Any idea what's wrong?

[WtfRtheUsernames]

I was wondering if anyone can help and relate to any of these symptoms:

Exhausted/lethargic all day. I may feel better for a couple of hours or so in the evening

• bad brain fog
• waking early (5 - 5:30am) often with urgefor a bowel movement. Will need to go 2-3 times in the morning. General gut health doesn't feel great
• occasional muscle twitches
• Leg aches and joint aches
• back ache and tension in shoulders

I currently take iron (due to previous blood test result), b12, vitamin d and sertraline daily. I have been told I have some antibodies for underactive thyroid but thyroid levels and function tests all came back normal.

Has anyone else felt like this and managed to find out what was wrong and most importantly get better? What further tests can I ask for? Dr's aren't particularly interested as symptoms are vague but i wonder if it would help if I knew what to ask for?
I'm so fed up with feeling like shit

Peri-menopause?

I have similar and am assuming it’s peri…

Long covid is a possibility, particularly with the lethargy and brain fog.

I've been feeling like this for years and feel like it's getting worse. I'm 39 so wasn't thinking peri but it could be possible

Exactly the same symptoms. Been going on a week. I'm 44, and had surgical ovary removal 2 yrs ago and on HRT but low dose.
I feel like I need a bloody good shake 🤣

Sounds like thyroid to me - do you take any other supplements at all?

What's your diet like? How active are you on a usual week?

I have been told I have some antibodies for underactive thyroid but thyroid levels and function tests all came back normal.

Could you say a little more about this? Do you have your actual test result(s) available? (I'm presuming at some point somebody ran a full thyroid panel on you?)

I'd be very suspicious of being told my thyroid was functioning normally after antibodies had been detected.

Could your symptoms be due , at least in part, to the drug you are taking, sertraline?
How was your gut, digestive system and sleep pattern before you started taking it?

Same - I'm thinking of increasing my oestrogen gel from (Sandrena) 1.5 to 2mg.

It sounds like many of the symptoms I have with ME/CFS. Was there a trigger for the symptoms starting (there doesn't have to be, but mine started with a virus)? The key diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS is post exertional malaise - fatigue can hit up to 2 days after activity. It might be worth trying to keep a diary and see what impact activities have a few days later. It might help you determine if it could be that or more likely to be something else. You could also try using the free version of the visible app.
Learning pacing and warning signs (and saying no to things that will likely be too much) have been critical for me.
Going through diagnosis I had diabetes, coeliac, iron deficiency and thyroid issues ruled out so make sure they are all checked too.
Also - do what you reasonably can to avoid viruses, you don't need any extra post viral fatigue on top of what you're dealing with. We have HEPA filters at home and I wear an ffp2 mask when indoors in public for this reason. I also use antiviral nasal spray.
Good luck I hope you get to the bottom of it.

Diet isn't horrendous but could be better. I do have a sweet tooth that I need to keep in check.
I do 1 - 2 cardio and toning sessions a week, about 45 minutes long each

I had a thyroid function test as I had what I thought was a swelling on my thyroid which turned out to be a lump. I had further tests on this and it's being monitored.

Function test results
Serum antibody 43
T4 - 15.1
TSH - 1.51

I hadn't considered this tbh. I was on 100 sertraline, now on 50's as I want to come off it. My sleep and gut have never been that great but gut especially is worse now

I'd try cutting out sugar in favour of more veg. Try the 30 plants a week for a few months and see if it makes a difference. Reducing gluten might also help. Just something to try, might or might not work

You are taking B12 but if it is in the form of a supplement you might not be able to absorb it well. Some people can't especially with gut issues. Could you get your blood tests repeated and if B12 is still low ask for injections rather than take supplements.

I'd bet everything I own that it's your thyroid.

Positive antibodies show you've got autoimmune thyroid disease so it'll only get worse until you're on thyroid hormone replacement.

If your T4 is in the typical range of 12-22 the you're pretty low in range.

What time was your test done?

I agree, this needs taking seriously with that antibody reading coupled with your symptoms.

I started taking the b12 tablets to see if it would make a difference to how I feel. When I had my bloods done a couple of years ago my b12 was 301 pg/ml so I wouldn't be offered injections I believe, as it's within range. Though I understand you can get them privately

The bloods were taken in the morning, around 10am perhaps?
When I saw the consultant about the lump he mentioned about the antibodies but he wasn't concerned as my result was only just out of range and he sees people with results in triple figures 🫤

My bet would be folate deficiency (b12). It could be that what you’re taking isn’t adequate. I would recommend getting your levels checked again at the doctors and include lots of leafy greens in your diet if you don’t already. b12 injections are brilliant if you can find somewhere that does them privately

Any other autoimmune conditions in the family? Could be coeliac which often occurs with underactive thyroid.

b12 goes hand in hand with folic acid - if that is low no matter how much b12 you take it wont activate.

What is your folic level - it should be around 20

And if you are taking b12 - you generally need a sublingal .

I would request another thyroid test, if they'll do it. Also look into fibromyalgia, as brain fog and exhaustion, aches and pains are symptoms.

Is folate the same as folic? My serum folate level was 5.1 on my last test but that was 2 years ago