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Can anyone please HELP me?

Posted , 12 users are following.

remotheboss
remotheboss

Hello everytone, I am a 22 year old male, a university student. I really believe that I suffer from Hypothyroidism, these are my symptoms and I have been having it for the past 5 years. Lethargic, sleepy all the time, tight eyes (like when you wake up in the morning), memory fog (I am struggling with my degree as I am doing BSc Biochemistry final year, year by year I am getting bad results), cold feet and hands, red lips (sometime, like I have lipstick), no motivation, faster heart beat (around 90 or 95 bpm (done so may ecg, 24hr monitoring, everything was normal). In a blood test around 2 years ago, I was found out to have low b12 and I have been taking cyanocobalamin. couple of blood tests over the past year have shown my b12 levels are now in the normal range. However I still feel all the symptoms. I had a thyroid tests about 2 or 3 years ago but the doctor said everything is normal. I have been going to my GP every month literally to say the same things over and over but they keep saying, its because I am a student, am anxious about my exams or I have depression etc. I don't have any of these, I am more depressed now because nobody take me serious, they say I am lazy and depresse etc. I feel like commitiing suicide because I can't study, don't feel like going to work. My hair is also thinning very fast (but my dad is bald so I can understand), I feel like I have lost a few cm in heigh) My memory is getting bad day by day. Does anyone know what is wrong with me, I really think it is hypothyroidism (I have been learning about this disease during my course and it really helped my understanding), but I am not sure. Please give me any advice, I am fed up with my life!

1 like, 42 replies

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  • Caroline0407
    Caroline0407 remotheboss

    Posted

    So sorry to hear how much you have been suffering. But PLEASE, percivere with your GP. I totally sympathise with you as I have been through similar 'fobbings off' by them. They must just see you are a student and presume its all 'stress' related. Obviously, there will be some amount of stress regarding your studies, but all your other symptms don't explain that.  If its making you feel sucicidal, you HAVE to seek help. If you feel you can't speak to your GP about this, there are lots of helplines.  Your health shouldn't make you feel like that would be the solution. PLEASE keep asking your GP xxxxxx
  • sara05235
    sara05235 remotheboss

    Posted

    Go to a good gp. Ask for the blood test to get the following

    Ferritin

    B12

    Vit D

    TSH

    T4 and T3

    Cortisol

    TPO antibodies

    For starters.

    They may do in stages but push for them. In the meantime go to a good health food shop and buy best iron and vit b complex, magnesium , zinc and selenium.

    Take daily.

    Check through any results that are not in optimal range and address.

    Hope you can use this to further investigation s. I know Exactly how you feel abs what's been going on is lack of nutrition and correct balance of key elements in your body.

    Avoid caffeine , tea, drink pure water , herbal teas and almond milk. Avoid gluten dairy and soy whilst going through healing. Eat organic. Esp meats. Avoid processed foods and sugary foods to prevent adrenal stress.

    I think with a careful attitude to rest and Ba lance you will slowly recover.

    Thyroid and adrenal exhaustion often go together.

    Hope this helps.

    A lot of these areas are s bit grey for Gps and they don't kniw hiw to treat so do your own research online. It's very empowering to take your health back by your own awareness. Just because there's more you can do than big pharma will does not mean you shouldn't try.

    Relax. All will get better.

    Sara

  • gcowboy
    gcowboy remotheboss

    Posted

    Do you know if you snore or stop breathing momentarily in your sleep?  If so, it might be worth asking about sleep apnoea.  This may or may not apply to you.

    If you would like to talk about your feelings in absolute confidence, why not call Samaritans on 08457 909090 or by email: jo@samaritans.org or you can text them.  Check out their website: www.samaritans.org

     

  • sarah64985
    sarah64985 remotheboss

    Posted

    You mention red lips.

       Maybe you should check that there isn't  carbon monoxide in your

        accommodation. This will make you feel tired and unwell too.

