My journey to good health

[aimee-lou]

I am fed up of being ill so I'm doing something about it.

I have a Dr's appointment on Wednesday to discuss tests for my thyroid. I have written down all my symptoms (they fill 1 whole A4 page!)
I have a list of all the test and all the supplements I require which following my tests I will purchase.
I have my hospital appointment booked for my ear to be evaluated for a 2nd grommet. If this one fails like the last one I will push for discreet hearing aids.
I'm contemplating coming off the pill as I think it's confusing the issue slightly and is responsible for some of my mood issues. (although I'm nervous as last time I came off it we ended up with DS3 and hubby and I have agreed no more! lol)
I'm eating 3 square meals a day and walking too and from school every day which adds up to 3.5 miles with a double buggy a 2 toddlers lol.
I am re-starting my mindfulness exercises as I haven't felt like I've needed them until now.

Today is the first day of a healthier me. I have a right to be well and happy.....whether or not I exercise that right is up to me!

 

[seoj]

Yes! You do have the right and should be happy and healthy. You factor too hun!

Have you thought about seeing a naturopathic doctor? One that can do blood tests- even thyroid (mine did)- but also look at other aspects of your overall well being and balance? Just a thought. Not sure they are as common place where you live- but it was THE best decision for me. Especially after exhausting all other resources- and many other doctor appts.

Hope this is a road to a healthier you! You got this

 

[aimee-lou]

Thanks hun x

I have my results from the Dr's (I requested all my results from my past 3 blood tests) but they haven't included my thyroid panels so I have to pick them up tomorrow. A quick glance shows that some of my white blood cells are above levels that they should be which I am told may indicate something auto-immune - which is pretty commonly a cause of thyroid disorders. It's interesting. I'm hoping that a thorough set of tests will tell me what's going on.

 

[seoj]

Best of luck! It's amazing what we don't know till we know! lol.

 

[aimee-lou]

My thyroid panels show that I've been creeping up the 'normal' range over the past 12 months. I had my dose of thyroxine lowered in October after having Charlie, and since then my TSH (which is the indicator - the only one they use over here ) has gone from 0.93 (which was December 2013 when I was feeling fine) to 3.0 in July when I was feeling awful. Now nothing has changed in that time at all....I've been on the same dose of meds the whole time.....that that's quite a leap and 3.5 is the upper limit of 'normal' too. Now I have been taking a multi-vita but only a very basic one, and my meds have stayed the same since July. The Multi-vits made me feel better for a while but then I started to feel bad again even with taking them.

I am interested to get a new test done now. I feel a lot more in control now I know the figures as prior to this I had simply trusted my GP to look after me. Turns out that may have been a bit naive of me.

 

[aimee-lou]

Yes! You do have the right and should be happy and healthy. You factor too hun!

Have you thought about seeing a naturopathic doctor? One that can do blood tests- even thyroid (mine did)- but also look at other aspects of your overall well being and balance? Just a thought. Not sure they are as common place where you live- but it was THE best decision for me. Especially after exhausting all other resources- and many other doctor appts.

Hope this is a road to a healthier you! You got this

BTw I didn't want you to think I'd ignored your recommendation. Once I'm done with the GP/Hospital route (i.e. I've exhausted all the help they can give me lol) I'll be looking into naturopathy as a few people have said this to me. I don't know whether I have a lot of access here in the UK. Thanks though as it's good to hear some positive outcomes to this kind of story.

 

[aimee-lou]

Drs went well. I have an appointment for Monday for a whole battery of tests for my thyroid and a full bloodwork check for various vitamins, functions and antibodies. I'm pleased but would have liked it to happen a bit sooner. The Dr isn't convinced it's my thyroid but he listened and accepted that I wanted the tests done, and he took my list of symptoms seriously too. Overall I'm quite pleased but I'm not holding my breath. Knowing my luck the results will all be 'normal'.

