I feel so guilty complaining that i am healthy, but I so wanted an answer for all of my suffering. :( I've been so tired, upset stomach, brittle nails, dry skin, difficulty concentrating.. etc. I swore it was hypothyroidism, and my Dr even agreed. Well i just got the call that all my tests were normal. it's not a vitamin deficiency, it's not anemia, it's not diabetes, it's not arthritis or lyme disease. I'm healthy... so why do i feel like crap? why do i have no energy and no interest to do anything about it?
My SIL asked if was feeling at all depressed.. well NOW. BUt maybe i was.. maybe i am... I have no idea. I'm happy. I just married the love of my life, we have a good life and a nice house! My sister is getting married this summer, my brother finally got a full-time job and the family is all getting along.
She was saying that i just moved to new state and maybe i'm not adjusted to that, and married life, and cooking, and commuting.. possibly, but thats been 2 months worth of time to get adjusted. I was looking into St Johns wort, and maybe more Vitamin B.. something natural to maybe pick me up? (im not on BC, or take any medications, so i thought it would be a good place to start).. i want to join the womens volleyball team and force myself to be more active. I have no idea where to start. sigh.
anyone ever swear they had something, but results say otherwise?... i'm not a hypochondriac.. i dont think its in my head? .. so confused...
@FreckledFox: i had that a few years ago. Turns out when drs say they tested you for all vitamins it might not be all. I was very low in vitamin d, iodine, iron, zinc, magnesium & testosterone which i didnt even realise women had lol. Dont give up, its not in your head.
Oh I know how you feel!
I probably have fibromyalgia, which is very difficult to diagnose and most doctors don't even take it seriously. There's no treatment either.
I've been to many doctors and nobody seemed to take me seriously and told me it was pschological, so I finally put my foot down after ten (!) years, and I've finally seen a specialist. Though he didn't think anything was wrong with me either... He did take my blood, urine samples and I had xrays of my lungs taken. So I guess we'll see.. I'm getting results back next week but I'm already worried for the results.
What if nothing is shown on the results and they can't find anything?!
I'd really rather have a diagnosis than living in the dark as I have been doing for the past ten years. Surely, I don't want to be ill, but clearly something is wrong with my body so I'd rather know what it is.
I can't tell you what's wrong with you, because I'm no doctor, but I can tell you that you might want to try a different route. Try a different doctor, ask for addtional tests.. And most of all tell you that I understand your frustration!
It could still be hypothyroidism, even if the Dr. says you are okay. Ask him for the actual numbers on it.
Quote from, http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/diagnosis.htm
"To diagnose or rule out hypothyroidism, doctors will typically start with the blood test that measures thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). As of Spring 2003, most American laboratories had a normal range from around 0.5 to 5.5. However, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has recently recommended that the normal range be revised to 0.3 to 3.0. With 5.5 as the top end of the normal range, a TSH above that level is considered hypothyroid. Under the newer guidelines, however, a TSH above 3.0 could be diagnosed as hypothyroid."
Basically, your numbers could be .3 and he would consider that "normal", where as a highly functional thyroid is 5.5. A normal one is 3.
Seriously, get your actual results from it and then go from there!
@sfp: There is no treatment for it, but there is a drug that lessens the pain. I'm not sure about the side effects though, I know I've seen it advertised a zillion times on TV.
@jenilynevette: Lyrica?
@sfp: Actually, light marijuana use works. I know someone who has fibro and started smoking (like, 2 puffs every couple of weeks, I think she said?) and she's a completely different person now. Obviously I can't tell if her pain is gone, but her personality is completely different, and she said it's because the pain is managed/gone.
@FreckledFox: Do you take any vitamins regularly? If not, give that a shot. Multivitamin, vitamin D, a B-complex, and omega-3s. You can also take something for your hair/skin/nails (I have one from Vitamin Shoppe that's just called hair/skin/nails, but I know it's got biotin in it). Drink lots of water, too.
@jenilynevette: You mean for fibromyalgia? I don't live in the US, but in Europe so I don't know whether I'd be able to get that drug. American doctors and scientists are much further with fibromyalgia research and treatments, and often recognize it as a disorder, wheras in Europe it's still often not recognized and there's no treatment or drugs available :(
@vorpalette: Haha since I live in the Netherlands, marijuana is legal, so should be easy to obtain. But I'm strongly against drug use, so that's no option for me, even it if is legal to get and would work. But thanks for the tip :P
@futurefoxwife, I would maybe try Vitamin B12 supplements. It helps me too.