  • gill43753
    gill43753 remotheboss

    Posted

    Hi,please don't give up.You are obviously very intelligent to be doing what you're doing.With the brain fog,your memory is easily affected,so write absolutely every symptom down,and really insist that you have something wrong,when you see a doctor,not just having the stress of a student.It's was to focus on what is affecting you most,but your doctor needs the complete picture.Why not print/write out what you've put on this site,and get your doctor to read it.I did that,and also booked a double appointment so that the doctor wasn't clock-watching.Make a point of saying that you've made a double appointment so that you can thoroughly discuss everything.I agree,it really does sound like hypothyroidism.Make it clear that you are suffering with the anxiety of the symptoms,and not getting the symptoms from being stressed.I wish you good luck,and hope you are sorted soon.Just don't give up! Gill
  • shellyC19
    shellyC19 remotheboss

    Posted

    Hi There:  You sound like you have symptoms of low Thyroid.  Males can have it.  Most of the common symptoms are, Cold Intolerance and having fatigue, confusion or foggy brain, weight gain, low energy, sometimes even depression can occur. You need to have a few blood tests to confirm it. TSH leevl, T3 level  & T4 level,  B-12 level, sed. rate level. and CBC panel.  you should find out if anyone in your family had thyroid problems as it can be passed on in the genes.  Being a student can cause stress and you need to maybe take a lighter course load if you can.  Please see a GP or Endocrinologist to be sure of your symptoms.
  • barbara98940
    barbara98940 remotheboss

    Posted

    Hi, Many of your symptoms do sound like hypothyroidism, though the fast pulse doesn't fit (tends to be slow pulse - when resting, mine is usually 60 but has been as low as 45). It could though be a symptom of another condition that you have as well e.g. anxiety (understandable in the circumstances of having all these symptoms and no answers). With hypothyroidism people also tend to put on weight, so keep a diary of your weight so you can see if you are getting heavier. I too would urge you to print off what you've written and show your doctor (a double appointment is a good idea). Can you see a different doctor at the same practice? Or the doctor in your home town as a temporary resident? Would it help to take someone with you who can help you put your argument across and say how you have deteriorated since they have known you? As you are a student, money may be in short supply and individual supplements can work out expensive, so try a '50+ multivitamin'. The sort I use cost £10.95 for 180 tablets ordered over the internet. For maximum nutrition, try to stick to fresh fruit and vegetables and eat a varied diet, avoiding ready cooked foods. Have you spoken to student support at your university? They are usually really good. Counselling may well help and they might be able to help you work out how to get the best out of your doctor. Do keep persevering and let us know how you get on.
  • barbara98940
    barbara98940 remotheboss

    Posted

    Also it's worth bearing in mind that a lot of the hypothyroid symptoms are common with other medical conditions. Which does explain why it can be difficult to get diagnosed. The key is to keep trying different doctors until you find one who will listen.
  • barbara98940
    barbara98940 remotheboss

    Posted

    Just a thought, some of the ready meals are better than the usual student diet of pizza takeaways etc!
  • judy1959
    judy1959 remotheboss

    Posted

    Ask for another blood panel including Tsh. They are now treating levels that they were not previously treating. I was 4.1 up from 3. This is still considered subclinical but the Dr. Put me on the lowest dose of synthroid and the change was remarkable. 

    I am suggesting a blood blood panel if you haven't had one recent to check your over all health. 

  • remotheboss
    remotheboss

    Posted

    Hello everyone: Would it be worth going private? I have enough money to spend on private blood testing and consultation, I don't care about money I want my life back. I look completey normal to the outside, so no matter what I tell my GP, he always put it to anxiety. The only way I could convince him would be, when I die. Has anyone had a private endocrine speciality appointment or something? I live in London. Thanks for everyones feedback, its really is helpful.
    • sara05235
      sara05235 remotheboss

      Posted

      If you can't change GP to a good one (find a supportive female) then private may be the way. It's c frustrating feeling so low yet looking ok - I totally understand but this is Your journey - your life - not the Drs who really don't know much (yet) about this complex condition.

      First thing to do is get a full blood panel. Then you can decide the route for treatment you need.

      Many people find with a tweak in minerals and vitamins, a diet and lifeste balance readdress and the necessary hormones you'll feel great.

      We are delicate machines and when one system falls down the knock on effect can take a few months for the re stabilisation to take place.

      Once you get there (im in the early stages as have had to have adrenal function tests before getting hypothyroid treated so v slow road) I'm sure you will feel back to normal self again if not better.