 

[aimee-lou]

God I feel awful today. I just needed to let this out somewhere. Because of my blood test booked for Monday I've not taken any supplements since Sunday. I seriously feel like I could go to bed and stay there. I got a reasonable night's sleep last night - was asleep by 12.30 and boys woke me at 7.30....brilliant. but I've been snoozing on the sofa while the kids play since breakfast unable to motivate myself and soon tired my eyes hurt! My knee also twisted while I was dressing the boys so now I'm worried I'll end up with another bursitis flare up.......eurgh! Roll on Monday so I can start again. This weekend could be fun! Small mercy is that DS1 has been off school as he was sick on Tuesday night.....so at least there's no school runs today and just Friday to do.

 

[aimee-lou]

Bloods tomorrow. Sweet relief as I've been having dizzy spells, nausea and I'm so light-headed and not with it it's unreal. At least I've been able to function but only just lol. So tired it's silly.

ETA: I feel like a pin cushion! lol 4 large vials of blood taken plus an extra small one for Vit D. I need a cup of tea and a biscuit! lol

 

[JessyG]

Hope the doctors goes well today. Once the test is over can you resume your supplements to help you feel better?

If the doc doesn't think its related to your thyroid did he give you any indication of what he did think it was?

 

[aimee-lou]

Hope the doctors goes well today. Once the test is over can you resume your supplements to help you feel better?

If the doc doesn't think its related to your thyroid did he give you any indication of what he did think it was?

Yep I've already taken them. Hoping energy levels will start to up a little but I needed to be off them to get a 'real' result.

If it's not my thyroid then it could be my adrenals which the NHS doesn't treat so I would have to get private tests done for that and then go from there, or it could be my Pill so will have to come off that and push for tubes being tied (I am not really very keen on the idea of a coil and hormonal ones are not good - my one I'm on at the moment is a POP and was a last ditch attempt at the pill lol. It's 'ok' but I know it does affect me a little).

My thyroid is the only thing I have 'wrong' iykwim so it's the most likely candidate. I've never been tested properly for the cause of my hypothyroidism and if it turns out I've actually for the auto-immune version that could explain a lot. I'm hoping to get the results by Thursday and then get an appointment for Friday to discuss with the Dr.

 

[aimee-lou]

Eurgh. Poorly DS1 (again!!), Me with a cold/sore throat and soooooooo tired! Babies both snotty/coughs too! Literally 4 weeks since we all had flu! God I wish it was spring already!

 

[JessyG]

I hear you. We are also on cold #3495683 for this winter alone. Thankfully she is happy just snotty and unable to sleep properly.

Hope you and your boys are well again soon. When is hubby back? In Scotland we have a holiday in Feb is that the same in England?

 

[aimee-lou]

I hear you. We are also on cold #3495683 for this winter alone. Thankfully she is happy just snotty and unable to sleep properly.

Hope you and your boys are well again soon. When is hubby back? In Scotland we have a holiday in Feb is that the same in England?

Yep he comes back Friday for a whole week!!! :happy dance: I cannot wait! lol

Oh and I also have a UTI.....I think I'm dying! lol

I know colds are normal, it's just been relentless this winter. With Earl starting school I think we've been exposed to more germs than normal. Poor babies. The younger two are ok, just how you describe. Eldest just keeps getting random temp spikes which make him sick/unable to sleep. He missed 2 days of school last week due to being sick, and now is off again today. he'll be back tomorrow though. Me, I'll be fine. I just have to take it easy (which is hard with the 3 of them trashing the house slowly but surely!) and drink plenty. I just wish they would stop dropping crumbs! lol

I hope your LO recovers quickly. I find my younger 2 bounce back pretty quick.

 

[JessyG]

She bounces back pretty easily too. I however do not! She had a mild cold back when I returned to work....i had the flu. I have never had the flu in my life, I was dying.

Oh wow that will be nice having him for a whole week. Have you anything planned or just going to take it easy.

 

[aimee-lou]

OK so I don't mean to keep moaning but I'm so annoyed right now.

My test results still aren't back. I am to try again tomorrow (but that will possibly mean I won't get to see a Dr until next Wednesday at the earliest as my Dr who is dealing with me on this is only in Wed/Fri) but she said it's likely to be next week as they're really busy at the moment. Humph!

