Vitamin Deficiency/Hypothyroidism?

[igotdemons]

I’m at a bit of a loss when it comes to my health just lately so thought I’d ask here if anyone has had similar experiences?

I’ve had a lot of issues over the past 12 months, but getting my GP interested is like trying to walk through treacle! 🙈

Last year I had an MRI which showed I had two herniated discs (F4 & F5). However, they said it wouldn’t be causing me any issues in respect of nerves etc.

Fast forward to this year and recently my feet and lower legs have felt tingly. I spoke to my GP about it and she couldn’t have been less bothered if she tried! Initially I wondered if I could be deficient in B12 as I am Vegetarian and don’t really eat many foods with B12 in them (although I do take a multivitamin) plus I take metformin for PCOS and this can cause issues with B12. After a bit of badgering I had the blood test and according to my GP all my bloods came back ‘normal’.

However, I am loathe to trust this because last year my hair started falling out at the same time my periods returned after weight loss and were very heavy. I queried my iron levels, had a blood test and was told they were ‘normal’. Turns out they were 26 and my dermatologist says they need to be over 70 for good hair growth so I’ve been taking an iron supplement for 6 months, levels still only at 56 now! 😣

I’m also at high risk for hypothyroidism, which I know some GP’s will say your ranges are normal when apparently they are not. Just lately I have been absolutely freezing all the time which is not like me, I am always too warm! My arms ache a lot too when just doing things like holding a book open to read it.

I’m seeing my GP in a fortnight for a neurological exam and in the meantime I am having a private blood test for vitamin deficiencies and thyroid to see what the private doctors opinion is on my results.

So really after all that waffle (apologies!) what I am asking is have any of you been told your bloods were ‘normal’ when they weren’t normal for you and when you corrected them yourselves with supplements etc. they sorted your issues out? I’m getting to the end of my rope as I’ve not felt right for a year now! 😣

[quote Mumteedum]@igotdemons my ferritin levels were 11 when I was tested. They didn't bother to even tell me. They'd told me they'd ring if there was a problem and didn't. When I checked, months had gone by with awful symptoms.

After many more months I got levels up to 40. I was checked again and back down to 20 but doctor insisted this was fine and normal.

I was going to ask for another test last autumn when I was feeling awful but then all blood tests in my area were cancelled to do with covid.

In part, I felt better when perimenopause stopped my periods for 5 months but then they came back with a vengeance. If I mention peri, Dr tries to give me antidepressants and the pill.

I'm such a tangle of stuff. Feel like I'll never be well sometimes. It gets me down because I never have any energy. I'm a lone parent and work full time and I've got nothing left beyond responsibilities.

Sorry to moan!

@YNK you sound like you really know your stuff! I've thought for a long time that the omeprazole was an issue (Dr rubbished this) . I bought a book called the acid watchers diet. But I gave up when I tried to come off it as it was pure agony.

I'm sure I need to lose weight and do all manner of things but a lot of the time my head isn't in the right place to do it.

I'm a bit useless aren't I?😫[/quote]
That sounds dreadful @Mumteedum! 😣 I would never normally run the NHS down because I’ve had such good experiences with them but the past 2 or 3 years it’s been a completely different story. It’s like they just don’t care anymore 😣

All my symptoms are frightening me but I get no reassurance from the GP, just a very matter of fact attitude, which doesn’t help at all ☹️ I’m waking up everyday with practically a new symptom (today it’s random muscle pains and aches when I haven’t done anything to warrant them!). The stress has caused me to develop TMJ disorder now, so I’m dealing with more pain on waking and sometimes after eating. I’m an absolute mess too so you’re not alone nor useless. There aren’t many days go by for me at the moment when I don’t break down out of frustration, terror or just plain exhaustion from dealing with this constantly. If you want to, feel free to PM me and we can moan about it together! I really hope you’re able to get to the bottom of your issues, too 💐

@Mumteedum Regarding the weight loss thing, I was 128kg this time last year and very close to being pre diabetic so was absolutely distraught about that and immediately started to lose weight. I am now 98kgs (so still a good 20kgs to go), however since starting to lose weight, all my problems began (and it’s literally been one thing after another for me) so I would caution you against doing anything about your weight until you’ve got your other issues sorted, just in case it exacerbates anything 💐

TMJ is a symptom of B12d
Insulin resistance is a symptom of folate anaemia.

