Diagnised Hash 2019 struggling with health - Thyroid UK

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Diagnised Hash 2019 struggling with health

Serenhaf profile image
8 Replies

Hello im not sure where to begin. Biggest problem is my lungs since diagnosis ive gad lung infections and coughs and cklds nearly non stop since April 2017 when the Drs first found id got underActive thyroid. Regular tests ever 6 months but Drs say my results are acceptable. However i go through a fortnightly increase in thyroid symptoms also become a little unhinged anf cant cope with anything. I with help of the counselling keep it mostly in check. But its awful not having control of my life. Always exhausted, feeling my problems dont come from depression but that my depression and health problems come from some in balance in me. Drs refuse to test vit D. I haven't seen a Dr in over a year, only get to see nurse. As we are all aware Drs are thin on the ground in UK.

I haven't given up gluten yet, Dr told me not to 2yrs ago because i was already going through mental breakdown he thought it too much.

Not taking any supplements. Eating healthy diet.

Oh also having problems with teeth breaking, had 3 teeth collapse since uat diagnosis, when i have never had any problems with my teeth before.

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Serenhaf profile image
Serenhaf
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8 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

The place to start is with your blood test results. Do you always get a copy every time you have a test? If not, you should ask for them. You need to know exactly what has been tested and exactly what the results are. What might be 'acceptable' for your doctor obviously isn't for you. But, unless you know the numbers, you cannot stand your ground. So, ask at reception for print-outs of your results for as far back as possible. If you live in the UK, it is your legal right to have them. :)

Serenhaf profile image
Serenhaf in reply to greygoose

I don't, i had a very bad experience early on with my Dr, he had to be reprimanded- i asked for my results and then told him that my results still didn't fall within the guidelines for tsh eta via thyroid uk where he then went nuts and told me that unless i was going bald i should not go to see a Dr about my symptoms and that he was sick of patient's self diagnosis via internet. So feeling rather worried about a repeat of that.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Serenhaf

You don't have to ask your doctor - in fact, it's never a good idea to ask your doctor! Ask the receptionist.

That was a very bad experience, and he sounds like a doctor totally lacking in self-confidence and aware of his short-comings where thyroid is concerned. But, he had no right to speak to you like that, and I'm glad he was reprimanded. I just hope he learnt his lesson! But, it's true that a lot of doctors do not like informed patients, because it shows up their ignorance, and means they have to step up their game! More the better, say I! :)

Serenhaf profile image
Serenhaf in reply to greygoose

I will contact the surgery and request a copy of all of my blood test results for the last 3yrs.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Serenhaf

That's a very good idea. :)

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

First of all I am sorry you have hypothyroidism. On this forum we've found that some of us cannot recover our health on levothyroxine alone. Even though the British Thyroid Association states that we can recover on it alone.

I am one that cannot and do not get any improvement on levothyroxine alone and I do know that millions of people are satisfied with this replacement hormone.

I am not medically qualified but if you have 'depression' I would ask (or get a private test) for TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

Of all these, Free T4 and Free T3 are more informative than a TSH result but rarely tested. Your Free T4 may well be low.

T4 (levothyroxine) is an inactive hormone and has to convert to T3 (liothyronine) and it is T3 which is the Active Thyroid Hormone needed in the millions of T3 receptor cells in our body and the brain and heart need the most in order for us to function normally.

If you can, I'd suggest getting a Full Thyroid Blood Test (a home finger pin-prick blood draw) and it should be the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of hormones and the test and take it afterwards.

This helps keep the TSH at its highest (it drops throughout the day) as that seems to be all doctors look at.

This is a list of clinical symptoms and I doubt a doctor knows any. Before blood tests were introduced we were diagnosed upon our clinical symptoms alone and given NDT (natural dessicated thyroid hormones) but unfortunately this has been withdrawn from being prescribed. People source their own now.

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

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

Ask doctor to also check B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate - everything has to be optimal.

Always get a print-out of your results, with the ranges. Ranges are necessary as labs differ in their machines and ranges may be also be different.

Serenhaf profile image
Serenhaf in reply to shaws

Thank you Shaws, i shall contact my surgery and obtain the blood test results required. I have in the past couple of years had all if the bloods except vit D done, they refused to do the vitamin D test. They said its not covered by nhs now. I live in Wales. Whilst im extremely grateful to the nhs here in Wales, i am aware that its not the same as England.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Serenhaf

Getting vitamin D test via NHS postal kit £29

Extremely easy ...just 4 drops of blood on a card

vitamindtest.org.uk

You also need folate, ferritin and B12

See what results you can get

How much Levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Do you always get same brand of Levothyroxine?

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Have you considered dairy intolerance as possible

Persistent cough can be dairy intolerance

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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