Ditto PP about requesting the actual numbers. I had my B12 tested and while I wasn't out of range, and doc said it was normal, I was at the bottom of the scale and was experiencing symptoms.
Also, for the upset stomach, keep a food diary for a week. Log every meal and every snack and make sure you note how your stomach feels. It's likely that your food is to blame for that one. If you don't mind sharing, what kind of stomach upset are you dealing with? For example, I had chronic constipation/IBS my entire life until I cut out dairy for other reasons; low and behold, the constipation/bloating is gone. Food for thought...
You can be happy and clinically depressed at the same time. I'd lomini to the possibility the you have depressing before considering something as severe as fibromyalgia.
I don't know it this will be of any help, but I have been desparate with feeling generally unwell and it was suggested that I see a Chinese herbalist. Do you know what? It changed my life! And that was after 2 months of treatment - which after all the time I spent feeling ill was nothing. Hope this is helpful x
@FreckledFox: Definitely ask for the numbers!!! There's a lot of controversy over what a "normal" TSH level is. When I originally got tested, my doctor told me that my score (4.8 or so) was in the "normal" range because it was between .5 and 5. I was still feeling really sick, so I went to another doctor. This doctor took another look at the same test and told me that she generally finds that people feel best when their TSH levels are under 2. She started me on Armour Thyroid, and, 9 months later, I feel WAY better.
Good luck, and hope this helps!
Did they test your antibodies level?
Call and ask for your results. Check all your levels yourself. If they haven't checked your antibodies level, ask for them to re-test. I'm not sure why, but a lot of Dr.'s skip over that test which is CRAZY since it tests for Hashimoto's. Which can give you all of the above symptoms and more.
I was ill for 5 years and every time it was something else.
Headaches, high blood pressure (so bad I almost had a stroke), cysts, back pain, weak joints, tendonitis, stomach pain, thrombosis - you name it, I had it.
Every time I went to the doctor they rolled their eyes like "oh look, it's her again" and it drove me insane. I wasn't making it up.
I had so many tests done and finally one doctor tested me for lupus - it came back negative and I cried.
Why would I cry because it wasn't lupus?? Because I just wanted to know what it was - even if it was awful - because knowing what it was would be better than not knowing.
Finally after 5 years it was diagnosed - Coeliac's disease. An intolerence to gluten that had gotten worse over the past 5 years since I was living away from home and eating pasta and pizza's all the time.
All my symptoms were because of malnutrition, not the Coeliac's itself, which was why it was so hard to diagnose.
Believe me - the answer is out there somewhere. You just need a Doctor as clever as mine to piece together all the bits of the puzzle.
Also though - what I learned in my journey was that no one wanted to question food. They all wanted to find an answer to the problem inside my body when my problem was because of what I was doing to my body.
May I ask what your diet is like? And be honest - because a lack of fruit and vegetables (forget 5 a day - 8 a day is where the benefits lie) really does have a huge effect. When I was diagnosed I cut out gluten, meat AND dairy and ate vegan for 2 whole months - the results were ASTONISHING. Better skin, hair and nails, more energy, no bloated tummy, no pain, everything just got better.
@FreckledFox: Did they test you for Celiac? If not keep eating gluten and get tested. If you stop eating it your tests will be negative.
@lookingglass: Wow I'm 'happy' for you they finally found what the problem was! One of my friends has Coeliacs too, and I know how severely it can affect your body and how well your body can revive from a strict diet.
My doctor thought of lupus and sarcodoisis too, so I'm being tested on that too. Will get results next week.
@lookingglass: Glad to see you suggested what I suggested. I had celiac undiagnosed for 15-20 years. I have massive long term issues because of that now.
@sfp: I hope its not lupus. That is a nasty disease. Thats the kissing cousing to RA and trust me thats nasty too, I live with that beast only I'm completely seronegative and it sucks royally!
They tested my Thyroid and thyroid Antibodies with a TPO test and the free t3 and t4 tests. I think i might ask for the results.... My diet isn't very good but its not bad. My upsets are chronic constipation/ gas/ bloating and IBS. i was actually diagnosed with IBS a few years ago, but thats because my GI told me that "i don't know what else to tell you".. spastic colon, he said. I started taking Biotin for my hair skin and nails, and I was tested for gluten intolerance and it came back negative. I am slightly lactose intolerant (i can eat yogurt and ice cream, but not real butter or milk.. some days i can though).
I went straight to the store and picked up b12 and St John's Wort lst night. i started taking it last night and i guess we'll see how it is. How do dr's test vitamin deficiencies?
ETA: they tested me for Autoimmune diseases as well as fibromyaligia and rheumatoid arthritis. all negative.
