anxiety exhaustion: being told my anxiety and... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

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anxiety exhaustion

Cbreeze1961 profile image
12 Replies

being told my anxiety and exhaustion all relates to mental health. But I think I may have issues with thyroid. In aug 2022 had full removal of thyroid and parathyroid and had been suffocated and had cancer in ghyroid. I was told st time I was fine but ended going privately

.

what tests do I need to establish if all readings ok

Any helpful questions would be useful just keep being fobbed off by gp

Got emergency appt with gp this afternoon getting desperate

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Cbreeze1961 profile image
Cbreeze1961
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12 Replies
TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador

Request a full thyroid panel to include fT3/4 if they won't oblige grab a private test and go from there

1tuppence profile image
1tuppence

It seems most of us suffer from mental health struggles, brought about from having to fight to be heard, and then treated properly.

Are you on any thyroid replacement? If you have a look at the Thyroid UK website, they have lists of symptoms.... and they include anxiety and exhaustion.

Suggest you do some research to arm yourself :-) Wishing you well.

Cbreeze1961 profile image
Cbreeze1961 in reply to1tuppence

Thank you so much for reply it shows we seem to have to rely on each other for help and guidance and that’s exhausting on its own x

1tuppence profile image
1tuppence in reply toCbreeze1961

Yes, it is exhausting, especially when we're undermedicated or fighting to keep the dose we know will keep us feeling reasonable. Thing is, from somewhere we need to find that strength..... and this forum proves to be a Godsend with the support and advice offered.

You can do this :-) Hugs xx

Buddy195 profile image
Buddy195Administrator

You are not alone Cbreeze1961!

Increased anxiety has been the worst symptom of having a thyroid condition for me and it is always worse if thyroid medication or key vitamins (ferritin, folate, vitamins B12 and D) are not optimal.

My GP initially diagnosed me with ‘ health anxiety’, suggested I saw a psychotherapist & offered me anti depressants. Joining this forum helped me realise that my symptoms were related to being under medicated and I followed forum advice to improve this.

To offer better advice, we need to see TSH, FT3 and FT4, plus key thyroid vitamins (ferritin, folate, B12 and vit D).

If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

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

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Which brand?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with if under medicated

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

See detailed reply by SeasideSusie

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test - £32

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

10% off code here

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

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here

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

Cbreeze1961 profile image
Cbreeze1961 in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you so much slow dragon for all the detailed information you have given.

I know someone else on the forum asked if I was on the same manufactures medication I am currently taking 175 mg so on 3 tablets and when I have looked all different suppliers.

I think I have decided I will go for the Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold testing kit which includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins, I presume this will also include TSH T4 T3

Do you know what the test involves and how do I get the results. I want to try and do this test quite quickly to try and move on with my investigations.

Your advice has been so helpful I have no idea what the testing involves and you seem to hold a lot of the information any further advice would be most appreciated thank you

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toCbreeze1961

You have choice when you buy the kit to either do test DIY finger prick (about 10 drops of blood into test tube) or pay extra for different kit for private blood draw at a clinic near you, or for higher fee a nurse to your home to do test

Medichecks list of clinics for private blood tests here

medichecks.com/pages/clinic...

Blue Horizon clinic list here

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk

ALWAYS test early Monday or Tuesday morning. Don’t to test in very hot or very cold weather as this risks blood spoiling in post

Post back from a priority post box or post office

You receive an email when results are ready on your account page

Examples here

Blue horizon

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Medichecks

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

I am currently taking 175 mg so on 3 tablets and when I have looked all different suppliers.

Which 3 different brands

Many people find different brands are not interchangeable

Cbreeze1961 profile image
Cbreeze1961 in reply toSlowDragon

Hi I know a qualified nurse who could do blood draw at my house would that be ok could we.forward it on from here

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toCbreeze1961

Sounds excellent

Make sure she’s happy to do so

Order the kit for blood draw

Only test early Monday or Tuesday mornings and post back immediately

Cbreeze1961 profile image
Cbreeze1961 in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you so much for all your help x

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

You say you had parathyroid glands damaged/removed …..so are you on calcium supplements?

Calcium, vitamin D and parathyroid levels need testing together

What vitamin supplements are you taking?

Vitamin D?

If yes, how much

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