Another Thyroid Question???

[MrFranklyShankly]

Hi folks,

I know there are a few threads about thyroids already but I just wanted to ask ye a few questions about it, if anyone can answer for me. I been to the drs now since last September over lots of different issues....found out via MRI scan before xmas I have discs out in my neck, back and middle spine.....so that explains one bunch of symptoms I presented with....but doesnt explain the others, which are heart palpatations, sweating (esp at night in bed, I wake up soaked) feeling cold all the time, even when its a mild say, I'm so cold, feels like its hitting my bones.....and have a constant feeling of shakiness, jittery feeling....I just feel awful most of the time.....now I feel like I cant really complain any more, that I'm annoying my gp as when I went to him first he was concerned that I might have MS and did do his best to get me seen at the hospital for the scan....he did take bloods from me in September and they told me nothing showed up on them, didnt get any exact readings of anything....but recently a friend of mine said it sounded like I could have a thyroid problem and I should go get my bloods taken again......so went off to the gp (again, feeling like I should apologise everytime I go in for bothering them) and he said no need as I had them taken in September and it would not change in that period of time??? So I really dont know where to go now, I feel so bad, have this horrible feeling in my throat as well, which he gave me antibiotics for (for the 3rd time) and it just isnt shifting.....feels like theres something blocking one side......so after a very long winded story......what do ye think?? Anyone that has thyroid problems, does it sound anything like that, could it by my thyroid????Really feel at a loss and just want to crawl into bed and not get up again, which I cant do having two DD's that need an active mum!

I just feel since they feel its not MS I have, its nothign to worry about.....even though I'm still left with all my symtoms the same....apart from my back which I'm getting physio for....feel so frustrated.

Any advice would be great.......thanks for taking the time....

Frankly

I've had an over and under active thyroid and some of your symptoms do fit over active. My initial thought was that you actually sound like you are suffering with anxiety.

A lot can change in 5 months so not taking bloods because they did it in Sept is a bit shoddy. But IME Drs seem to think that anything that makes you feel exhausted and dreadful, with non-specific aches and pains isn't worth bothering with. Its so annoying that they happily dole out antibiotics and anti depressants like sweeties, rather than look at the underlying problems.

Sounds like Thyroid could be an issue to me, especially given lump in throat ( I have underactive but have read a lot about it in general - it can fluctuate between over & under, symptoms overlap too, so difficult to say which way).

Bear in mind that even if you get a test and your levels appear "within normal ranges" you could still be suffering with symptoms, as "your normal" may be different from someone elses. I have to constantly fight my corner to get enough Thyroxine to feel well, as they're so paranoid about giving me too much and they ignore how I feel in favour of the numbers on screen.

Could you get a blood test done privately if your GP won't do it, at least then you have something to show him. I know its hard to get the motivation to sort this out yourself when you feel so low. Do you have a supportive partner who can help you book appointments and even come along for moral support/taking notes? I know I would feel much stronger if I felt that I wasn't in it alone.

Hi Edna & Epilator, thanks for replying......yeah initially I was putting everything down to anxiety, because of the scare we'd had with my inital visit to the dr, when they had mentioned MS, so my anxiety levels before xmas were high, and they even put me on a mild antidepressant but I've come off that now, and to be honest I never felt any better on it, just a bit more sluggish and dozzy.....My Dh is really good, and has been so supportive, but I suppose its hard for him too, to constantly have to give reassurance, think he's probably reached a point where he cant go any further with the support....if you know what I mean, he doesnt see the frustration I have with the dr either really I suppose....I have a friend who is really good, it was her that suggested getting my thyroid checked out as she's had a few things over the last few years herself and she understands how the health service works.....so I think i'm going to go to a different doctor, at another practice near where I work and explain to her and see if I can get my bloods checked again.....I feel like such a hypochondriac, I'm trying really hard to feel okay and go to work and try to get on with things but there are times where I could sit down and cry because I feel like I'm just about holding my head up......Its terrible you nearly have to collapse in a heap to be listened to....I just want to know what I'm talking about too when I go to this other doctor, so they know I wont be fobbed off again.....so is there anything specific I ask for her to look for, any type of blood test???

Thanks for the advice

Frankly

I would suggest telling Dr that a friend who has thyroid disease has insisted you get checked out again, because in her experience things can change a lot in 5 months. Don't mention the internet because I think that just pees them off!

Have you ever had Glandular fever or do any of your relatives have Thyroid disease or other autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis, Crohns, MS)? These should be red flags for Dr and would be a good way to prompt more investigations (although my GP ignored my comments that my mum had thyroid disease and that I felt like I did when I had glandular fever - duh!)

They should be checking TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone - this tells the body to make more thyroid hormone) and T4 (thyroid hormone) levels, but perhaps whilst drawing blood you could ask them to take extra samples for a general blood count/B12 deficiency/anemia etc to rule out anything else which could cause similar symptoms. I also recently had tests to check liver & kidney function and one called ESR or sedimentation rate, which checks for general inflammation in the body, so they might offer that.

You need to educate yourself so that you know what to look out for, but they don't like it when you come armed with too much knowledge, so perhaps the best thing is to break down and cry, tell her specifically how it affects your daily life (make a list, as your brain fog will mean that you miss things) and insist that you have some basic blood tests done, because you know that you are not well and you want to know why.

Good luck, I know its not easy to be strong in the face of adversity when you just want to crawl into a hole until it all goes away, but if it is Thyroid disease its so easily treatable and if not, you can start to try and find out what else it could be.

On a brief read of your OP, I have much the same symptoms as yours, but I'm just about to leave for work, so I'll come back after and post.

Oh and get exact figures for all your tests, as they will just say you're 'within normal' or 'borderline'. If your own 'normal level' would be 7 or 8 then you could well feel crap at either end of that interval (4-11), so its important to know how far within (or indeed outside of) the range your test results fall. It will also help you if you can compare the results to the ones from September to see if anything has indeed changed since then.

Asking for numbers shows you are taking it seriously and they'll be aware that you want to understand your results, not just take their word for it. They can't keep fobbing you off if the numbers show a problem, no matter how slight.

x post!

Hi OP. Have you asked your doctor for a list of what the blood tests screened for. You are quite entitled to ask for a copy of the results sheet. You are also quite entitled to ask to be referred to an endocrinologist. Also if you have a blocked feeling in your throat and three lots of antibiotics haven't worked I would ask for a referral to an ENT specialist as well.

Totally agree with the above posters - you need to know what the numbers are from your blood test. Some health care trusts set different minimum levels for hypothyroid problems, and what can be a low level for you may not be considered a problem under their policy.

I went to my gp with the shaking thing, as I was getting it regularly and had passed out at work - blood tests showed it was hypothyroidism. I've found that I have problems keeping my blood sugar levels stable, and as soon as I've 'run out of energy', then the shakes start. I am always cold, especially my hands and feet.

From everything you've posted, there could be a thyroid issue there.

With regards to the feeling in your throat, is there an actual lump or swelling on the outside of your neck that you can feel?