I've been sick for over a year with no diagnosis. In the beginning I was SO SURE it would be hypothyroid. It felt like the right diagnosis and my symptoms matched. I had my first abnormal blood test results a month and a half ago. It took a long time for something to show up! It really helps that I finally found an amazing doctor who will take me seriously. My thyroid is still within the normal range but it's low and it keeps declining. My hormones are all low, especially my testosterone which is pretty much undetectable! I still don't have a diagnosis but I'm getting a lot closer. Basically what I'm trying to say is that you need to trust yourself about your body. Things can be physically wrong even with normal results. Sometimes even a little change can greatly affect everything. I suggest creating a special binder with your results, food journal, pain chart, symptom diary etc. It will help you in the long run, trust me (: Plus, it feels a lot better to be aware of your own health and numbers and stuff.
@jenilynevette: i just got my results faxed. normal TSH levels are between 0.3-5.6 and mine are 0.7 .. within range.. but on the lower end.. not enough to raise any flags though?
ETA: so a low TSH means HYPERthyroidism? i have no symptoms of HYPER only HYPO. so confused!
and my T4 is 0.97, within range as well (0.58 -1.64)
@sugarpea: did you go back for another test and the numbers were lower? id you doctor treat you even though you were in "normal range" at the time?
@FreckledFox: That's actually pretty low. The drug administration is trying to get the average ranged raised to 3-5. Which would put you VERY low.
I get stomach pains, have brittle nails, dry skin (especially around my mouth), and get very tired. I went in for tests and they found nothing wrong.
I later found out that all those symptoms are related to low vitamin B12 (which comes from protein). I started taking B vitamins and they cleared up.
Another friend had the same issues, and I told her the same thing. She also responded well to B12.
Neither one of us ate a lot of meat although we weren't vegetarian, which is how the problem came about.
@FreckledFox: I have my blood taken every month and a half. I don't plan it that way, it just takes a while to get into see different doctors and a lot of them want me to have more blood taken. My first doctor told me it was IBS and an anxiety disorder once my results came back normal in Jan 2012. Then I started seeing a naturopath (he's amazing!) in addition to my regular GP and he ordered lots of different tests. I had ultrasounds done too in order to rule out visible problems with my intestines/liver/appendix/galbladder/etc. I never accepted the diagnosis my GP gave me because I've always thought there was something else going on (plus he's the most lazy incompetant doctor I've ever met in my life, so I found it hard to trust that he was actually trying to diagnose me. He gave me antidepressents on my first visit with him without ANY tests! argh) and so I kept pushing for more blood tests.
When I started school in Sept, I signed up for disability services so that I didn't have to worry about attendance in my classes if I was sick one day. They explained my case to one of the doctors at the university and she agreed to help me. She orders new blood tests every time I see her. It's very hard to get an appointment with her because her community practice is full and she only works at the university clinic a few hours every week. It's so worth the wait though! I hate getting blood taken but it's been really helpful getting it taken so often because we can track my levels ;)
Have they tested your cortisol levels? Mine were really low when I first got sick and then I started taking natural adrenal support and it's definitely helped me out (although it hasn't made me feel completely better). If you want your cortisol tested I suggest requesting a 24h urine test before you do a blood test for it. I've done about 5 or 6 of them and I find that they're more accurate than the blood test. If you want to go the blood test route then make sure you have your blood taken around 9 am. I was told that's when your cortisol peaks and you get the best results in the morning.
ETA: I'm not being treated yet, but I'm referred to an internalist. The waiting list is 5-6 months though :( I have an appointment with my good GP (ahah the university one) tomorrow night and I'll see if she'd be willing just to try me on something to see if it would help. She's really into finding the source before any medicine so we'll see. She actually got sick during university and that's why she went to medical school, because she found that so many of her doctors were unhelpful and she wanted to be able to help people with tough cases who didn't have a supportive dr (:
@FreckledFox: Omg ahah we're like twins, we almost have the exact same TSH levels ;) My TSH is 0.8. I can't compare our T4 though because mine is measured on a different scale
ETA: I'm also not understanding the hypo and hyper thing with my results, because my doctor keeps saying my levels are low and she thinks they're going to keep going down and my thyroid will like 'crash' or whatever. Plus, I have more hypo symptoms than hyper, but now if I google my levels everything seems to say that low TSH = hyper. Ahaha so confused, good thing I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow ;)
@sugarpea: i haven't had my cortisol levels checked.. i told my symptoms ot he dr, and he sent me for "everything".. i guess that wasnt really everything. They said i could come back in a few weeks for another test if i still had symptoms. I'm trying b12 now, though my red blood cell count is fine... i'm also trying some chinese herbs and vitamin D. I'm glad that you found a doctor willing to help you. This hasn't effected my life TERRIBLY... so i guess i'm not that motivated.. even now. I dont have time either. we're still moving and some days i feel fine. I'm taking my fiber and my supplmements and all i can do is hope and monitor for now. :/
@sugarpea: really?? ha TSH twins! now definitely let me know what these doctors find for you... cause i need some motivation for a new doctor!