Just FYI, injectable B12 cannot be patented because it's classed as a 'Natural Substance' unlike B12 pills, sprays, patches etc.IE, there's no profit for anyone (which is why it's so cheap)

b12-institute.nl/caution-note-about-oral-supps/

Just out of interest, as I have a lot of the same problems as people on this thread, does anyone ever get patches of skin that feel sore to the touch, almost like sunburn, but there's nothing visibly there? I get them quite often and I also have reflux, tmj and lots of aching joints and muscle pains. I have tinnitus too but am also deaf and wear hearing aids so the tinnitus is probably a separate issue.
I have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia but I don't believe this is what I have. I'm taking iron (spatone) as I have low iron stores and also use the better you vit D and b12 sprays.

Apologies havent read everything but vit D of 72 nmol is not OK. It should be 200/225 nmol. 72 is ok if it is is ng/ml

Well I just went for a blood test. New doctor and she seems thorough as they took at least an armful! We'll see what happens.

Hope you are hanging in there

How are you @igotdemons?

I got my bloods back. I'm going to get a print out next week but doctor said all within normal apart from slightly elevated inflammatory marker. Can't remember what she called it now. She wants to see me in person to prod me next week and is doing a repeat test. She also said she'd be happy to do rheumatology referall but not a given whether it would show anything.

However the normal iron result is 26 so not exactly stellar and vit d is 49 so 1 under the ok range so she's saying it's ok.

@Mumteedum

How are you *@igotdemons*?

I got my bloods back. I'm going to get a print out next week but doctor said all within normal apart from slightly elevated inflammatory marker. Can't remember what she called it now. She wants to see me in person to prod me next week and is doing a repeat test. She also said she'd be happy to do rheumatology referall but not a given whether it would show anything.

However the normal iron result is 26 so not exactly stellar and vit d is 49 so 1 under the ok range so she's saying it's ok.

@Mumteedum Sorry, I haven’t been back to this thread as I’ve had an awful headache for the past week and a half, so trying to limit my screen time (pretty sure it’s because I stopped taking my iron tablets so back on them now).

Great news that you had your bloods done and got your results back! ☺️ Your iron levels are similar to what mine were last summer (23), so on the low end. I’m sure that if I hadn’t have been taking a multivitamin I would have been anaemic 😣 My hair was falling out and everything but of course the GP said my levels were fine! 🙄

Your vitamin D is low, you definitely need to take some of that, should be 80 apparently for optimum health. I hope you’re able to get some answers when you see your GP.

I’m seeing mine on Friday but I’m not holding my breath! 🙄😣 Just sent off my private bloods so hoping I get those results before I see the GP. Not expecting anything hugely different but thought I’d do it anyway. Sick of having all these symptoms and no answers! 😢

Check your T4 score against the range. Many hypo people find they need it well into the upper half of the range to feel well

My GP likes to see my T4 well into the mid-range.

This thread has been very informative. I was diagnosed hypothyroid in the late 90s and have been on thyroxine ever since. But I didn't know there was a connection with tinnitus, which I've had since before my thyroid diagnosis. I was referred to ENT for sinus problems in approx 2003, and because of my tinnitus the consultant ran a whole range of tests, and ended up diagnosing me with Meniere's. (My late mother had both hypothyroidism and Meniere's, so that wasn't really a shock.)

The omeprazole intrigued me too, as I take lansoprazole for a hiatus hernia (which my mother also had).

Does anyone know if lansoprazole has the same effect as omeprazole? Both are proton pump inhibitors.

Well my private bloods all came back within range. My active B12 is on the lower side but still within range.

I’m sitting here tonight and my feet are really tingling, aswell as my hands now. It’ driving me absolutely mad! There must be a reason for it... of course my GP says ‘We may never know what’s causing it’. Yeah, thanks for that... 🤬

@igotdemons did you get a copy of your results? I'm getting one today. I might go see a nutritionist or something. I know how you feel. I've been periodically not right and taking tests for couple of years at least.

@Mumteedum Yes I did, I’ve got copies of both my NHS and private results. I’m now mulling over whether to see a private GP in person or whether they will just dismiss me too? Good luck 💐