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Guess my conditions... cause the GP has no clue.

141 replies

startstopengine · 15/07/2024 15:53

I've just gone into a GP appt fully prepared with my 6 months worth of symptoms.

Her take.. come off HRT and I'll put you on non hormonal antidepressants instead, cut out fibre from your diet and follow a FOMAP plan?

She has ordered in some bloods but any guesses? She's told me I'm not diabetic as my bloods said I wasn't.

Below for the long list...

Thought some were peri menopause related?

Thirst (increases)
Waking at night
Hungry
Sweating smelling like vinegar
Weight gain over 12kg in 8 months
Gastric pain and bloating weekly
Top area of stomach goes really hard
Tired sleeping for 14+ hours
Tired in the afternoons
Blurry eyes for a whole day (eye test) glasses
Gum work having to be done at dentist
Intolerance to any alcoholic drinks
Headaches low level fuzzy
Dizziness occasionally
Hair thinning
Nails brittle

I’m on HRT patch and non cyclic progesterone that stopped a zillion other symptoms, hot flushes, night sweats, awful biweekly heavy bleeding. So HRT has been good to me.

These are all low level until recently they seem to come and go and flare up., but are becoming more obvious

Main issue that’s bothering me is weight gain, I’m tracking 1200 calories a day and I’m still gaining weight, 5k+ steps exercise 3-4 times a week, I literally couldn’t be any better!

OP posts:
Robodog · 15/07/2024 19:08

Add some fermented foods to your diet.

NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy · 15/07/2024 19:15

Have you been tested for Diabetes? You have some red flags there (thirst, tiredness). Type 1 (autoimmune) can occur at any age and can be triggered by viruses like covid

CormorantStrikesBack · 15/07/2024 19:18

Doggymummar · 15/07/2024 16:38

Low vitamin D would account for several of those, and it's extremely common.

Just going to say this, I have a lot from your list and feel awful. Vit d is 30 and should be over 75. Apparently my gp has known for a year and not told me, my rheumatologist was just nosing at my blood results at my appt the other day and told me I have very low vit d and chronic kidney disease which I also hadn’t been told about!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

startstopengine · 15/07/2024 19:30

NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy · 15/07/2024 19:15

Have you been tested for Diabetes? You have some red flags there (thirst, tiredness). Type 1 (autoimmune) can occur at any age and can be triggered by viruses like covid

My NHS standard bloods from a few weeks ago were showing high"ish" in the nurses words but not classed as diabetic.

Same with cholesterol, on the high side but bring it down via diet.

OP posts:
Iseeyoupekingduck · 15/07/2024 19:33

CormorantStrikesBack · 15/07/2024 19:18

Just going to say this, I have a lot from your list and feel awful. Vit d is 30 and should be over 75. Apparently my gp has known for a year and not told me, my rheumatologist was just nosing at my blood results at my appt the other day and told me I have very low vit d and chronic kidney disease which I also hadn’t been told about!

Surely they should be treating your kidney disease?

startstopengine · 15/07/2024 19:34

Robodog · 15/07/2024 19:08

Add some fermented foods to your diet.

I can't eat fermented foods I get an upset stomach for most fermented foods and leftovers and some cheese.

This is why the weight gain is so baffling as I know from following low histamine, Endo diet for years what my triggers are, I know may way around food fairly week and have worked with nutrition. But this weight gain and new bloating isn't making a blind bit of sense.

My good friend has just said her gallstones started presenting with some of my symptoms as well, so I'll add that to the list to eliminate.

I'm really Interested in the vitamin theory's..

OP posts:
herbetta · 15/07/2024 19:44

How long have you been peri and taking low-dose HRT?

My brief take is that you might need to UP your oestrogen?! Things rarely stay static - levels are up & down with a general downward trend. Most women / friends I know end up plateau-ing at some point and need to up their doseage.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 15/07/2024 19:48

Coeliac disease, low vitamin D, low folate, iron and ferritin, dry eyes and raised cholesterol all go alongside thyroid dysfunction (because thyroid hormones affect your whole body).

Mary46 · 15/07/2024 19:49

Hi op my Vit D was 22 should be 50 he said. Symptoms like yours. Hrt I put on weight so off that. Maybe thyroid related?

CormorantStrikesBack · 15/07/2024 19:58

Iseeyoupekingduck · 15/07/2024 19:33

Surely they should be treating your kidney disease?

You’d like to think but no. “Your gp needs to do better” is what my rheumatologist said and I agree. I had no idea my kidney function was low on two tests a year ago. Haven’t been repeated since.

Thank God he looked because he had no reason to, my rheumatology issue has no need for blood tests/results, he was literally nosing about while chatting to me.

Iseeyoupekingduck · 15/07/2024 20:02

CormorantStrikesBack · 15/07/2024 19:58

You’d like to think but no. “Your gp needs to do better” is what my rheumatologist said and I agree. I had no idea my kidney function was low on two tests a year ago. Haven’t been repeated since.

