Hi All, I have finally been given a copy of my latest blood reports. TSH Level - 7.5, T4 14.1, cholesterol level 4.3. (there are others but these seem to be the main ones people discusse here)
I have put another half a stone on, terrible fatigue, hoarse voice, low moods, brain fog, diagnosed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome etc. Doctor told me to "come back in December" and he will look at bloods again.
At a loss what to do? Does anyone have any ideas on the above results - should I keep pestering my Doctor? I am starting to struggle to concentrate at work and I feel like a pain in the behind and a liability to everyone
Sounds awful but typical. Others on this Forum are better placed than I to comment on your specific blood results but December seems like a long time to wait.
Perhaps there is a valid reason but...
Other blood results.
Was your vitamin D level and/or bone profile test done?
The bone profile consists of calcum, corrected and free calcium,phosphates, para thyroid hormone and Vitamin D all should be done together and sometimes you have to keep pucshing to get them done. You write that you 'eventually' got your blood results. It sounds as hough you are struggling a bit here over blood tests being done etc.
It sounds as though you may have a Vitamin D deficiency disorder and aa Vitamin B deficiency.
The doctor can easily measure the level of the above in your body by ordering the relevant blood tests.
You also need to google the side effects of any medications that you are taking or have taken over the last few years. Kind regards
Hi Jay43073, up until I was 38 I weighed at most 9 stone but ate like a horse! I am now 41 and weigh just under 12 stone, which may be there or there abouts a "normal/average" weight for my frame etc, but it is such a drastic change for me along with everything else I mentioned above. The only medication I take is 30mg per night of amitryptyline for headache relief (can also be used for depression). I dont take any vitamin suppliments, do you think this could help?
thanks Jean, it was a struggle just getting a print out of the results for me to collect! Vitamin D or bone profile test not done. I didn’t go to the doctors specifically about a possible underactive thyroid,I had never even heard of it before, I had a free NHS health check where they take blood, weight, general health check-up really. The results came back and the nurse told me I had an underactive thyroid and to make an appointment to see my Doc where Levothyroxine would be prescribed. As soon as the nurse told me what underactive thyroid and its symptoms it was it was like a weight had been lifted - finally an answer to why I have felt so crappy for these last few years and I am not depressed as I have been treated for with anti-depressants in the past!! Doc said whilst I have all the symptoms and my TSH is higher than it should be, until my TSH goes over 10.0 he can’t prescribe anything and to come back in December and he will do another blood test.
I do not know much about the medications and at what level they should be prescribed. However I just wanted to empathise with you having gone thru it all myself.In fact still going through it. Today hhas bbeen a particularly bad day. I have received a lot of support off other meeemmbers of this Forum without them I do not know what would have happened to me. Just keep on hanging in on there.
I would never have guessed that the thyroid gland could be responsible for making us feel so ill.
The depression and anxiety is overwhelming at times. \Sorry to keep going on and on about things.jean
I am wondering if you're experiencing a (thyroid/pituitary) negative response to the amitryptiline (dose?). These medications can change the functionality of your thyroid gland, which in turn can cause symptoms of thyroid conditions.
You write that you used to eat like a horse. Does this include unhealthy foods; particularly, sweets/pre-packaged desserts, etc....? You may have been experiencing candida. It is my belief that one of the worst things that we can consume that negatively impacts our health is sugary foods found in desserts, pre-packaged foods, etc...These foods can cause havoc to your entire immune/endochrine/metabolic systems. I also believe that sugar substitutes are worse than regular sugar; although, science believes that a chemical within a particular sugar substitute has health benefits, but only isolating and synthesizing this chemical is found to be beneficial, thus far.
Have you been tested for helicobacter pylori? If not, and you've eaten unhealthy, sugary foods, please have a test done for helicobacter pylori....actually, even if you have eaten well, I'd still have the test done, if you haven't done so. Personally, I believe that candida and helicobacter pylori are related; if you have candida, you also have helicobacter pylori, vice versa. These incepid pests thrive on sugar and make you hungry. I would also suggest consuming foods which increase your healthy gut bacteria/flora. I prefer plain kefir over yogurt, as one example. If you decide to consume probiotics, please start slowly, because some people will experience a die-off effect (Herxheimer reaction) which varies in symptoms. As far as vitmain/mineral supplements, I recommend that you first be tested for the absorption of vitamins/minerals; vitamin D, (calciferol/hydroxy25-vitamin D) zinc, iron, magnesium (may not be accurate) and B-12, as examples.
