I have been feeling particularly unwell for several years - aching, cramps in toes, anxiety, palpitations, exhaustion and awful itching of skin/hives. The aching started in my legs about 26/27 years or so ago when I was in my early 30's soon after the birth of my son, but at that time it was not excessive and came and went (and my doctor did not make any comment about it!). Over time things deteriorated and now I suffer constant aching of legs (which is particularly bad on waking) and arms and shoulders with stiffness/achings of hands, toes and cramps. I can sleep for England and can get up after a full night's sleep (or rather struggle to get up after my husband has struggled to wake me!!) see my daughter and husband off and fall asleep in the chair for 2, 3 or 4 hours at a time. Walking has become a nightmare. I try to walk but have to have frequent rests and so exercise is restricted to housework really (which is an effort in itself).
After various visits to doctors in the practice over the last few years I have been given Prozac, sent to a counsellor, given an endoscopy because of a very loose bowel, sent to the rheumatology department at hospital because the doctor suspected polymyalgia (they eventually told me there was nothing wrong and I should lose weight) and attended physio sessions at the hospital. I was diagnosed with sleep apnoea a year ago but, although on treatment, this has made no difference to the exhaustion. Eventually to my surprise I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at an annual blood pressure check-up in January (I have had high blood pressure since the birth of my daughter in 1992 which is when I was also diagnosed with asthma although that rarely causes me any problem.)
My TSH was then 29.58 and T4 was 9. I was put on 50 mcg thyroxine and at my next contact with my doctor he accused me of not taking the medication even though my TSH had gone down to 6.15 and my T4 was 14! I moved to another doctor in the practice who told me the aim would be for me to have a T4 of at least 19 and to pay no attention to the TSH figure. On 100 mcg my T4 measured 16 and TSH 1.41 and I informed the doctor I still had all the symptoms. He increased the dose to 125 mcg 4 weeks ago, which is where I am at at the moment- still aching, tired, etc. etc. To cap it all this doctor implied that it could be in my mind and whatever symptoms were left after I was on the right level of medication (whatever that is!) they would have to be treated separately. I have now decided to move to another doctor's practice which I have been told is good and will approach the whole medication issue. Before I do this can you tell me if you think the figure of 19 for T4 suggested to me by my present doctor is correct and, apart from my history, is there anything else I should discuss with the new doctor (I know about the unwillingness of giving T3 and the dessicated thyroid issue but have read that the antibodies test is the best. I also notice that my 25mcg pill is made by Wockhardt and the 100 mcg one is Actavis).
Any help you can give would be gratefully received.
Heather