Thyroid causing Mild Cognitive Impairment?

[yearbookcommittee1]

Hello, I've been having progressive MCI since 2019. It's getting really hard to hold my job down, buy I have to to survive. I have subclinical hypothyroidism and a non cancerous nodule on my thyroid. Does anyone else have this? I'm so scared about ending up in a nursing home and none of my health practitioners are taking me seriously.

[Obsdian]

Brain fog is definitely a symtom of low thyroid hormones.

I get this and fatigue both worsen together.

[yearbookcommittee1 in reply to Obsdian]

Mine is to the point where I'm having trouble functioning and fear losing my job. Do you have any advice or what does your doctor do? Please and thank you for any information.

[Obsdian in reply to yearbookcommittee1]

Do you have recent blood tests for tsh, t4 and t3 with their ranges. This helps people give better advice.

Also ferritin, D, B12, and folate if possible.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not can you get hold of copies.

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Easiest option is NHS app, you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

If you can’t currently see test results online, simply ask receptionist at GP surgery to give you access. You will need to have photo ID with you.

This currently only applies in England, not across the whole of the UK. Nether Scotland nor N.Ireland have released an NHS app for patients. (Scotland supposedly due in December '24.) Wales has an app, but only for booking appointments, repeat prescriptions and amending personal details

Link re access

patients-association.org.uk...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality some GP surgeries still do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

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

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

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 autoimmune thyroid disease

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

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

[Tired2022]

Yes. You’re not going mad. I’m the same. Unfortunately I have no answers for you.

I had my vitamins tested and was deficient for Vit D and later folate. The loading dose of Vit D made a huge difference to me in a good way. Later I was prescribed folate as well.

It’s not a cure, but it stopped getting worse. Maybe try that? I think you can also get thyroxine if you are symptomatic but subclinical. Again didn’t cure, but did help.

Best wishes.

[traveltime]

if you haven’t already, try getting b12, vitd, folate, iron (ferritin and iron panel) tested, as they can have similar symptoms. But get the actual results, don’t rely on dr saying ‘in range’

[Tina_Maria]

Low thyroid concentrations are connected to cognitive impairment, I have attached a publication that is discussing this issue:

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl...

If you have subclinical hypothyroidism and are symptomatic, you could ask for a trial of levothyroxine. This is documented in the NICE guidelines:

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

This section could be of interest:

Consider offering a 6-month trial of LT4 monotherapy in adults less than 65 years of age if:

The TSH level is above the reference range but lower than 10 mU/L, and FT4 is within the reference range on 2 separate occasions 3 months apart, and

There are symptoms of hypothyroidism.

If symptoms do not improve after starting LT4 therapy, measure the TSH level, and if it remains raised, adjust the dose of LT4. Once the TSH level is stable (2 similar measurements within the reference range 3 months apart), check TSH annually.

If symptoms persist when the TSH is within the reference range, consider stopping LT4 therapy, and assess for alternative causes of symptoms.

So if you are very symptomatic (which I think you are) and your TSH has not reached 10mU/L but your TSH was elevated on 2 occasions 3 months apart, you could ask to be put on therapy.

Might be good to insist on another thyroid function test with your GP, so you can see where you are.

[connyankee]

I have trouble on the job because people no longer know how to communicate or explain things clearly. Autoimmune is now a bonafide "disability" in the USA so there is recourse for job loss, hopefully. I hope that things turn out well for you.❤️❤️🙏🙏

[Josephineinamachine]

hello, do you mind if I ask how old you are? There may be other things happening x