Finally, just wondering....have you seen a specialist for Lyme disease?
I ate pretty much what I wanted when I wanted, not always healthy but pretty balanced, but hardly put any weight on at all for years. I weigh more now than I did when I was pregnant! I havent been tested for anything at all or seen anyone other than my GP who plants the underactive thyroid seed then sends me home! I just dont know what way to turn, but I have never felt so bad in all my life. its the fatigue and low mood mainly that pulls me down. getting out of bed or simnply walking the dog (which I used to love) seems like such a mammoth task nowadays. Youve given me lots to think about and some research to do, thank you
Haven't received your PM yet. I hink you need a referral to gastro enterologist and also an endocrinologist.Have you had any scans on your neck and thyroid
no jean only had GP visits at the moment and the general blood test that highlighted the high TSH level. do I need to ask my doctor for this referral or can you go privately?
thanks jean, yes I think I will start with this then and see how far I get. I do have access to go provately, might be easier and quicker doing it this way too.
I agree with jean concerning your consulting with an endocrinologist/gastroenterologist. I would add that you make sure that you completely eliminate sugar (including most fruits; some fruits contain levels of sucrose/fructose that can be problematic for some; bananas is a prebiotic that actually helps with beneficial flora) and include foods that increase your beneficial gut flora, so that you can overwhelm the unbeneficial gut flora. Your stomach is an important pathway to your overall health (immune, emotional, weight, etc....). It can be quite a challenge to completely avoid sugar, but it is important that you do so for at least a while, (3-6 months) in my opinion.You can then slowly reintroduce a healthy food item or two items which contains sugar to your diet.
I think that you can request a private referral from your GP.
Altrenatively see private GP and request him or her to write a letter of referral.Just take the blood reports with you they are self exxplanatory. Write out your previous and present medical and surgical history.
Obviously focus on how you feel at the present time and how long this has been going on for.
If the Insurance Company has a private GP service then that dr will definitely write a letter of referral to go privately.
If you are insured via your work place then you may have to go through their HR dept etc or Occupational Health dept if they have one.
You need a diagnosis before all else.
That is why you need a specialist, endo.
Once that is in place you will have something to aim for and may settle a little.
I am an RN -Nurse and live in the USA. I have Hashimoto's thyroid disease. You say your TSH is 7.5? Normal should be 0.34-5.60 so if that is correct, you are having way too much Thyroid stimulating Hormone and T4 should be 4.5 -11.2 - so you are showing high on that.
You seem to be having high abnormal lab values, but you seem to have more of the symptoms of low. So let's concentrate on the symptoms more.
Symptoms of low thyroid are: Weight gain, loss of periods or heavy ones, dry skin, hair loss, pain in muscles, brain fog or confusion, depression & crying spells, feeling anxious. There are many more symptoms and these are most common.
Your blood levels may by December have settled some when they plan to test you again. The body does some crazy things when it trys to adapt to it. Please log your symptoms and check to see if anyone in your family has thyroid disease. When you see the doctor you will have your log, and it will help to diagnose you better. Also write down any questions you have and that way -you can ask them. Sometimes people forget to ask a question.
If you start getting worse -please call your GP and ask to be seen. You may need an Endocrinologist who knows thyroid problems.
In the meantime eat lower carbs and walk some for exercise. I lost 30 pounds doing that. Avoid high stress if you can. Eat more fresh foods like fish, and avoid ready made or fast foods since they have lot's of sodium in them and phosphates which can lead to other problems. Take a multi-vitamin because many minerals in the body can be low and unless your blood was taken for a mineral panel, you could have low B vitamins, magnesium, or potassium. B-12 is also a vitamin and it cna be low also.
Feel free to ask any questions you have, most of us have lived with this for a long time and can help.
