Re: Newby Possible Hypothyroid

[Guest guest]

Hello Debbie, all of your symptoms sound thyroid and adrenal

related. Can you ask for your blood test results when you see the Heptologist

tomorrow, together with the reference range for each test done and then post

them to us on the forum, and we will help with their interpretation.

Unfortunately, doctors are not trained in the art of interpreting test results

and if your numbers come ANYWHERE within the reference range, you will be told

you are 'normal' and that you don't have a problem. This, more often than not,

is not the case.

I would beg, borrow and steal to get the 24 hour salivary

adrenal profile done to see where your cortisol and DHEA lie at four specific

times during the day. If adrenal fatigue is the problem, you need to get the

appropriate supplements before starting on any forum of thyroid hormone

replacement. I would ask if they would test your blood for a FULL thyroid

function test to include TSH, free T4, free T3 and tests to see whether you

have thyroid antibodies, especially as your father had an underactive thyroid.

If you go to our FILES section (accessible from the Home Page of

this Forum) and on the list that opens, scroll down to 'Discounts on Tests and

Supplements' and then open the 'Genova Diagnostics' File. Follow the

instruction there to claim your discount from them. Any supplements that you

might need you can buy from Nutri Ltd and get a 33% discount by following the

instructions there.

Whilst in the FILES section, scroll down again to the Folder - 'NHS

Treatment' and you will find in there a document giving you some hints about

what to do when you see an endocrinologist for the first time. Read that, and

follow those hints to see the doctor you are seeing tomorrow. If possible, do

take somebody with you so they can take some notes if necessary. Ask if they

would test your blood levels of ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium,

folate, copper and zinc because if any of them are low in the range, your

thyroid hormone will not be getting properly utilised at cellular level and this

could account for some of your symptoms.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

Luv - Sheila

After reading articles on this site I am sure that my symptoms are due

to hypothyroidism, but my thyroid test came back normal. I have had a

very stressful few years and apparently have gone through the menopause

( I had a hysterectomy at 25). My father has an underactive thyroid.

My symptoms have seemed to improve only for me to get worse a few days

later. I am now afraid to leave the house on my own and so have made an

appointment to see my first specialist (Heptologist) tomorrow. Any

advice on my approach would be most welcome.

Thank you Debbie

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila Thankyou for your quick response. If I may a couple of questions. Do

I need to ask to see an endocrologist and if so How do I find one that will be

open to these suggestions

Many Thanks Debbie

>

> Hello Debbie, all of your symptoms sound thyroid and adrenal related. Can

> you ask for your blood test results when you see the Heptologist tomorrow,

> together with the reference range for each test done and then post them to

> us on the forum,

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

Hello Debbie and welcome,

I am really sorry to read about all your symptoms – despite your doctor's assurance that your thyroid test was `normal', I would not rule that out just yet ... in fact, it is more than likely that your thyroid function is anything but `normal', but in this country doctors usually just order a TSH and if you are lucky an FT4 and if that comes back within the ref range – anywhere within the norm- your thyroid function is declared `normal'.

I am intrigued by your doctor's comment that whatever is making you ill is not your liver. To say that, he must either have seen something in the blood results or scans that point in a different direction, or - more likely- he has found nothing... yet your glands are up, so your body is fighting something.... and he (probably rightly) concluded that it's a virus your body is fighting. Post viral fatigue is indeed very likely, only that does not exclude thyroid problems – on the contrary.

You might find it interesting to hear that elevations in ALT are not always down to liver disease – ALT is also a muscle enzyme.... and that brings us perhaps a little closer to the crux of the matter – you say that you suffer from muscle pain, which signals inflammation. It would be really useful to see copies of all your results – scans included - because without seeing the figures (and ref ranges) it is all a bit hit and miss. Do you think you could ask your doctor for copies of all the results and then post them here, please? It would really help. Don't be afraid to ask, you are perfectly within your rights to get copies of everything. It's one of the first things we tell all our members – to get copies of the results (plus ref ranges) and never to accept a verdict of `all is normal'.

After reading articles on this site I am sure that my symptoms are dueto hypothyroidism, but my thyroid test came back normal. I have had avery stressful few years and apparently have gone through the menopause( I had a hysterectomy at 25). My father has an underactive thyroid

I agree with you... it is very likely that your thyroid function is anything but normal and a viral infection might well have acted as a trigger for thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland). However, the thyroid gland rarely fails within a short period of time (weeks) – it can be a very long process and take many months to even years. During this time the patient may have every thyroid sign and symptom under the sun, but the blood results will stay within the "norm" until about 75% of the thyroid gland has ceased to work (either due to an autoimmune process or due to other influences). In the UK you are unlikely to get diagnosed and treated by the NHS until your TSH has risen above 5 ... a sad fact of life for us sufferers. However, do not despair, where there is a will, there is usually a way J

When you see the hepatologist tomorrow, please labour the point that you have a family history of Hypothyroidism, had a hysterectomy at the age of 25 (this alone could account for hormonal problems), that you have umpteen symptoms for Hypothyroidism (make a list) and tell him you are aware that viral infections can trigger Hypothyroidism in susceptible patients – particularly in those with a familial history of endocrine illness. The specialist is likely to order some blood tests anyway, so ask him to please include a thyroid check again, only this time it should be a full TFT – I am pretty sure this will not have been previously done. Ask him to order a TSH, FT4, FT3 and to check both thyroid antibodies TPO & TgAB. (ask him to specifically request the FT3, or it won't be done). In addition- if this has not already been checked – ferritin, folate, magnesium, zinc, copper, Vit B12 and Vit D3. The reason for those parameters is – if ANY of them were low (even low within the ref range) this will hamper thyroid hormone from getting into the cells.

Please let us know how you get on tomorrow.

With best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Thankyou Sheila and .. The haemotologist wanted to admit me to

hospital this morning as I keeled over,but have come home with the option to

return . He has ordered all the blood tests you mentioned, I showed him the

list from your e-mail. I will just have to wait and see what next week brings.

I have ordered the adrean kit as well. Will keep intouch and thankyou again for

your support

Luv Debbie

>

> If you are not getting a satisfactory diagnosis or being prescribed the

> appropriate treatment by your GP then most definitely yes, ask for a

> referral to an endocrinologist who specialises in thyroid disease, and not

> one who has a speciality in diabetes. I will send you a list of medical

> practitioners (some private some NHS) who are known to prescribe using both

> T4 and T3, T3 alone or natural thyroid extract so they know a little more

> about thyroid disease than the average doctor.

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi Sheila Thankyou for your quick response. If I may a couple of questions.

> Do I need to ask to see an endocrologist and if so How do I find one that

> will be open to these suggestions

>

> Many Thanks Debbie

>

>

>

>

> ._,___

>