Hyperthyroid?

[BlackInk]

Hello

I've been having lots of worsening symptoms over the past few years, which I feel might be due to some kind of autoimmune problem. It's a long and boring list but mainly:
Stomach pain/discomfort and nausea
Weightloss
Very dry skin and hair
Hairloss
Allergic rash reaction to sunlight
Joint pain/arthritis
Crushing exhaustion
Zero sex drive (early menopause a few years ago)
Iron and B12 anemia
Low platelets
Positive ANA
Low C3 and C4
Hiatus hernia
I could go on...

My GP is pretty much refusing to help much and won't refer me to a rheumatologist.

I've had TSH tested a few times and it's always right at the bottom of normal range – for example range starts at 0.27 and mine is 0.28. I've never had T3, T4 etc tested.

Last week I had a CT scan to look at my stomach and had a reaction to the contrast dye used – pretty scary throat and nose swelling, high blood pressure/heart rate/temperature, bright red face, violent shaking etc. All ok after antihistamine.

Anyway, this took me by surprise as nothing like this has ever happened to me before so did some googling and discovered that this kind of reaction is much more common with thyroid disease.

I guess my question is whether a borderline low TSH result rules out hyperthyroidism? Quite a few of my symptoms fit, although I've previously thought Lupus was the likely culprit.

Any advice or similar experiences very welcome!

Thank you...

[BatshitCrazyWoman]

No advice, OP, but am in a similar situation - my TSH is 0.01 ...

I have a GP appointment next week to talk about it. I don't have the same symptoms as you, I'm really tired, get very breathless, so I can't exercise at all, and in the last few days I've not been able to sleep. I do have joint aches though. My blood pressure is good and my ECG looked normal.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will be along soon!

[Somatronic]

OP, some of your symptoms fit with hyperthyroidism but I'm not sure that you would have severe symptoms with a TSH still in the normal range. Can you get TSH and T4 tested in a couple of months?

I'm not a medical practitioner by the way, but I have Graves disease and Hashimotos thyroiditis.

[BatshitCrazyWoman]

OP you can pay for a thyroid test (TSH, T4 and T3) privately, if that's an option? Medichecks is one company.

[Thatsajokeright]

TSH can't be fully relied on by itself. I have many of the same symptoms but am hypothyroid.

Hypo symptoms and low TSH could indicate central hypothyroidism. Best to get TSH, T4, and T3 tested at the same time to get the full picture.

[Hopevoyager]

Hi op, not sure if you got to the bottom of this yet but are you having treatment for your b12 deficiency? Do you know what number you were at? It’s amazing how poorly uneducated medical professionals are in the consequences of not treating b12d correctly.
i wouldn’t be surprised if you need b12 shots and ongoing treatment

[BlackInk]

Hi @Hopevoyager My B12 was 120 when they finally agreed to giving me injections, but it had been below range (I think range starts at 200) for a few years and they didn't treat it. I've been on 3-monthly B12 injections for a couple of years now so don't think that can be the cause of my symptoms. Thank you though.

[DeedIDo]

TSH tells you what message your pituitary gland is sending to your thyroid. It does not tell you what your thyroid does with that message. I was very hypo with a TSH under 2 because my thyroid was basically just filing the message.

Looking at your symptoms list, you need full thyroid testing, which you won't get on the NHS, but which you can do privately.

Lots of advice on the ThyroidUK forum.