Looking for an endo recommendation in Scotland

[BuntyCollocks]

I'm on the thyroid uk boards, thanks to a lovely mumsnetter who pointed me in their direction, and my thyroid seems to be packing in.

I had blood tests at the end of may at a 9am appt which showed my TSH as 1.58 and t4 as 13 (ranges 0.4-4 and 9-21). Had them done again less than two weeks later at a 11:45 appt and TSH was 3.1 and T4 down to 10 (timings important as thyroid levels are circadian and so should be highest in the morning; therefore, following that logic, had my blood been taken at 9am with the second lot of tests, it probably would have been a worse result according to nurse).

Despite this, endo has said I'm likely not hypo, despite a huge list of symptoms, as I'm still technically within 'normal' range, although he wants to check thyroid antibodies. He also said T4 is 'not important'.

Anyway, I'm moving back to Scotland in 3 weeks. I'm hoping there is a sympathetic endo up there who looks at the thyroid guidelines as per thyroid uk which state that ideally TSH should be below 1, and T4 in top 25% of range.

Does anyone have any recommendations, please?

if your thyroid has not yet packed in, you have time to try to turn things around. have you had a celiac test? do you eat healthily etc? hope you find the endo you want but i would start by trying to avoid this. btw have you tested antibodies yet?

No test for celiac, being completely honest, I don't eat that healthily. My appetite is all but gone, now, though still putting weight on, but food is very much of the beige variety - two small dc, crippling tiredness, and a husband who is very opposed to anything green is not a good combo. So, it tends to be toast in the morning, half a sandwich at lunch, then meat and pasta/salad for tea. downfall is definitely swapping lunch for cake

Antibodies not tested yet, I'm awaiting an appt as they also want to test me for Addisons (although reading up on that, where a big symptom is unexplained weight LOSS, I find that highly doubtful), and that involves a morning admission to hospital.

Have you had any other tests crippling tiredness is a symptom of so many diseases. Mine has worsened recently bloods recheck was vit d, vit b12, folate, T4, TSH, thyroid antibodies, ANA, ESR, full haematology, U&Es and liver profile. You are never going to find the other diseases unless you look.

Just had a phonecall booking me in for my symptosin (that is totally not the name for it, but it begins with an s) test on Thursday morning, when I imagine they'll also test for the thyroid antibodies.

They've not done any other tests at the moment. Crippling tiredness is not my only symptom, it is one of a list as long as my arm.

What are your other symptoms bunty? As there is a lot of cross over in symptoms in the immune mediated disease of which thyroid is one, but there are a huge number of others.

Symptoms:

Chronic constipation
Complete inability to lose wight - 600 cal diet for over a month
and didn't lose a pound
Feel the cold/cold hands and feet
Always bone crunchingly tired
My periods - they start for a day, stop completely for 2, then restart really clotty and heavy - like someone has turned on a tap
Low libido
Dry skin on face/dry and thickened skin on feet
Sore muscles - like a flu
Memory loss/hard to concentrate. I can literally be halfway through a story and forget what the hell I was saying with no distraction involved
Consistent BBT of 36.1
Loss of appetite
Hoarse voice
Diminished sweating - I was constantly on a quest for a good anti perspirant before
Puffy face/hands/ankles
Numb fingers
Dry Mouth
Dry/Gritty eyes - can no longer wear contacts
Back and loin pain
Body hair loss
Spots

Your symptoms could fit the following conditions and several others:

Sjorgrens syndrome
Mixed connective tissue disease
Lupus
Pernicious anaemia when it is combined with coeliac
Fibromyalgia
Thyroid disease

I have at least three of these conditions it is very common to multiple immunemediated conditions.
I think the net needs to be widened to consider a range of conditions.

In particular lacking mucus production would point to sjorgrens in particular.

I think the test you will be booked in for is a Synacthen test(ACTH simulation test), they take blood to measure your cortisol then take blood 2? hours later than take it again 2 hours after that and then compare the levels of cortisol - cant really remember as it was a long time ago. it tests cortisol levels. you get the injections in your bum if that what it is.

ACTH Stimulation test would be for cushings or addisions disease.
I actually currently have every single one of your symptoms and bloods have confirmed a positive ANA with a heterogenous speckled pattern so at least one of my autoimmune conditions (though not thyroid) is on the rampage.
Whilst normally the meds have to be prescribed by a rheumatologist my doctor looked at me and said you are barely coping arn't you. I couldn't even speak at this point as I am so tired that tears are immenient most of the time. So she has prescribed me my immune modulating meds at top whack. I will take a month to start to improve I know.
Personnaly I would think you are better with a rheumatologist rather than and endo who will look at the whole picture including your thyroid.

Yes, it was a synacthen test for addisons, and they are also repeating my t4 and tsh, as well as doing the thyroid antibodies.

How do you even begin to get the medical profession to take you seriously? I'm in a seriously bad way, and I feel at times I'm being placated.

I'm not an idiot, but I'm made to feel like one, and an interfering know it all, because I research.

Was in this morning for three hours. Slept between tests. Was bliss. Still shattered. Slept from 10-7 last night.