Feeling so unwell and think its my thyroid

[fedup2221]

For years now, I haven't felt 'normal' or 'well'.

I guess its ruled out that whatever is causing my symptoms can't be life threatening as I'm still alive, but my quality of life is terrible.

Im in my thirties but this has been going on since my mid twenties. I suspect i'm either lacking in something vitamin wise or something is wrong with my thyroid, but my Gp won't test anything other than TSH. Which always comes back around the 2 - 4 reading. The 'normal' reading being about 0 - 5 mIU/L, I think.

I was recently examined upon going to the surgery to yet again complain about my symptoms. I was told by two doctors, that my thyroid feels a little swollen and that I would be referred for an ultra sound on it. In the meantime, I had a blood test, which yet again came back normal, along with iron and ferritin, B12 etc.

I'm really low today as I really struggled again at work. I seem to be sleeping ok, but I was so tired to the point of being in bed the moment I got home. I work 9-5, so not like the hours are shifts or unusual.

As well as being ridiculously tired, i'm cold a lot, my legs and arm muscles ache to the point I can barely lift my arms and my throat around where my thyroid is, feels slightly inflamed.

But... told everything is 'normal'. The TSH is in range!

If it makes any difference, I am of normal height and weight and bloated, but haven't put on weight in all these years. Periods seem normal as well. Never been pregnant.

I sometimes, but rarely, have days where I can have bursts of energy. And when this happens, I get as much done as I can as I know i'll likely go back to feeling like crap in a few hours or the following day.

I want to request more tests like antibodies, T3 and T4. But I am told that as standard, the NHS will only do TSH and only follow up if its out of range.

Hypothyroidism does exist in older relatives of my family.

I wonder what the ultrasound will show up.

Has anybody got any ideas what could be wrong? Experienced similar symptoms?

I have an under active thyroid and I really never had any symptoms apart from feeling the cold, I’m treated and still feel the cold.
I also have fibromyalgia and have all the symptoms you’ve mentioned, including the feeling my thyroid is inflamed or swollen.
There’s no tests for fibromyalgia and they don’t seem to know what causes it. Funny enough though I had covid recently and thought it was a fibro flare. It’s so strange the symptoms were the same.

I’d recommend paying for the full thyroid panel screening test with Medichecks or Thriva. It will test for all the particular thyroid markers you mention. Also get copies of your blood tests from the GP and post them here, or on healthunlocked where there’s people who can advise you if there’s an issue or trend.

@GodspeedJune

I’d recommend paying for the full thyroid panel screening test with Medichecks or Thriva. It will test for all the particular thyroid markers you mention. Also get copies of your blood tests from the GP and post them here, or on healthunlocked where there’s people who can advise you if there’s an issue or trend.

I second this.

Have you looked up graves disease?
My aunt had some of these symptoms and found she had an overactive thyroid.

Also ask for copies of all test results and check check your actual results against the normal range column. Often the labs notes accompanying results state they are in the 'normal' range but more often than not they are at the lower end.

I would phone for results only to be told by the receptionist that they were normal. It was only when I requested the actual result figures that I could challenge them and say no, they're low and I want to discuss this with the doctor.

Health Unlocked website has a thyroid forum and their members offer excellent advice. I would strongly recommend you visit the site and post your results there when you have them.

Agree with the previous posters to pay for a full range of tests and to take advice on the results.

The norm for iron reaches quite a low, it may be as simple as an iron supplement.

But definitely do the private testing first. You can't waste any more time feeling so bad.

Have you had your vit d levels checked?

Also agree with the advice to use Medichecks or Thriva and get a full thyroid profile. You might also think about trialling going gluten free to see if that helps with symptoms. Gluten intolerance can have a lot of odd symptoms, especially tiredness and aching joints.

And bloating

I would second going gluten-free. I read about Novak Djokovic getting tired & being advised to go gluten free and feeling great. I've been (mainly) GF for over three years now and I notice it if I have a scone or something - feel lethargic.

Get Vit D levels checked as well as thyroid. I take 1000-2000iu Vit D daily after being found to have incredibly low levels when feeling very similar to how you describe. Once levels were treated with huge doses under my GPs direction, I found they dropped if I didn't take at least Vit D 1000iu a day and I started feeling ill again.