Add to that my period has gone AWOL. I'm on POP and I know that can make your periods disappear but I have had 3 30day cycles over the last 3 months. Today is cd32. I am a bit swollen, and I am feeling a bit 'period-y' lol, but I just want it here. I'm a bit paranoid that I'm PG as lets face it, 3 pregnancies missing a period is the first sign lol. I am so over all this! I do think I may get a cheap test while I'm out tomorrow, simply to rule it out, and to enable me to stop panicking! lol

At least my UTI has disappeared (well, for the time being).

Oh and I'm feeling a bit better now I'm on my vits again :-D

 

[aimee-lou]

Ok so took a test - BFN so it's just the pill playing silly beggars. I also had to go to the nurse today as my UTI came back with a vengeance so now have antibiotics.

Still no results back either.........blurgh!

I am feeling 'better' though - I have been back on my its for 5 days so I'm back to normal in that respect.

 

[aimee-lou]

I finally have *some* of my bloods back. Currently on 125mcg Levo, A OTC Multi-vit and Cerelle POP

Tsh - 1.01 (down from 3.56 at last test, range 0.5-5.0)
T4 - 17 (range 8-21 - unfortunately no other t4 results)
T3 requested but not done (as expected as 'in range')
B12 -364 (range 130-1100)
Folate- 11.2 (range 2.7-15)
Vit d - 64 (range 50-120)
Ferritin - 24 (range 23-300)
Eosophils - still above range
Red Blood Cells - still above range
Globulins - above range.

On paper I should be well...but I totally am not. Compared to most 'ill' people I'm probably well too but I know I'm not well.

I'm still waiting on Coeliac screen, ANA/ANCA antibody tests and a couple of others.

On the plus side the major things like liver, kidneys etc are all ok.

Next step - Wait and see if the rest of the tests materialise in the next few days, and see Dr on Wednesday which is when he's next in

 

[aimee-lou]

Still no test results but I have to go and pick up a prescription tomorrow morning so will check again then.

Started on the road to recovery today. I have plotted out a course of vitmain/mineral/hormone supplements. I haven't got a lot of cash right now (payday next week lol) so started with the cheapest and easiest to get hold of. Based on my blood test results I need:

W.c 23rd Feb - Vit C 1000mcg daily (started today)
W.c 1st Mar - Iron - Liquid if I can stretch to it.
W/c 8th Mar - Vit D again reasonable high dose
W/c 16th Mar - B12 - HIGH dose!

After that I may also start on a selenium supplement as that can help although.

I am seeing my Dr on Wednesday with the hope of more tests to fill in the blanks and either a bit more help with my medication or a referral to an endocrinologist up at the hospital. I have an idea of what's wrong but I'm not Dr, but at the same time I know I need to get this sorted before it takes my life from me!

If I don't get a referral/extra help and the door gets closed on me (which I know can happen in my situation) I will be moving forward with a repeat blood in 3 months from my test on the 9th Feb - so May-June time - and adding a T3 supplementation in which is the easiest way to move forward, if not the most effective. It should however give me an insight into whether or not my thyroid is the cause of the issue. I've been given some help by the FTPO groups on Facebook and Stop the Thyroid Madness and I have been advised to get my T3 and Rt3 tested, private if necessary. So this is my next step with the Dr's. I want to know these results and my anti-body results so I know whether or not I have an auto-immune version *8 out of 10 people with thyroid disorders have and AI version!*.

I then have to decide about my BCP as it may or may not be interfering with my symptoms and I need to come off it to find out but without an alternative (or hubby saying ok to another baby at some point) I'm not willing to come off it as we are unreliable lol

Eurgh, I'm getting so bogged down with all this!

 

[aimee-lou]

Picked up my prescription so back on my levy after having run out last week. Oddly I felt better for that time while off it, but I know I can't stay off it altogether forever. I've only taken 100mcg today instead of my usual 125mcg - partly to wean me back on and partly to see if I actually could stand to move my dose around. I am so confused lol.

I am off to see the Dr tomorrow. I haven't got my test results back. Apparently they have had to be sent to a different lab as the local one doesn't do them No-one told me that. They could take a further 2-3 weeks to come back, or they may get lost (receptionist actually said that! lol)