Help identify diagnosis

[jackso1983]

Hi all, I am a 41 white female. Ive been a vegetarian for 30 years and ive always had anemia in which I take iron tablets. Despite eating a healthy veggie diet by weight ballooned 10 years ago and I have not found a diet that helps me to lose weight I am now obese and i have diabetes which is diet controlled.

I have been going to my doctors as I have had 7 bouts of sinus problems and my glands are constantly raised. Finally after my salivary gland became infected they started to take me seriously and sent me for an ultrasound scan.

The scan showed the area around my ear to be perfectly fine, it however showed my thyroid gland is grossly heterogenious and there are thyroid nodules.

As a result I was sent for blood tests

Thyroid Function tests - normal (according to Dr) TSH: 3.4, t4: 16.9

Liver Function tests - normal

Urea and electrolytes - normal

Bone profile - normal

FBC - Showed Mean Corpusc haemoglobin as low 25.6 and Red Cell Distribution as high 16.8%, rest of results normal

Iron overload studies showed serum c reative protein level as high 24mg, serum iron leve as low 7,5 umol/l, Percentage iron saturation low 10%

My GP is now on leave and there is no one to discuss my results with, I get very tired, lack energy, dizzy and my body aches and tingles but its not stopping me from working etc.

I also have a red eye at the moment, the optician thinks I have an auto immune disease (he is unaware of my recent tests)

My question why would my scans show one thing and my bloods for thyroid be ok? My GP is on leave and I go on holiday next week, im guessing im ok to go but would like to know what they are suspecting. Anyone have similar results and wants to guess what I have, im guessing an auto immune disease and uncontrolled anaemia...just wish I dont have to wait 6 weeks to get answers.

[bantam12]

You need to post your actual thyroid results, hopefully they did TSH, T4 and T3. There’s no such thing as “normal” with thyroid results, what the doc means is they fall within the ranges but that doesn’t mean they are good !

Post them on ThyroidUK forum as you will get more help over there.

[jackso1983 in reply to bantam12]

Thank you, that was the GPs comment next to my Thyroid Function test - normal, I'll update with my Thyroid results

[moo196]

do you het regular b12 injections? Might explain some of the symptoms if not.Sorry no other suggestions

[Boudicca55]

I was diagnosed with low iron 10.3/high ferritin 357 a couple of months ago. Also low vitamin D. I have been taking liquid iron supplement and Vit D tablets. I should get the results of my recent blood test when they come in. I don’t have any problem with my thyroid either so thankful for that 😆 I do feel that there is an improvement as I was very lethargic and aching all over and this has definitely improved. I’m not a vegetarian but over the last six months I had reduced the amount of red meat in my diet and I know I don’t eat enough green veg🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Trying to do better 🤣🤣 Hope this helps.

[IPNH]

I had anemia due to blood loss. It was microcytic anemia from my period. I had my tubes out and uterine ablation at the same time. No more periods. It's the most amazing thing! I love not having to deal with it anymore and anemia resolved. I did get my levels up some with ferrous gluconate. I found a time release made by Douglas labs and took 2, 27mg per day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. A doctor can order iron infusions. I would think they could for you. My iron was so low I had some stroke like symptoms once. I would push for infusion or try to ablation. If you have heavy periods you can also take about 600mg ibuprofen when it starts and it can actually reduce the flow by a lot or take oral birth control pills to lighten it and take them straight through without the placebos to stop the periods. Having something wrong with your thyroid can also make you gain weight.

[Torquaygirl]

hi I have just read this. Will you please ask GP to test you for an autoimmune disorder, generally they will do ANA, ENA, CRP, rheumatoid factor and some double stranded something. I have something called Sjögren’s and your symptoms sound very familiar. There is a sjogrens uk website with advice and a FB page.

My rheumatologist tells me 30% of people with Sjögren’s have thyroid problems . I do they discovered last year.

Good luck

[jackso1983 in reply to Torquaygirl]

Thank you for your message, I too am convinced I have Sjögren’s as i have constant salivary gland infections, ear problems, thyroid issues, tired, aches and i have been diagnosed with Episcleritis and have had 2 flare ups in 6 weeks. The issue I have is that my GP will not take me seriously. My bloods are all over the place and they are looking at my issues in isolated cases and not as a whole. I have another emergency appointment next week at the eye clinic im going to see if they will help me