Thank God he looked because he had no reason to, my rheumatology issue has no need for blood tests/results, he was literally nosing about while chatting to me.

I would follow that up if I were you as you don't want to get to a stage where it gets bad before something is done.

PetrichorSoul · 15/07/2024 20:05

You’re severely hypothyroid. I know because I was you 6 months ago.

Am on natural desiccated thyroid now and it’s all improved.

My blood tests were ok according to the GP. Naturopathic doctor vehemently disagreed.

OldBattyBat · 15/07/2024 20:17

If I were your Dr (I'm nobody's Dr just to be clear) I would ask you these questions.

  1. When did each of these symptoms begin?
  2. Do you take any prescription medications regularly? If yes, when did you start taking them?
  3. Do you take any non-prescription meds or any food supplements regularly? If yes, when did you start taking them?
  4. Have you made any major changes to your diet recently, such as going low-carb, fasting or restricting calories?

The answers to those might provide a place to start in analysing what might be going on. For example, if the answers to 2, 3 or 4 roughly corresponded with 1, that would be a strong indication of the problems either being side effects of the drugs you're taking or an imbalance of nutrition from dietary changes.

Robodog · 15/07/2024 20:23

You might be able to tolerate probiotic drinks like water kefir and kombucha. You could follow the leaky gut protocol, introducing small amounts slowly.

Definitely increase your Vitamin D levels, most of us are deficient. Official recommendations are too conservative, 4000 IU daily is fine. Can you consume milk or want to? A2 proteins are more easily digestible (Jersey, Guernsey). I know it's not getting to the bottom of it but may ease some symptoms?

Have you tried a SAD lamp? You can buy alarm clocks that wake the body up slowly, mimicking natural sunlight. How about fasting for autophagy and weight loss, supplementing with salts, magnesium citrate and bone broth?

I think you may have an underlying problem and need to be persistent, unfortunately.

Robodog · 15/07/2024 20:28

From my understanding, short bursts of high-intensity exercise is hugely beneficial.

startstopengine · 15/07/2024 21:21

PetrichorSoul · 15/07/2024 20:05

You’re severely hypothyroid. I know because I was you 6 months ago.

Am on natural desiccated thyroid now and it’s all improved.

My blood tests were ok according to the GP. Naturopathic doctor vehemently disagreed.

How did you get to that place and diagnosis?

OP posts:
startstopengine · 15/07/2024 21:24

herbetta · 15/07/2024 19:44

How long have you been peri and taking low-dose HRT?

My brief take is that you might need to UP your oestrogen?! Things rarely stay static - levels are up & down with a general downward trend. Most women / friends I know end up plateau-ing at some point and need to up their doseage.

About 8 months and the lower dose was a gradual one because of historical endometriosis. I had wide excision surgery so removed it but I was nervous of putting too much oestrogen back into my system quickly.

I cough gradually increasing as I only use 2 small patches Sunday/ Wednesday.

OP posts:
NannyGythaOgg · 15/07/2024 22:22

Thyroid, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 and Magnesium.

Within range is not optimal. If you are below mid range for any of these you would very likely benefit from more. B12 and D3 particularly

startstopengine · 15/07/2024 22:41

herbetta · 15/07/2024 19:44

How long have you been peri and taking low-dose HRT?

My brief take is that you might need to UP your oestrogen?! Things rarely stay static - levels are up & down with a general downward trend. Most women / friends I know end up plateau-ing at some point and need to up their doseage.

It's been approx 8 months.

OP posts:
startstopengine · 15/07/2024 22:42

TheShiningCarpet · 15/07/2024 18:30

Do you take your progesterone orally? I had awful stomach issues - pain, bloating, hardness of stomach so now take it vaginally and it’s resolved the gastric issues. It is also a sedative so will increase tiredness’s

Can I ask more about this? What is the product you take called? Is it a specific brand.

OP posts:
Brightredtulips · 15/07/2024 22:43

Get your thyroid checked

startstopengine · 15/07/2024 22:46

Just wanted to say so so much helpful advice and really eye opening. My bloods are Wednesday I should have results a week later so I'll check in, any more thoughts in the meantime I'm all ears.

If they say "in range" I may do some extra googling as there is definitely something of and a few things not adding up.

I'm functioning, working, socialising and technically "well" but would love to just feel a bit more lively and normal and not have to fake smile my way through meetings and events.

OP posts:
startstopengine · 15/07/2024 22:47

Brightredtulips · 15/07/2024 22:43

Get your thyroid checked

That's the first one on the bloods being checked.

OP posts:
Lovelyview · 15/07/2024 22:48

I haven't read the whole thread so I don't know if someone else has said this. Antidepressants are prescribed for menopause symptoms so a doctor will be suggesting them to treat hot flushes not because they think you're depressed.

startstopengine · 15/07/2024 22:59

I've just been on my NHS app

HbA1c < 42 mmol/mmol - my results from week for diabeties i was told normal range?
this is above normal?

OP posts: