Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

If its not an underactive thyroid or anaemia...what could it be?

67 replies

DoItTooJulia · 27/08/2013 15:09

I have been feeling shitty for a while. I'm very tired and lethargic. Everything seems like too much effort.

I had a baby 9 months so and I had been putting my symptoms down to new mom knackeredness but I don't think it is that.

I went to see GP a couple of weeks ago who ordered thyroid function test and a full blood count. I called for the results today and was told that the doctor has seen them and hasn't asked for you to make another appointment. I assume that means they are ok.

Trouble is I still feel rotten. My hair is falling out, I have a constant low level headache and could sleep at any time. If I do sleep, I feel no better.

I have made another appt, but the next available was next week, which is aaaages away when I feel this crap.

Anyone any ideas?

OP posts:
Montybojangles · 27/08/2013 15:54

Vitamin D deficiency is a possibility. Nag them into a test (it's a bit expensive, so they can be reluctant). Did you take supplements when pregnant/breast feeding?

Original poster
DoItTooJulia · 27/08/2013 16:29

Thanks for the reply. I'm sat here watching the baby and I haven't got the energy to read him a book FFS.

I took supplements on and off. Yes when pregnant but less so when bf. I'll dig them out and restart I think.

I had considered b12 deficiency too.

OP posts:
PostBellumBugsy · 27/08/2013 16:34

Get the results - ask the receptionist to read them out to you & then cross check them online yourself. You could be low on the iron front or low ferritin. Also, if you just had TSH & not T4 or T3 for the thyroid test, then you could still have thyroid issues but they haven't been properly investigated.

bamboobutton · 27/08/2013 16:41

does any of these symptoms apply to you?

I spent years going to the doctor for thyroid/anaemia tests and turned out it was fibromyalgia.

Original poster
DoItTooJulia · 27/08/2013 16:49

To be honest, I'm finding that I have every illness going when I look at symptoms lists.

I also find it hard to pinpoint exactly how I feel. I just know I'm not right IYSWIM. I almost feel pmt like but all of th e time. Ad I am not a great sufferer of pmt.

I will get the results. I might make an urgent appt for tomorrow because e just don't feel right.

Thanks all

OP posts:
belleshell · 27/08/2013 18:43

when my DS was 9 months I was signed off work feeling very similar, all I wanted was for me and DS to be left alone, I was told it was post natal depression, I went with that diagnosis had 6 weeks of work, started anti depressants but didn't feel much better, I had cycles of feeling worse, and over the years I have had every diagnosis going..........14 years later on.......I now know I have ME, which fits with the fibromyalgia criteria also... I hope you get to the bottom of this soon, they don't stay babies for long..x

BumgrapesofWrath · 27/08/2013 18:48

Could it be diabetes?

Original poster
DoItTooJulia · 27/08/2013 18:54

I just don't want to come away from the docs without further investigations. I never ever feel poorly enough to see a doctor, so it's a sure sign I feel rough.

I had considered ME/CFS, but I really hope it's not. Belleshell, did it take 14 years to get a diagnosis??.?

Re diabetes, I had a GTT in pregnancy and that was fine....does that rule it out?

OP posts:
BumgrapesofWrath · 27/08/2013 19:16

The reason I say this is I had the GTT in pregnancy, and was deemed fine. But now I'm sure I've got Type 2 (8 months post-partum), and I've asked to be tested for it. Feeling tired aand rubbish is a sign.

(By the way, I think the GTT might be rubbish as I endedup birthing a hufehuge baby)

Original poster
DoItTooJulia · 27/08/2013 19:21

Oh the irony! My GTT was fine too, but I was induced as they suspected baby had stopped growing (below 0.4th percentile) but was born 3 weeks early at 8 lbs!

Will look at the symptoms. Hope you are ok? Thanks!

OP posts:
primallass · 27/08/2013 19:23

I would ask for your numbers. GPs are notorious for going with the lab results for thyroid tests and discarding symptoms. Get the results and the lab ranges and see if you are borderline.

Rooners · 27/08/2013 19:24

I think folate deficiency can make your hair fall out, or hormone issues x

Rooners · 27/08/2013 19:25

sorry I mean mine fell out when ds was about 3mo, it's stopped now, and growing again.

I don't know if that means he used up all the [what makes hair] at some point of the pregnancy or if it was a hormone drop at 3mo.