@mrsSonthebeach: i agree. i dont think i have fibromyalgia, though my dr tested for that too. i don't feel comfortable going to a doctor saying that i might be depressed even though i don't feel sad... so i started taking st johns wort first. I've heard great things and it doesnt affect your body (asdie from rendering BC ineffective). We'll see :)
@FreckledFox: I'll let you know what she says tomorrow about my levels (: Oh and B12 is best processed by your body when it's injected. Try to get a B12 shot from your dr if possible if you want to see faster results (: The dissolvable strips are the second best way to take it.
@FreckledFox: I'd say .7 TSH is actually normal, not just vague "OK" range normal, but I don't know things from the hyper side, just the hypo side (my TSH was 22 when I was diagnosed. You can imagine I felt like major crap!). On meds, I feel best when I'm in the 1-2 range, so I'd err on the side of saying your thyroid probably isn't your problem. (of course, I'm not a doctor)
That all being said, I have a coworker whose friend wasn't diagnosed with her thyroid problem for over FIFTEEN years because her TSH was normal. So, you never know.
Sorry you have to deal with all of this. It's beyond frustrating to not know why you don't feel well. :(
I was experiencing all the same symptoms that you have for several months. I had an extremely upset stomach. I would get sick literally every.single.time. I ate. I was miserable. I even started developing eczema on my legs, which I had never had before. I self diagnosed myself as a Celiac and took that idea to an amazing doctor.
She explained that there is a very small percentage of people who have celiac disease, but that doesn't mean you haven't developed a gluten intolerance. I had food poisoning twice in a 2 month period and she said that when something like that happens the bad bacteria can remain inside of you and it can cause you to develop an intolerance to things that you've never had issues with before.
When you have a gluten intolerance and eat gluten, a portion of your intestines will become inflamed and the more you eat, the more inflamed your intestines will become. After a certain point you will be completely malnurished(which causes dry skin, brittle nails, upset stomach, etc.) because no matter what you eat, your body is no longer able to absorb the nutrients.
She gave me a probiotic and after a few weeks I was my old self. I was honestly blown away that this over the counter medicide was the solution to all of my problems. Try it!! I think that might be all you need
@ElleNLOVE: i've been taking digestive probiotics for years and they work, then they don't.. so i stop, then i pick it back up. right now i'm taking acidophilis and it helps with my "slow digestion" is what my GI had said. slow moving digestive tract and then i get pain because things are stuck in my intestines.... sometimes they work, sometimes they don't but im so glad they worked for you!
@DomesticDiva: wow that number is high!! 22? i'm grateful to be in the "normal range" at all. I'm going back to treating the symptoms again. it would've been great to get a final answer on this though. you understand!
@sugarpea: is there such thing as a b12 overdose? that might be a dumb question!
ps- i HATE needles so much. i shriek and cry when i see them.. i would never volunteer for that unless my dr said it WOULD help. Good for you to be able to do that! I'm a big baby. (except i have 11 tattoos.. whats my problem? haha)
@FreckledFox: Hahah it was actually really awful. I did it because there was a chance that it would make me better and kind of 'diagnose' me if it worked. But it didn't really help me, so I wouldn't do it again unless I had to ;) The bruise lasted for almost a month!
And yeah, you can have negative side effects if you take wayyyy too many vitamins (hypervitaminosis). But, I think that only happens if you take a lot over a long period of time. From anything I've read, it's rare to have toxic effects from too much B12 (:
@sugarpea: thanks for the tip, and the nightmare. ;) i'm going to continue with my pill b12 for right now, maybe look into the dissolving one... and if i'm NO better, than maybe my Dr will recommend that shot and i cry my eyes out, then suck it up. haha
@FreckledFox: I second the celiac suggestions - getting rid of gluten changed my life! I went thought the same thing -- all of these tests kept coming back normal, and it took seven years and a car accident for me to find a provider who could figure out what was going on.
Also, see a naturopath!
@Ellegee: i keep reading that i need energy FROM grains... so i'm torn whether to limit or increase at this point.. my stomach issues have been 10 years long.. and the tiredness has been gradula for the past 2 years or so.
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