      Take care. Keep optimistic.

      Emis Moderator comment: I have removed product/company etc names as we do not allow repeated posting of these in the forums. If users wish to exchange these details please use the Private Message service.

      http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

    • gill43753
      gill43753 remotheboss

      Posted

      Hi,you could ask the advice of someone at Thyroid UK,and google endocrine specialists to see who you would be able to see privately.I would have thought London was a good place to be for specialists,but Oxford definitely specialises in endocrine disorders.I'm being sent there,as my endocrinologist locally isn't helping.I also had specialist endocrine surgery in Oxford,when I was actually living in Southampton at the time.See what you can find.Gill
  • remotheboss
    remotheboss

    Posted

    Hello everyone, I have made an appointment with a private endocrine specialist next monday. I don't know if I will ever get back to how I was until 17. Should I tell the endocrinologist anything specific or write down all the symptoms and hand it to her? Thank you everyone for this amazing support!
    • sara05235
      sara05235 remotheboss

      Posted

      Sounds like a good start. Can tell this move has lifted your spirits. Just read up about t4 and t3 and and rt3, tBG and cortisol with HPA and HPT axis or watch some vids on you tube. And just take some light notes.. It will give you a sense of understanding and help you intuitively solve sime of the riddle and puzzle that is the journey of healing these conditions.

      Make sure they check your vit levels. Too.

    • gill43753
      gill43753 remotheboss

      Posted

      Hi,glad you've made an appointment.I would write it all down,give it to her,and let her respond first.Then,depending on what she says,discuss your fears with her.You need to specifically ask her if you have what you suspect,then if she says it's not your thyroid,ask why she thinks it's not.Of course,if she thinks it is,she'll do tests.I would ask if you can have tests anyway.Good luck.Gill
    • barbara98940
      barbara98940 gill43753

      Posted

      Hi, following on from gill's comment. If your private endocrinologist says it's not an underactive thyroid, ask her what else it could be.
    • remotheboss
      remotheboss barbara98940

      Posted

      Hello, ok yh I will definitely do that. I am praying there is a cause for whatever I am suffering, It is so frustrating and hopeless to go through something like this and doctors say you are normal. I am going to write all my symptoms down and hand it to her and ofcourse she will also do the examination, hopefully she can find whatever is wrong with me. The only thing I hope she wouldn't tell me is that I am normal. I am fed up with hearing that. I will update everyone after I have had the appointment.
    • gill43753
      gill43753 remotheboss

      Posted

      Yes,I know exactly what you mean.You feel that any diagnosis is better than nothing,and you know you will be treated.When I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumour (benign),and even told what surgery I would have to undergo,I was so relieved,after 5 years of struggling.I knew then I would be taken seriously.Thinking of you,and hoping all goes ok.Gill
    • barbara98940
      barbara98940 remotheboss

      Posted

      Hi, what doctors really mean when they say 'normal' is that it isn't the thing they were testing you for. If you think of 'normal' in this way it's easier to handle. So persevere and ask them what else it could be. What it doesn't mean, is that nothing is wrong. You know yourself that something is wrong, it's just a matter of finding out what. Unfortunately this can take a while! In the meantime do all the right things to promote health (this will eliminate medical conditions/vitamin & mineral deficiencies that detract from finding the real problem). Work out what things help you feel better and do them (avoid drugs and alcohol though - they never help long term!) Get enough sleep.

      Be aware that it may take a few visits to an endocrinologist over a number of months to find out what is wrong - hormone levels can take 6-13 weeks to show up correctly in blood tests after a change in thyroxine, so I suspect other things do too. The objectives at your first visit are: to see if you have found a doctor to listen to you, answer your questions, take blood tests and give you ideas about what it may be, and suggest what you can do to help yourself in the meantime whilst you are enduring the process of investigating what is wrong.

      What I hope I've conveyed, is that 'investigating what's wrong' is a process that takes time - it's not like having a chest infection where it's simple to find out what's wrong and how to fix it. One more thing, if the private endocrinologist doesn't know what's wrong, ask if you can try a therapeutic dose of 25mcg thyroxine to see if it improves how you feel (though take it after the blood tests). All the best for Monday!

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