Getting a diagnosis

[Gg4l]

Hi their I wonder if anyone could help me, i had a bad chest infection in october it took 2 lots of doxycycline, I then in December was told I had pleurisy, I gave up smoking in october and not sure if related but had so much thick phlem, that has slowed down now and I was quite breathless, so a week after i got told i had pleurisy a doc said my airways sounded very narrow, i have had 2 chest x Ray's after the chest infection and that comment and they came back ok, I have chest pains, shoulder back knee, ankle pain, I had b12 checked it's fine I did a spirometery breathing test that was ok I have had a thyroid check it came back low tsh but otherwise everything else normal and needs to be repeated after 6 weeks, I have bein refferred to phisio they said yesterday they would say fibromyalgia but because iv asked my doc to be seen by respiritory they cant diagnose that till respiritory all clear, because I have gone back to the docs in pain I have also bein refferred to neurology, in pain not really sure what it is I'm asking here just a little guidance in what people are thinking. I'm 29. Thankyou for taking your time and reading

[Pandora777]

I had a bad chest infection which lasted nearly 6 weeks. I had taken 2 lots of antibiotics but still was coughing so my Doctor sent me to A & E where I had a chest x-ray which showed no infection just inflammation caused by coughing. I was then given prednisolone for 5 days which stopped my coughing and I feel fine now. However I still have a slight pain in one of my ribs so I might go back if this continues but I think it might be because I have pulled a muscle because of all the coughing.

Can you post your normal results for us comment on?

I am just adding that I notice from your previous thread that you had your blood test in the afternoon. You really need to repeat that test and have it first thing in the morning before eating to get a accurate thyroid function test.

[greygoose]

'Fine' is neither a medical term, nor a scientific one. It's just your doctor's opinion, and that could be wrong! Ask for a print-out of your results so that you can see exactly what was tested and exactly what the results were. You can post them here if you need help interpreting them.

I would advise you to never, ever accept a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia. It's a dustbin diagnosis used when they actually have no idea what's really wrong with you. And, once you have that on your medical records, they will never look beyond it. You will be stuck in limbo and there is no cure for fibro, not even a treatment, and no kind of test to actually prove you have it or you don't. Once again, it's just an opinion.

I would say what you need next if full thyroid testing:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

Tg antibodies

vit D

vit B12 (active)

folate

ferritin

if only to rule out thyroid problems and/or nutritional deficiencies. The NHS will not do them all, that is clear. So, you could do them privately, if you wished. Just testing TSH will not tell you anything much.

[Marz]

11 days ago SlowDragon gave you lots of suggestions. So did you obtain copies of your test results - as explained fine/normal/ok are opinions and not results.

So was your B12 over 500 - VitD around 100 - Ferritin and Folate mid-range.

Your T4 and T3 are good towards the top of the range if that is where you feel well. Would love to help but without results and ranges I would only be guessing 🤔

Fibro can be linked to Low T3 ...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Quitting smoking is often trigger for worsening of autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s)

Thyroid frequently becomes more unstable for at least two years after stopping smoking.

negosentro.com/why-quitting...

verywellhealth.com/cigarett...

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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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

For thyroid including antibodies and 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

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

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 .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

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

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

List of hypothyroid symptoms

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

Add actual results and ranges of any tests you have had

Get rest tested and come back with new post once you get results

[Gg4l]

Thanks everyone, have just had a letter my neurologist appointment is a urgent refferall which I wasnt aware of this so should be seen soon

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Recommend getting full testing before appointment

[fuchsia-pink]

Pleurisy sounds like something you'd find in a Dickens novel - but a friend (no thyroid issues) was diagnosed a couple of years ago - and apparently it's quite common, and (bizarrely) there is a link to inhaling car screen-wash via the car's air con. Nasty. Hope you're fully recovered now x

[Gg4l in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Yeah I guess that is a concern as I really just think pleurisy is rare and with all the pain I'm getting I'm just tbh afraid this is something serious, it's not getting any better. Thankyou for your reply