Hi
Just wanted to tell my story in the hope that it might help someone else and to encourage people to never give up. I’m in the UK so this could be useful to anyone here hitting the same brick walls as I did.
In November 2004 I had my third child, I suffered from uncontrollable shaking straight after the birth which the midwife told me was probably shock. I continued to have spells of shaking for several weeks after the birth but otherwise felt quite good. Then in January I contracted impetigo and from then on picked up just about everything that was going. I started to get mood swings, became very tired, developed carpal tunnel and other joint and muscle pains. By October I had admitted to myself that something was wrong and as we have a strong family history of thyroid was fairly certain that my thyroid was the problem.
In Dec 05 I went to see my GP told him my symptoms and that I felt, given the family history, my thyroid was the problem. He said no, I was suffering from post natal depression, prescribed anti-depressants and said he’d run a thyroid test just to be sure. The test came back 2.74, I was told that was “normal”. I was shocked and thought I’d got it wrong and started taking the anti-d’s. Over Christmas I had severe welling of the glands in my face and my ear canal, it was agony. The anti-depressants had numbed my emotions. I went back to the GP he upped the dose of anti-depressants, told me to wear splints of carpal tunnel and see a chiropractor if I had other pain. The gland and ear swelling got worse.
In Feb 06 I went to see another GP because my neck was now slightly swollen – she stopped the anti-depressants – arranged for an US scan, antibody test (1042) and an appointment with an Endocrinologist.
In April I saw the Endocrinologist he said antibodies don’t mean anything, asked me how many children I had and what there ages were and said “ah now that must be stressfull”. The US scan showed a nodule but I was told it was nothing to worry about.
I arranged to have blood tests done privately as in the UK they will only test TSH and if that is not in normal range T4 (I found the info to get this done through thyroiduk.org). I had TSH (3.4) FT4 (12.7 – 12-22) and FT3. I took these results to a private doctor who said he felt I needed treatment but light of recent cases of doctors being hauled up before the GMC he could not risk his license.
In June I went back to my GP showed her the blood test results, gave her a list of symptoms and she also agreed that the cause of my problems were my thyroid. She said it was too controversial to treat me especially as she would be going over the specialists head in doing so. She said she knew a private doctor who would treat me – this was very expensive and I said I’d use that as a last resort. She said she could refer me to another specialist. I asked her to contact the Endo who treated my sister when she was diagnosed with Graves – she said she would sound him out rather that perhaps waste my time with another appointment.
On Friday I had a call from the surgery, would I go in and see the GP. I did on Monday and the Endo had contacted them as said start treatment immediately.
It took 7 months and a lot of effort and energy on my part to get here (energy I didn’t have). Thank goodness for the internet and sites like this.
End of first chapter.
Linear Mode
