Having a great start to the week.... Sorry, loooong post

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I haven't posted in a while but I wanted to share an experience with you. I hope

your week has started better than mine... I have just been to my GP to discuss

my thyroid test results. I also wanted to tell him about this excruciating

feeling of pressure I have been having in my head for 8 weeks.

First, he discussed my thryoid results. The values were:

FT3: 9.6 (3.1-6.8)

FT4: 12 (12-22)

TSH 0.01 (0.27-4.2)

My GP didn't like the supressed TSH and the elevated FT3 at all. I told him that

because I had persistent hypo symptoms, I had upped my dosage (at the time when

the sample was drawn, I was on 6 NDT, didn't feel hyper at all but went down to

5 now because of the FT3).

Anyways, when I told my GP about my persistent hypo symptoms (especially

brainfog and fatigue), he said that they were probably caused by me overdosing.

:| When I asked them if there is any chance he could check the usual suspects

magnesium, zinc, copper, B12, folate, ferritin he declined and said this test

wasn't routinely done.

He then said he isn't quite happy about me not seeing a specialist.

A bit of history on the side: last year I went to see Dr. N as he is on Sheila's

list of good endos. That appointment was a total disaster, with Dr N saying that

taking NDT is not good because it is " inconsistent, dirty pig's thyroid " and

that " he has seen 1000s like me before " and that I have problems losing weight

" because of today's modern lifestyle, people used to walk 8 miles a day hundred

years ago but now they only use cars " . As you can imagine, I wasn't so keen on

seeing him again. So I am now waiting for an appointment with a local endo.

Then I went on to tell my GP about this feeling of pressure in my head. I have

been having it for 8 weeks. It doesn't hurt as such, it just feels as if my

brain is " swelling up and pressing on the sides of my skull " . It is really

uncomfortable and driving me insane. Sometimes I feel like getting a drill and

drilling a hole into my skull so that the pressure can escape. The pressure is

distinctly different from the hypo brain fog feeling, but the result is the

same, I cannot concentrate at all and thus are having problems at work.

My GPs first question was if I suffer from stress. Another bit of history on the

side: he believes I am depressed. It's his answer to everything. He is a nice

and good doctor and I am generally happy with him, but each and every time I see

him, he wants to give me antidepressants and each and every time I tell him I

will not take them. I am NOT depressed, the treatment I am receiving is rather

depressing!

Anyway, I told him I am not suffering from stress more than usual. He then told

me my pressure feeling is caused by tension headaches and I have a choice

between taking antidepressants and anticonvulsants. I said I am not taking

antidepressants. He said try the anticonvulsants then. I asked him what the

sides effect were. He said only sleepiness, but that's why I should take them at

night.

At the time, I didn't know what anticonvulsants were, but I since looked it up.

He prescribed me Gabapentin, which is used to prevent epileptic seizures,

neuropathic pain and MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER. When I read that, I felt

betrayed by my GP because he knew my attitude towards depression and

antidepressants. Anyway, I looked up the list of side effects and it is simply

ridiculous. Side effects include: fatigue, dizziness, headaches, vomiting,

weight gain, nervousness, ataxia, viral infects, depression, hallucinations,

moodiness, brain fog, feelings of hostility and anxiety, even suicidal thoughts.

I was quite taken aback that something that is supposed to cure a sympton can

actually cause it or make it worse... So I decided I will not take them.

Sorry about this super long post. I really had to get this off my chest. My

questions to you are:

1) What do you make of my thyroid results?

Do you think I am overdosing? I have to add that I took my last meds on the

night before the blood test which was done the next afternoon. I know you

shouldn't take them 24 hrs before the test but I forgot.

2) Do you think I could be having an rt3 problem? I keep upping my dosage but

don't feel hyper at all. I can't say whether my adrenals are OK because I didn't

have a saliva test. I do take 2 NAX daily, though. I can't say anything about

the state of magnesium, ferritin, etc., as my GP wouldn't test for those. The

endo tested B12 and folate last year, folate was low, so I am supplementing B12

and folate as well.

3) Do you think I should give those gabapentin pills a try? Or do you agree with

me thining that my GP was a bit cheeky prescribing them?

4) Have any of you ever experienced the pressure in the head feeling?

I would be glad if you could give me some advice. I am looking forward to your

answers.

xxx

(from Birmingham)