under active thyroid ( after the blood tests)

[jewelsk9]

my blood test came back at 4.25, accordingly to the doctor this is normal, I was told that they used to treat the symtems but this could lead to weakening of the the bones, so now they go by blood test??? I definetely have all the the symtems you list, but looks like i will not be treated, what a complete depression I have fallen into, I did not expect a miricle cure, but just don't know where my next step should be?

[PinkNinja]

This is the very top end of the range and you are likely hypothyroid. You are not going to get weakened bones from a low dose of thyroxine provided your bloods are still within range. Your GP is misguided. If he were to prescribe too much thyroxine that would put your T4 and T3 above range, then you would possibly have problems with weakened bones.

Definitely get this retested regularly (every 3 months) because you may well have a result that is out of range at some point soon.

Undermedicating is as dangerous to bone health as over medicating. Someone will probably be able to point you in the direction of research to support this that might help you get treatment.

Rest assured that you are not going mad and your depression is very likely due to not having enough thyroid hormone.

As you have all the symptoms, and your GP has acknowledged this, you could ask for a referral to an endocrinologist regarding borderline hypothyroidism. An endo might be happier to treat.

It would also be worth asking for the following tests. If he can't treat your thyroid he should at least be checking for other causes.

Serum iron

Ferritin (if below 70 you may want to supplement with iron, vitamin C and B complex)

Vitamin B12 (if it is below 500, you need to supplement but your GP might not prescribe)

folate

Vitamin D.

Don't despair. We will give you as much support as we can on here.

Take care

Carolyn x

[jewelsk9 in reply to PinkNinja]

many thanks for the quick reply, I have not left my bed now into the second year, which now I have become used to, I never see anybody and do not really want to, which is not right! the following is the list of medication I am currently taking daily: Citalopram 40mg,, folic acid 400 micrograms, nitrazepam 5mg, omeprazol 60mg, propranolol 40mg, thiamine 100mg and fiinally vitamin b extra stong, hoping this will help you advice me further. thanks jewels k9

[PinkNinja in reply to jewelsk9]

Wow! That list is probably not helping with your symptoms!

Is the propranolol for anxiety? Betablockers can make you feel very tired. When my parents took them for blood pressure they couldn't do much at all. Once they were switched to an alternative they suddenly got their lives back.

I notice you are also on omeprazol. It is important to get your magnesium checked when you are taking this. A deficiency in magnesium can cause many symptoms including insomnia, anxiety, tension, headaches, etc. You might find taking a dose of magnesium at night might help. Start slowly with magnesium though because a few people find it causes them loose bowels. If you take a more easily absorbed form, such as magnesium citrate, this is less likely to happen. I went built up to 400mg and went from hardly sleeping to sleeping like a baby Also make sure you don't take your B vitamins at night as they can cause insomnia in some people.

It is definitely worth getting those vitamin and mineral tests done though. I was really surprised to discover that I had a B12 deficiency but not so surprised about the vitamin D deficiency.

Iron, B12 and folate are important for your body to be able to use thyroid hormones. Deficiencies can cause hypothyroid symptoms in themselves which would just make your hypothyroidism seem even worse. Vitamin D deficiency is relatively common and has symptoms such as fatigue, depression, joint/muscle pains etc. Vitamin D is involved in hundreds of metabolic processes.

Although getting these levels might not solve the problem, hopefully they will help. Having good levels will also make any thyroid treatment that much more effective once you do get treatment.

I'm not medically trained though, so please do discuss any changes in your prescribed medication with your GP. Hopefully you will be able to eventually stop some of the medication and maybe this will also help you to feel better, but definitely don't do this unless your doctor says it's ok.

Take care and do feel free to ask any questions you need to.

Carolyn x

[shaws Administrator]

Your doctor is stating nonsense when he talks about "bones". This is a link

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

He should be more concerned in alleviating your symptoms by at least a trial of levothyroxine.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

HI SHAWS I AGREE COMPLETELY, MY POOR MUM NOW 85 HAD THYROID PROBS FOR MANY YEARSUNTREATED,AT 62 SHE HAD A HEART ATTACK, PUT ON STATINS B/PRESSURE TABLETS ETC NOW HAS VERTIGO LATE ONSET DIABETES ,MY SISTER TOOK HER FOR HER B/TEST RESULTS ON FRIDAY SO ASKED HER TO GET HER TSH RESULTS I AM SO ANNOYED THAT IT IS 4.9 AND LEFT UNTREATED, LIKE ME HAS VITILIGO WHICH SHES HAD FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER AND I, M 63 THIS YEAR AND BEEN AUTO IMMUNE HYPO THYROID 3 YEARS ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER AUTO/IMM PROBS , SO ANGRY ON MY MUM,S BEHALF GP TOLD HER SEVERAL YEARS AGO HE DID,NT WANT TO PUT HER ON ANY MORE MEDS GRRH, LUCKILY MY GP STARTED ME ON 25MCG NOW ON 75MCG WHICH IS SOMETHING , YOU DO SUCH GOOD WORK WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT YOU AT TUK, LOVE EVE X

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Make sure that the GP keeps increasing your meds until your TSH is 1 or under until symptoms go or even suppressed TSH plus T3 if you still have symptoms.

I am sorry your Mother has suffered unnecessarily all these years. I suppose she was diagnosed by a TSH blood test which was just brought in about that time. Since then 3 new diseases have been named, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and M.E..

GP's nowadays do not know the clinical symptoms i.e. higher cholesterol due to lowered metabolism which diminishes when on optimum meds. Heart - this is a link and there are other interesting topics at the top of this page. Some of the links may not work as it is an archived site.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

If you haven't already seen this video - I certainly hope some good comes out of it.

thyroidchange.org/thyroid-p...