could it be parathyroid?

[Auntyp62]

I’ve had idiopathic under active thyroid for nearly 50 years. I know my thyroid glad has disappeared except for a tiny piece that is pressing on my windpipe. I have in last year developed tingling in hands and feet occasional cramp in calf and feet and face twitching. My useless doctors, who I’ve never met says I have pad from a telephone consultation and says blood test not necessary. I am wondering that if my thyroid has almost gone would that affect my parathyroid as my symptoms are very like low parathyroid. Anyone else had this problem please.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

More likely low B12 or folate

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

A thyroid that shrinks and shrivels up is Ord’s thyroiditis

Have you had BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and your ultrasound scan of thyroid confirms diagnosis of Ord’s

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[Auntyp62 in reply to SlowDragon]

I understand everything you have said. My b12 and folate is kept high and I have never had any raised antibodies in 50 years. I keep my t4 and t3 in the high quadrant and privately test every year. I always have a vitamin d problem and take between 1 and 5 thousand depending on my test results but if I stop taking vitamin d it drops quickly. I always have the same make of levo .Why I ask is because my doctor won’t look for anything else or see me face to face. He always insists a change of thyroid dose which after 50 years I know I don’t need. His latest diagnosis of PAD over the phone but with no investigation has been the last straw. I feel I only have dr google to speak to till I find a private doctor who will see me face to face.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Auntyp62]

Medics are increasingly TSH obsessed to the absolute detriment of thyroid patients

You can refuse to alter dose

If Ft3 isn’t over range you’re not over medicated

Perhaps give him printed copy of this

If GP says " I have to reduce your dose because the guidelines say i can't let you have a below range TSH" .....

The first paragraph in the NICE (NHS) Thyroid Disease, Assessment and Management guidelines says :

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145

"Your responsibility

The recommendations in this guideline represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, professionals and practitioners are expected to take this guideline fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with them and their families and carers or guardian. "

Many autoimmune thyroid patients need constant vitamin D at higher dose than average person

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Auntyp62]

If he really thinks you have PAD ….then he should be running tests

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[kellyjoan in reply to SlowDragon]

Tests for PAD are not difficult.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Auntyp62]

Are you also taking vitamin K2 mk7 and magnesium as well as vitamin D

What B vitamins are you currently taking

When were iron and ferritin last tested

[Auntyp62]

I take Thorne b complex then add 1000 sublingual if b12 drops below 500. Iron and ferritin were high in fact iron was above the top level. I don’t take k2 or mk7 so will do a little research on them thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Auntyp62]

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Great article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[kellyjoan]

Low calcium would produce similar symptoms.