HI - ANOTHER NEWBIE

[Guest guest]

hi there, calling colleen mcclaren- go to -http://www.johndommissemd.comhe has some very good advice on arthritis, and he makes a lot of sense and tells you about supplements that you can take for this!!Angel.

[Guest guest]

Hello Colleen, I am sorry to hear you are feeling so dreadful

and hope by now you are starting to feel better.

I am making a list of blood tests to ask for and hopefully

you can let me know if I have all the right ones on it - otherwise it

will be a waste of a few weeks! Adrenal,

Candida, Ferritin, Folate, Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, Vit D3, Vit B12 FT4

FT3and TSH TPO and TgAB antibodies. I think I saw something about

selinium here? I can just see his face when I give him

this list!!!!!!!

The only test your GP is likely to do for your adrenals is a

blood test, which shows only a snap shot of what amouont of cortisol you are

secreting at that particular time - this needs to be done at least four times a

day, and the best test to see how your adrenals are functioning is the 24 hour

salivary adrenal profile that you can get done privately through Genova

Diagnostics. TPA members can get a discount for testing adrenals, candida,

thyroid etc and you can find the information in the FILE entitled 'Discounts on

Tests and Supplements' on this forum web site.

I am not sure whether the NHS test for systemic candidiasis, but

you can ask, but Genova also tests for candida antibodies if your doctor won't

do this. The rest of the blood tests you have mentioned, your GP should do.

Tell him/her that you are specifically asking for these tests because should

any of them be low in the reference range, no amount of thyroid hormone can be

fully utilised at cellular level until whatever you are low in is treated with

the appropriate supplement.

I get so frustrated with myself for being so low, etc

and not having the energy to do things. My arthritis is bad in that my

joints are badly worn in shoulders neck and back (lots of xrays and scans over

the yeasrs) - but I think the thryoid problem causes aches and pains over the

rest of me! If it was just the arthritis alone I could cope with

that as it doesnt have all the horrible side effects like this dreaded

thyroid - just pain which can be controlled most of the time. I

researched diets years ago and found they sometimes work for RA but not PSA

unfortunately - I dont eat much red meat etc though just in

case!

The NHS blood tests done for thyroid function ONLY will show

whether the pituitary is secreting any TSH which it does if it recognises low

levels of thyroid hormone in the blood, and only shows whether the thyroid

gland itself is producing sufficient thyroid hormone or not. If your test

results show that your TSH is within the reference range and that your free T4

and free T3 (if they do this test) are also within the reference range, you

will be told that you do not have a thyroid problem because they will tell you

both your pituitary and thyroid gland are secreting the required level of

hormones.

What these tests do NOT show, however, is whether the thyroid

hormone is being utilised at cellular level and this is the case for many

patients who are being left without a proper diagnosis and therefore being

denied the treatment that will make them well, so if your results come back

normal, be prepared to discuss this with your doctor. Doctors, unfortunately,

are not trained about this.

I have put off having my new injections as I think any

more side effects of meds at the moment will just kill me off completely!

For the past four days I havent even been able to get out of the house let

alone drive etc. so am really not well. I am even off food and tea -

which is so unlike me as I exist on about 20-30 cups a day. Hold on

while I scream please!!!

I would recommend getting the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile

to see where your cortisol and DHEA levels are at 4 specific times during the

day and night and take it from there. I would also ask the GP to check to see

whether you have thyroid antibodies. If you have, these antibodies see your

thyroid gland as public enemy number one and set about its gradual destruction

so it is unable to secrete any thyroid hormones at all.

When your results come back, post them with the reference range

for each of the tests done, but make your GP realise that you are absolutely

determined to find the cause of your symptoms and will NOT give up by being

told your results are 'normal'  - if they are.  Doctors should NOT be treating

bits of paper, they should be looking into your family history to find out

whether there are other members of your family who have a thyroid or autoimmune

disease. They should be checking your symptoms and looking at the signs you are

showing. You can do this yourself by checking 'Symptoms and Signs' in our web

site www.tpa-uk.org.uk and clicking on

'Hypothyroidism' in the Menu. If necessary, make a list of these and take them

to your doctor and ask her to place your list into your medical notes.

Luv - Sheila

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