What's wrong with me? Blood tests are fine!

[cakedup]

Had a blood test recently as was feeling very fatigued and run down. Kept getting other symptoms which came and went like constipation, muscle weakness, pins and needles and red dry flaky patches all over my face including eyelids - sometimes with puffiness which I've never had before (normally my skin is quite oily!). Not sure if all these symptoms are related to each other but I thought I had underactive thyroid as symptoms seem to fit.

Blood tests come back fine except very slightly low iron and low thyroid levels, not enough to warrant medication.

So why am I feeling so shit? My job is quite physical and I'm just feeling so worn out.

I did have a hysterectomy (ovaries left in) in November but had such a good and speedy recovery so don't feel it's connected.

Anyone had similar symptoms?

Oh I'm 45 btw.

What blood tests did they do?
What were the actual iron and thyroid results?

I don't know know! I just got a letter through to say 'slightly low, nothing to worry about'! I used to be anemic so took iron tablets for years but after hysterectomy was told I didn't need them as no longer losing so much blood. Thyroid levels have come up a bit low in previous blood tests as well so other a new thing.

Oh and from what I remember on the bloods form - full blood count, liver, vit D....Can't remember the rest

Make an appt and go through the results
Ask if they checked your B12

If you have hypothyroid symptoms and low T3/T4 or high TSH then you may benefit from a small dose of thyroxine

But you really need to find out the actual results and the normal scales used

I take b12 supplements as I'm vegan. I don't know, I feel if the Dr doesn't think I have anything to warrant taking medication then I should just put up with any symptoms if they are even related. I could make an appt but that will be for 3 - 4 wks time.

Why should you put up with it?
Make the appt and follow through with the questions - what is causing the issues if it isn't anything they tested for already?

You need the actual numbers.
The references ranges for thyroid values in the UK are seen as much too broad in most of the world. What’s ‘a tad low but fine’ in the UK will have you seeing an endocrinologist in most of Europe.
If you take b12 supplements then that will throw any b12 testing you do. You cannot get an accurate result on any of the b12 tests (there are several measuring different things) while you take supplements.

Ask the surgery for a printout and make sure it has the units and reference ranges in. Then come back 👍

I think it's back to the GP and be assertive! They often ask for blood tests when they don't know what's wrong and I think the results of blood tests are quite limited. Can you find a good GP in your practice and tell him/her what you said in your OP. I think sometimes we don't push hard enough with the GP and don't forget it's our taxes that pay their salaries which are very high and they chose to be GPs. I'm fortunate in that I have a brilliant one but I've had some awful ones who just want you out of the door. Tell them
this is life changing

Funny enough, about a year or so ago, after a blood test, I went to the chemist to pick up my normal prescription, to find that there was medication for under-active thyroid waiting for me. I called the surgery to say I didn't want to take this medication without even discussing it first and ended up seeing another GP who dismissed it, saying thyroid levels were a little low but no way would I need medication. Confused, I then saw another GP who also confirmed the latter. I have since avoided seeing the GP who prescribed the medication but now it seems she could have been on to something!!

My mum has a goiter so wondering if it's hereditary, although from what i understand that is caused by an over active thyroid.

Hypermice I don't understand...if I'm taking B12 supplements, the reason a deficiency might not show up is surely because the supplements are correcting the deficiency rather than disguising it?

Thanks all, you're right, I need to go back to the surgery, get a printout and discuss my symptoms. I think that because it's become so difficult to get appointments (and then feeling like you're on a timer when talking to the GP) can make you undermine the importance of your own health. But yes, I do pay for this service and am entitled to be as healthy as possible.

You make another appointment and you say to the GP, "So the bloods show nothing so what's next?"

Don't be passive. If I was passive in the face of the NHS, I would not have DH right now. If I was passive in the face of the NHS I would not have titanium implants in my pelvis and be able to walk right now.

GreenItWas I'll remember your post the next time I give up because I can't get an appointment, or feel hurried out of the GP's room or my symptoms just get dismissed.

Caked I'm trying to help and I am sincere. With the NHS you have to keep asking until you get to hear what you want. Ask for a second opinion. Ask for a double appointment. Whatever it takes. As I said, if we had listened to DH's consultant and the MDT he would be dead now or certainly in the end stages. We asked for a second opinion at the Churchill in Oxford (Onco) and he has has surgery. He has every chance of living his natural span now. The NHS have a vested interest in doing nothing or when they do do something, that something is cheap. A large percentage of the population are OK with this. Don't be one of them OP. Politely but firmly insist that more is done if you are not helped in the first second third round etc. The last two and a half years have been an eye opener for me, I can tell you! Asking on here is a great idea though as sometimes a small bit of info can be amazingly useful in asking for the right tests but it sounds to me like you have just had the routine haematology/biochemistry that would be the first round IYSWIM. I know it's daunting when you are ill but you need to advocate for yourself and look after yourself and speak up for yourself. Best of luck. Keep going. An answer will coe in time I am sure.

They will be present in your blood - but vitamin b12 is more about than just the amount in your blood. So if you have almost zero levels and are unable to metabolise it properly, and you’re taking a supplement, the test will come back fine but you will still be seriously deficient.

You definitely need to get a printout.

I also, sadly, agree with green - theres a lack of joined up care and a very laissez fairer attitude to even more serious symptoms. When it’s a woman going in with TATT (tired all the time) it’s almost the default stance to deflect and ignore.
Always be polite, but don’t be afraid to push if you feel there’s something wrong with you.

Faire not fairer

Sorry GreenItWas I'm not sure I was clear...I meant that I'm inspired by your post, and that next time I feel like giving up, I'll remember your post and realise that by pushing for the medical attention we need (and pay for!) the results could be life changing.

Hyper is right. I wish we were looked at more holistically but there are cost contraints I guess. We are at our most vulnerable when we engage with healthcare sadly.

Could it be an allergy of some sort OP? Is it worth trying an elimination diet and adding a vitamin and mineral supplement?

I also agree with green. You have to be polite but assertive with the nhs. Don’t down play your symptoms and don’t be fobbed off or feel you are bothering anyone.

Get a printed copy of your results in the first instance.

Slightly low could mean anything. You could still be symptomatic because of this slightly low result. Reference ranges are not optimal in the UK for certain things i.e. thyroid, B12.

Even if your thyroid appears 'ok' unless you have further testing they can't rule it out.

Also I would start taking iron as it's somewhat low (Spatone is good and easy on your stomach) just to get on top of things if it's related to that.

Check the symptoms for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, see if any of those ring a bell. X

GreenItWas weirdly enough, my mum took one look at my face today and said she it looked like an allergy. I told her that I can no longer use my usual face cream as it stings and irritates and she said it's quite possible to develop an allergy to something overnight.

It's definitely not Ehlers Danlos Syndrome ifIwasinvisiblewaitIalreadyam you really couldn't get any less flexible than me! But thanks, good to rule things out.

Slightly low could mean anything. You could still be symptomatic because of this slightly low result. Yes I can totally understand the logic in that and really worth bearing in mind.

Have they changed the formulation of your usual moisturiser?

It might be worth thinking about taking some prebiotic. Interesting programmes on radio 4 at the moment about how the lack or otherwise of gut bacteria can make such a difference to our health. The research is astounding.