But anyway. Good luck and I hope you're better soon.

Jenda · 27/08/2013 19:26

my mums thyroid test came back negative but she persisted and it turns out she did have an underactive thyroid but her pituary gland was working overtime to keep things normal so her levels looked fine..Could you ask the Dr to look into it?

I am hypothyroid and still working towards the right level of meds. whatever it is I have total sympathy for how crap you feel and hope things get better soon Smile

Bluecarrot · 27/08/2013 19:27

I felt like this for about 6 years and was told it was " just part of being a single mum" by the GP. Another did all blood work etc and said nothing strange. I was referred to the hospital for insulin sensitivity and they basically looked at my file and said " looks like normal patenthood to me! ( 14 hours sleep several days a week? Yeah. Normal Hmm)

I went to a natural therapist who did a weird test in me that revealed I was actually intolerant to several foods. They suggested exclusion diet of all for 6 months as like a detox. I also came off gluten, all sugar for 3 months and all refined for 9 months.

The foods she isolated as problematic for me were beef, basil and coffee.

I took several supplements for between 1- 6 months as well.

It was a pain in the butt. But 6 weeks in I felt amazing. I still get a bit tired after 1 year off the diet but so so much less. It was like a fog in my brain had lifted. Now all I take are multivitamins and advance 7 probio ( holland and Barrett- check it out on sale.)

mikkii · 27/08/2013 19:32

It sounds similar to many of my symptoms, which I had just put down to being a working mum of 3, and being over 40.

Two years ago I got a really sore tongue and that forced me to do something. I have pernicious anaemia, aka B12 deficiency. This is an auto-immune disorder which usually affects older people, but can be triggered by pregnancy.

Did your doctor get full blood panel run? Ask for a print out of the results.

Original poster
DoItTooJulia · 27/08/2013 19:46

Yeah, I expected some hair to fall out, but it's getting to be quite a lot. Even if I touch my head a mass comes away. I've not got any bald patches, but I have got loads of hair. Well had, it is getting thinner. And it wasn't like this with ds1.

I don't know about a full blood panel, it was a full blood count and thyroid function test.

For some reason, my gut feeling is still thyroid issues, but I don't know why. I'm definitely going back tomorrow. I'll update you all.

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate it!

OP posts:
vitaminC · 27/08/2013 20:47

I'm a medic myself and spent almost 2 years having test etc for very similar symptoms. It turned out to be a severe vitamin D deficiency in the end, and ever since that was treated I've been fine!

Original poster
DoItTooJulia · 27/08/2013 21:29

How interesting that it could be Vitamin D.

I'm concerned that the doctor will be either dismissive or think I am a google diagnoser/hypochondriac.

OP posts:
wileycoyote · 27/08/2013 22:37

Watching with interest - I have the same problem with fog/major hair loss - am awaiting ferritin (iron stores) and thyroid results.

Original poster
DoItTooJulia · 27/08/2013 22:38

Hey Wiley, when did you have your bloods taken? My results were really quick...only had them taken on Thurs, results were in today!

OP posts:
mercibucket · 27/08/2013 22:40

as everyone says, you need the numbers, could easily still be either thyroid or anaemia yet

wileycoyote · 27/08/2013 22:46

I had them done on Friday, not back yet - I phoned the doc today as I was feeling crap..
Did they test ferritin for you - this can be low and you can have normal iron levels but you still get anaemia symptoms. That happened to me before..

MrsGSR · 27/08/2013 22:48

Are you getting enough protein in your diet? I read an article recently that listed constant fatigue, feeling weak and hair loss as problems associated with a low protein diet.

Original poster
DoItTooJulia · 27/08/2013 22:57

Yeah, I'm definitely going to ask for the numbers. No idea about ferritin. Going to go through all of this tomorrow.

Hmm, tricky to answer re protein. I am veggie and have been more or less for life, so I am aware that I need protein in decent quantities, but because I'm not feeling great (especially by the evening) I'm not cooking such good stuff. I do eat cheese, lentils, veggie saus and nuts, so I hope so!

I'm going to start on my supplements tomorrow, but I guess if you have proper deficiencies you need more than a bog standard multi vitamin?

Wiley, hopefully your results will be in tomorrow. Fog is a great way of describing it, i described to my mum as mentally clumsy...

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread