I'm almost certain I have an overactive thyroid and just had thyroid function test. But I'm taking lansoprazol idoes this elevate TSH.

[DC00071]

Started feeling ill in January and still undiagnosed.

[DC00071]

All started in January and my current symptoms are as follows. Dry eyes,blurred vision, not sleeping, excessive urinating,thirsty,weight loss nearly 2 stone,nervousness,lightheaded,fatigue, confused but to mention a few.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum DC00071

So we can offer better advice, can you share blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:

- [ ] TSH

- [ ] FT3

- [ ] FT4

Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)

In the first instance, do ask your GP for the above tests. We don’t recommend supplementing key vitamins without testing first (and sharing results with us).

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...

Many symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism overlap. I initially presented as ‘hyper’ with weight loss, palpitations, eye issues, tremor, fast pulse… but later antibody tests showed I’m hypothyroid with Hashimotos.

Have you had a coeliac test at all? I’m not coeliac, but (like many others here) am gluten intolerant. Eliminating gluten as a trial for a couple of months cleared up my gastritis symptoms and I now won’t touch it again.

[DC00071 in reply to Buddy195]

Firstly thank you Buddy 195I haven't had thyroid results back yet as only had blood taken this morning.

My gp was reluctant to even request it he was also vague on what was being tested and I did ask for antibodies to be taken also...but again vague response.

These done back in February

FERRITIN 172 UG/L

FOLATE 7.2 UG/L

B12 572 NG/L

VIT D 33 MMOL/L

on vit d supplement now also doctors prescribed me mirtazapine....which I haven't taken yet because unsure regarding my possible diagnosis.

He also told me to not be so stressed about my health !

Think antibody might be TPO

But not 100% on that .and definitely TSH .

Some other symptoms I have recently had are hiatus hernia and weakened lower aesphaegus. Causing silent reflux dry eyes nose ears mouth.

It's been and still is horrible and every one saying its anxiety is just so frustrating as I know my own body .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DC00071]

So vitamin D is deficient/insufficient

How much vitamin D are you now taking

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

panmerseyapc.nhs.uk/media/2...

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly when supplementing

Can test via NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need,

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease

newscientist.com/article/23...

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...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[DC00071 in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm taking 1000 iu of vitamin D per day going to try the spray and thank you for all the really useful information.

Gp has prescribed me mitrazapine for my insomnia.....thoughts on this regarding my potential future diagnosis ?ĥ

And another thing I really struggling with sleeping ....feeling light headed and swaying. When im lying down .

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DC00071]

Vitamin D below 50nmol - even NHS guidelines say 1600iu daily vitamin D daily for 6 months

Suggest you get vitamin D mouth spray and increase to 3000iu per day

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need,

Retest in 2-3 months

test via NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

Add a separate magnesium supplement at bedtime. Magnesium is relaxing and helps sleep

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DC00071]

Only add one supplement at a time, then wait 10-24 days to assess before adding another

Starting with vitamin D, then magnesium

what’s the range on folate

3-20 or 8-60 or something else

Folate looks low

Low folate

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose and may need 2 per day and/or may need separate methyl folate couple times a week

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to DC00071]

Do ask GP surgery for a copy all blood test results (or perhaps you have access to these on line?) and share results with us in a new post when you have them(also add ranges- as these can vary between laboratories).

As humanbean suggests, ensure dry eye is treated using preservative free drops (eg HycoSan or Hyloforte).

[DC00071 in reply to Buddy195]

Thank you I will share results when I get them

[SlowDragon Administrator]

why was Lansoprazole first prescribed

Any PPI tends to lower vitamin levels

GP should be testing vitamin levels

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

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

pharmacytimes.com/publicati...

PPI and increased risk T2 diabetes

gut.bmj.com/content/early/2...

Iron Deficiency and PPI

medpagetoday.com/resource-c...

futurity.org/anemia-proton-...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

[DC00071 in reply to SlowDragon]

Lansoprazole was prescribed for silent reflux I have weakened a esophagus and hiatus hernia. Vit level in thread...hope I'm giving enough information.

[humanbean]

What are the results of your recent thyroid function test, including the reference ranges? And have you had any tests of your nutrient levels recently?

I'm thinking of Vitamin B12, Folate, Ferritin, Vitamin D.

I'm hypothyroid and have dry eyes, and when I first wake up in the morning I will often also have blurred vision. I also have dry nose, mouth, and ears.

Dry eyes are very common in thyroid disease.

Another autoimmune disease which could be implicated in the problems of dryness of eyes, nose, mouth, ears etc is Sjogren's Disease.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sj%C3...

I am convinced that one possible cause of my blurred vision is my low tear production not cleaning my eyes any more. So I clean my eyes in the morning with this product :

boots.com/boots-eye-wash-wi...

I pour some of the eye wash in the eye bath supplied, split a cotton wool in two, then soak one half of the cotton wool in the eye bath and clean one eye. Then I repeat with the other half of the cotton wool in the other eye.

Having cleaned and dried my eyes I use Hycosan Extra drops when necessary - might not be needed, or could end up being required night and/or morning.

...

Regarding sleep and insomnia... I have found that optimising my nutrients helped a lot. And another help is taking magnesium about 30 - 60 minutes before bed. Specifically this product :

amazon.co.uk/Magnesium-Glyc...

There is no point in testing magnesium levels because of the way that magnesium is found in the body. Test results are not reliable. Also note that if your kidneys have failed or are failing then magnesium could build up to high levels so should be avoided. In healthy people with functioning kidneys, excess magnesium is excreted by the kidneys in urine.

The full dose of magnesium for the product I linked is 2 capsules per day. I took that for about 4 - 6 weeks then reduced to 1 capsule per day as an experiment. It is working well.

[DC00071 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you firstly I haven't had results back for thyroid function yet as only had blood taken this morning and my nutrients were tested back in February and were ok apart from vit d which I am now supplementing.

I was tested for sjogren's syndrome and thats all clear also using Hycoscan extra.

Unsure of what or how to supplement in other areas as my body is a mess .I was in a + e Sunday with blood in my stools....then after 2 awful 💩 it miraculously cleared up had every blood test going they couldn't find anything and I was discharged...no inflammation no infection nothing.

[Calceolaria in reply to humanbean]

There is a considerate amount of reliable evidence online now endorsing the use of magnesium oral supplementation in people with Chronic Kidney Disease.

[humanbean in reply to Calceolaria]

Thanks, I'll have a look into it. The only link on the subject I have a record of is this one :

Title : Oral Magnesium Supplementation in Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3 and 4: Efficacy, Safety, and Effect on Serum Calcification Propensity-A Prospective Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/291...

[Calceolaria in reply to humanbean]

I think that report was 2016?

So much info out there which never gets removed when new stuff comes through - or is just contradictory between research groups.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thyroid tests

GP unlikely to test more than TSH …..and Ft4 if your lucky

If you need to …..test privately

Always test 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)

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Randox FULL thyroid test including both thyroid antibodies just £31

Test at home or in clinic

Also available via Amazon

randoxhealth.com/en-GB/at-h...

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

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

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

[DC00071 in reply to SlowDragon]

I think only because I requested antibody test also...TPO might be included but not totally convinced...so thanks for all info regarding home testing it's very much appreciated 👍.

[arTistapple]

Presumably being checked for diabetes also? Due to thirst, rapid weight loss , excessive urination. BUT the ‘wholism’ does sound more like Hashimoto’s and full thyroid check including antibodies is definitely recommended.

It’s shocking that in this day and age that hypothyroidism is so overlooked. Medics are having any possible training re: hypothyroidism minimalised until nearly it’s nearly out of existence.