me to get my thyroid checked. I looked up the symptoms for hyperthyroidism, everything matches but the 'rapid heart rate' and 'high blood pressure'. When I had my b12 in the 140s, sometimes my blood pressure and heart rate used to get slightly above normal ranges occasionally but after supplementing, the blood pressure and the heart rate never cross the upper limits.
So, is it compulsory to have a rapid heart rate and high blood pressure to have hyperthyroidism?
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JhonnyBoy
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I had a high heart rate when my thyroid was overactive. I also had sweating and breathlessness which made my heart feel like it was pounding in my chest (very scary)
It can be hypothyroidism, especially autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's
Especially common to have low B12
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
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)
Ask GP to test thyroid including thyroid antibodies and other vitamins
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all 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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.
So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Sounds like you should be on b12 injections not supplements. The latter are only for proven dietary deficiency; PA and other malabsorption states are treated with injections.
In 5-6 months of supplementing, my b12 rose from 140 to 800. For the first three months, I took 500mcg, one for the day and one for the night. The next 2-3 months, I increased my dose to 1000mcg, one for the day and one for the night, because I wasn't feeling like the improvement in symptoms that I witnessed when i first started supplementing was continuing or progressing with supplementation and even after increasing the dose, the symptoms ceased to improve. In these months, 300mcg of folate per day, for 3 months, was also taken; vitamin D was also given to me for a single month, and vitamin B-Complex was also prescribed to me, for a single month. A lot of people pointed out that having my b12 serum level raised from 140 to 800 in 6 months does indicate that I might not have pernicious anemia, although not with certainty but with a higher percentage of probability. I will get my homocysteine and intrinic factor antibodies checked, but maybe, i should also get my thyroid checked.
Increased levels on supplementing does not mean it’s getting to cell level and is not an indication of therapeutic effect. It’s certainly not something that rules out PA. You’d need the antibody tests IFAB and PCAB, and even then negative results do not rule out PA. The only real benchmark is symptom relief. And if you have neuro symptoms you should definitely have injections not supplements. Since you have been supplementing already, any B12 related tests will be skewed, for at least 4 months possibly longer, including MMA and homocysteine. The antibody tests could be done, IFAB needs 2 weeks clear of B12 injections/supplements. Really your best bet is to ask your doctor for a trial of injections. Lots of good info and links on b12deficiency.info
I do intend to get injections,just to see what happens but not now. Maybe, after a month or two because I have my exams in a month's time and I don't want to take a risk right now as methylcobalamin does produce strong side effects in a lot of people.
I understand, wait til after the exams because you can defo feel worse before feeling better. But you don’t have to get methyl jabs, hydroxo or cyano work just as well for most people.
No - I have Graves' disease which is one of the causes of hyperthyroidism. I had just about all the symptoms except for the rapid pulse and heart rate. I had treatment - block and replace - for 9 months and have been OK for over 2 years now.
If it's any help these were my symptoms: exhaustion, aching all over, tender muscles/ bones, hot, fine tremor in hands, dry skin/eczema, itchy skin, thinning skin, increased appetite (& bowel movements!), weight loss, itchy throat/neck, numb toes, dizziness, inability to exercise, needing to sleep during day and brain fog.
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This is exactly what I needed to know.
High TSH and raised blood pressure
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