advice please

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila

I am very much an observer on the forum & have been for the last 10 months as my

journey has only really started. I have learnt so much so quickly from the

forum and also from the last two TPA meetings which I attended, however like

everyone else sometimes you just get 'stuck' on what to do next. I am going to

try & keep as brief as possible & stick to the salient points so as not to bore

anyone.

I am female, 44 & work full time. Looking back my hypothyroid symptoms started

in my early 20's when I started to feel cold (just like my Nan - I was told!).

Over the years other symptoms started to gather pace, always been told by docs

nothing wrong just working too hard!! In July 08 I suffered a full prolapsed

disc & 2 partial prolapse in my spine & still carried on working & then spent

until June this year in pain with sciatica & bent over to the side as no one

could figure out why my muscles would not support my back in the standing

position.

Saw Dr P in May 09 & sent off ASI & candida test. Started on NT & within few

days felt very poorly so stopped them (think this was bad timing as came down

with nasty flu that week). Tests came back (ASI at 4 stages were 3.2, 1.4, 0.5,

0.5). DHEA mean .37. DHEA cortisol ratio 6.61. Dr P advised NAX & increasing

them. Candida = >100 (terrible!!). By Sept 09 on 6 x NAX & 3 X NT & then had

UTI which made me so ill & was in bed for a week (had the occasional one before

but never with that reaction), I felt so ill I stopped taking everything (big

mistake I know)then went even further downhill & lost a stone in weight & just

started 'existing' as I felt so ill also had terrible nightime hypogylcemia

(didnt know it was this at the time). Went to docs in Jan 10 who advised to

start on T4 as my symptoms were hypo even though previous TSH tests had shown I

was in the range at 4.6. I explained my concerns about this considering my ASI

results so he referred me to endo. Asked GP to do B12 tests in meantime &

results were B12 402ng/l (200-750), Folate 20.9ug/l (5.38>), Ferritin 45ug/l

(15-150). Also went back to see Dr P & re started NAX etc. Got appt for endo

followed by letter to my GP from this endo refusing to see me as I had seen Dr

P. My GP felt this unprofessional. Got another appt for different endo &

finally saw someone at the end of April. I went prepared with my list of

symptoms & medical history including a typical week of basal temperature

(between 35.9-36.4) & a week of blood pressure readings of sitting & standing

(104/62 (86/54), 98/64 (81/53), 95/68 (88/58), 106/68 (92/62), 106/66 (82/51),

106/63 (74/50) she pushed them to one side, told me my blood pressure machine

was faulty & asked me what the worst symptom was, I replied exhaustion & she

said it was Vit D deficiency but would run full blood test. I asked for full

thyroid tests & showed her the ASI result, she dismissed this but said she would

order short synacthen test.

After seeing her I also started taking cortef as I felt things were getting

desperate, not long after I became back pain free & could stand straight for the

first time in 2 years!

After much chasing my results came back in August! Vit D = ok!!, TSH 9.5, FT4

8.4 TPA 14. Short synacthen baseline 586 rising to 716. I know the baseline is

ok but wondered about the relevance of it increasing by 130?

Started taking 50 micro of Levothyroxine as per GP then increasing to 75 after 4

weeks then to 100 after 5 weeks. Was taking 10mg of cortef & told GP why I was

doing this. Started to see some small improvement in my energy levels & felt

quite excited at the prospect of being 'normal'but that soon plateaud & then I

started with small headaches. Had follow up blood test start of Nov TSH 0.1, FT3

5.8, FT4 27.8 & soon had terrible headaches every day, nausea, uncontrollable

temperature either freezing cold or boiling hot and having very poor sleep so I

have stopped taking the T4 on Sunday as I think I may have a coversion problem &

may be T4 toxic?? These symptoms are slowly subsiding now. I have an appt with

my GP to discuss this soon & want to be clear in my mind about a way forward.

My Gp is actually quite supportive & will look at any info I give him including

reading Dr P's book. He will also refer me to another endo if I wish as he

knows I am concerned about my ASI. Do you know of any that recognise the ASI

test within the South Staffs/ West Mids area. Someone mentioned an endo at City

hospital in B'ham that may have this understanding - have you heard of anyone

there?

Any thoughts/advice re T4, T3 or adrenals would be greatly appreciated.