New here - question

[Ctadds1]

I am 35 and was diagnosed with B12 deficiency in July. I am receiving treatment but it’s been a roller coaster. I have had my thyroid tested many times. 1.5 years ago my TSH was 1.7, 6 months ago it was .566, and last week it was .634

I am in the US and this falls within the “normal” range (.3-4) but I am still wondering if it may be causing me issues. My symptoms are as follows

Fatigue, cold all the time, shaky, dizzy, unbalanced, blurred vision, internal vibrations, numb limbs, heart palpitations, lightheaded, sleep problems, muscle aches and weakness.

I have had many many tests done and B12/Thyroid are the only ones that raise a red flag. My B12 levels are way up so I don’t know why I continue to have symptoms. Are the numbers I listed above something to be concerned about? Do I push for more testing?

[fuchsia-pink]

Welcome to the forum

TSH is the primary measure to determine whether you have an under-active thyroid, but it's not an actual thyroid hormone, so you might want to test free T4, free T3 and thyroid antibodies to see where they are.

TSH is a message from the pituitary to the thyroid basically telling it to work harder if you don't produce enough thyroid hormones (so the higher your TSH the harder your thyroid needs to work). T4 is an inactive thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid which needs to convert to the active T3 hormone, needed in every cell in your body. If your "frees" are low, this would indicate that despite your TSH being "normal", your thyroid isn't doing enough - and this would account for your hypo symptoms. If free T4 is nice and high in range but free T3 is low, this indicates that (like me) you don't convert very well - some of us just don't.

Good luck x

[shaws Administrator]

I am sorry you aren't yet diagnosed but this is a common happening in those who have undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Usually the medical profession only look at a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and it usually begins to rise when our thyroid gland is beginning to fail.

To get the best results, always make the appointment for the earliest blood draw, fasting (you can drink water) and if you were taking thyroid hormones you'd alow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take it afterwards. Also make sure you are well-hydrated so that blood draw is easy.

A 'Full Thyroid Function Test' consists of:-

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

If antibodies are present, you'd most likely have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called hashimoto's.

Post your results, with the ranges - ranges are in brackets after the main number and TSH varies throughout the day, so that's why an early blood draw is recommended as TSH is at its highest then and may diagnose hypothyroidism or hashimoto's..

We can have a B12 deficiency or Pernicous Anaemia. Do you know if you've been diagnosed with either?

[Ctadds1 in reply to shaws]

I have been diagnosed B12 deficient but not PA. I receive monthly B12 injections but only since July.

[happyaura]

I feel like I was on a similar journey as you, only I didn't get it figure out until I was 42. I had issues with B12 and similar symptoms as you (plus acne - yay!). My thyroid technically fell within "normal" range, but I had the Hashimoto's antibodies so that's a black & white diagnosis. But for me, a thyroid issue diagnosis didn't help me. (The thyroid meds made by go hyper-thyroid.)

What turned my life around was to stop eating wheat (like none ever again) and taking lots of vitamins & B12 supplements every day. Wheat disrupts thyroid and screws up nutrient absorption in some people. I'm one of those lucky ducks.

Long story, short: Try a different doctor - find a functional doctor if you can. I went to quite a few naturopaths & conventional doctors before I found a functional doctor who could help me. But I'd also suggest not eating wheat - cold turkey - for 6 months and see how you feel.

[Ctadds1 in reply to happyaura]

Thank you so much! I have given up gluten for about 4 months now because many people in my family have celiac even tho I test negative for it. I just realized tho that the B12 sublingual vitamins I take have wheat in them (ugh I never thought to look). I also have acne that got at worse once receiving B12 injections. Thank you so much for your reply