I’m new to here to please bare with me, just getting use to all the terminology & different diseases related to the thyroid
I’ve been struggling with horrendous symptoms of;
All over muscle/joint pain
Dizziness
Memory loss, short & long term
Confusion
Hair loss
constant sore throat & swollen tongue
Chronic flu/virus like symptoms
Plus many more but the above are the main ones I’m struggling with the most
I’ve recently researched online & came across Dr Jacob Teitlebaum from America who highlighted Hashimoto’s disease along with some others which I’m still looking into
This seems to be a long journey to getting any kind of diagnosis & I’ve had the usual blood test which all come back “normal” except Vit D which is low
I’m currently waiting for the results of an advanced thyroid test which I’m hoping holds the answers as my quality of life is very limited at the moment
Does anyone have any suggestions of where to go from here if results come back “normal”Please as I’m at my wits end
Thank you in advance lovely people 😊😊
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Duckling27
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Duckling welcome. There is a difference between normal and optimal.Thyroid hormone results come with a range in brackets after your actual result. That range is where results are considered normal. Somewhere within that range will be your optimal or best result. A range for the hormone ft4 can be 10 to 22. You'd be told result normal if your level was 11 and you'd be told the same if it was 20. Yet you might feel optimal with a level of 18. One size does not fit all!
It's like shoes normal sizes 3 to 8. The doctor would expect you to wear a size 4 because it's in the normal size range. But a size 4 won't work if your feet are a size 7 which is also in the normal range.
If you post results on here we can explain and offer help.
You are entitled to a copy of your results by law. If you live in England you may be able to access your records online. If you live in Scotland you will need to contact the surgery as we don't have online access.
Duckling pop your results in a new post. Folks won't see them embedded here. That way you will get more replies and better help from a variety of folks.
Don't talk to GPs about getting a copy of your test results. Talk to the receptionists. And definitely don't make an appointment! Doctors consider that a waste of an appointment and can get quite angry about it because some (?) or many (?) of them don't approve of patients having access to their records any way.
You are most welcome. It is by paying attention to ft4 levels and ft3 if you can get it done that you get tuned into what is best for your body and how your body is using thyroid hormones. It is one of the keys to successful treatment.
Just posted about seeing GP tomorrow with test results, which is why your comment is so useful at this point. I do feel better overall but have some concerns re interaction with heart.
Important to test folate, ferritin, B12 & vitamin D. Low nutrients can lower TSH.
When GPs in UK screen for possible thyroid issues, sometimes only TSH is tested & thyroid issues are missed / go undiagnosed.
You asked on another post if you need an antibody test…. & I’ll reply here.
If your full function, ie TSH, FT4 & FT3 showed healthy levels then no their no benefit of testing thyroid antibodies.
If your levels were in range but on the border of abnormal, then it worth testing antibodies as it would show if an autoimmune condition is affecting the thyroid and treatment can be commenced as the levels approach treatable levels, hopefully before.
If your levels are already overtly abnormal you will we offered treatment as all hypothyroidism is treated the same. By replacing the low hormones. It’s useful to know of antibodies are present but often they only only tested 1x to confirm if present. Sometimes antibodies are not present but you will still need to be treated for low levels.
Welcome along to the fun and games, have you had your sex hormone levels checked, are you on HRT? You certainly sound like you can join the dysfunctional thyroid gang but have a look at menopause symptoms too as there is about an 80% cross over of symptoms just to add to the confusion 🤗
Many of your symptoms sound like they could be symptoms of hypothyroidism and obviously you should get tested properly for that. But they could also be symptoms of low vitamins and minerals, vitamin deficiencies, mineral deficiencies, and/or anaemia.
Here are some lists of symptoms of nutrient deficiencies :
The nutrients most often mentioned and discussed on this forum are :
Vitamin B12
Folate
Ferritin (iron stores)
Serum iron
Vitamin D
The above are believed to be important in converting thyroxine (T4) to liothyronine (T3). T3 is the active thyroid hormone that every cell in the human body needs for proper functioning.
Other nutrients which get mentioned to a lesser extent - but are still important :
Could also be gluten intolerance/celiac. Gluten issues do not always show in gut.
I cut out gluten and some things got better but still felt very cold all the time in summer. Then found out I was low thyroid caused by my immune system.
I thought I was going to be low vitamin B12, they are all so similar.
My goodness Duckling 27, you could be talking about myself! I started on this scary journey 2 years ago when I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency. Have you been tested for this? That and hypothyroidism are often linked which I found out in November when I woke up one morning with severe vertigo and could barely stand. Blood test revealed TSH of 67.6 which I believe is incredibly high, from research on this site. Now on minimum of 25 mgm levothyroxine, still dizzy and hair feels fine, thin and dry. I self inject B12 every other day as prescribed 3 monthly doses woefully inadequate.
My advice, gather all the information you can from these posts, get tested for B12. From my experience, this forum and that of B12 (called pernicious anaemia society) have saved me from severe depression . People are really kind
thanks for taking the time to reply to me SlowDragon. I am very au fait now with B12 thanks to PA forum but still confused and uncertain about Hypothyroidism. All my knowledge comes from this site. I am 70 and only weigh 48 kilos so 25mgs right starting dose, I think. In January TSH dropped to 49 from 67, and GP kept me on same dose, just had 3rd blood test and am waiting for results. However these figures seem an awful long way from TSH at 1 which I believe is ideal!
for 3 months it was Teva now Wockhardt this month. Because of treatment for throat cancer 15 years ago I can’t swallow and I have to crush tablets to inject into peg tube with syringe. I find the Teva dissolve easier but a lot of members on site seem not to like this brand….. I know where I am with B12 but still a newbie on this forum. Really appreciate your support!
I inject B12 every other day as I have neuropathy in hands and feet, and I take one drop vitamin d every morning. I don’t have PA. My deficiency caused by many years of peg feeding not into stomach but into small intestine.
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