I had an MRI for my chronic back problems. Thankfully I argued to get a copy of my scan, as the surgeon had an appointment with me without mentioning to me or my GP that I have a 4 mm growth in my thyroid gland.
I went to see my GP to tell him, also that I had a weight gain of 8k quite suddenly, which my diabetes people thought was hormonal, as my weight doesn’t change and I am normally thin and recommended I see the GP.
I am due a telephone conversation with an endocrinologist.
I am getting very stressed, depressed and cannot sleep. I am exercising but nothing is shifting this weight.
Can anyone help or give me some advice?
Thanks in advance.
Written by
Iona467
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Looking at previous posts...have you ever had thyroid antibodies tested?
Autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s) linked to many symptoms your previous posts mention
Fibromyalgia often linked to undiagnosed Hashimoto’s
NA fatty liver
Having other autoimmune disease makes Hashimoto’s more likely
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, thyroid including thyroid antibodies
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 .
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
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
One of Thyroiduk's scientific advisers (deceased through an accident) was an expert in fibromyalgia and I would suggest you get your Free T3 and Free T4 tested. I am assuming doctor wont do these but ask for a Full Thyroid Function Test which consists of:-
TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.
ideally GP should test B12, vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.
You can request one from your doctor but they rarely test all and and I'll give you a link. You must also be well-hydrated a couple of days before. so that blood is easier to draw.
Blood draw must be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards.
Ask doctor first and if he wont do all of them you can get other privately.
I had to diagnose myself and the specialists/doctors I consulted and paid not one could diagnose someone who had hypothyroidism. Before blood tests were introduced all doctors diagnosed us upon our clinical symptoms alone and we got a trial of thyroid hormone replacements initially and if we improved we were diagnosed as hypothyroid. As far as I understand, if FT4 and FT3 are low our thyroid gland is struggling to provide sufficient horrmones which run our whole metabolism.. In other countries we'd be diagnosed if TSH went up 3+ - with symptoms - but in the UK they will not diagnose until TSH is 10.
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