Help/Advice

[Annie1234]

I have been having health issues for some time and I’m desperately trying to get to the bottom of what is happening with me.

I’ve been to my GP many times over a number of years. They have carried out repeated full blood tests which have not shown any indication of why I am suffering the symptoms I am.

My main symptoms include:-

Night sweats
Extreme bouts of fatigue
Significant hair thinning

My GP believes they have ruled out any chronic conditions and the only diagnosis they can offer is potential chronic fatigue syndrome.

However, I strongly believe there is an underlying condition.

I have noticed a link in terms of my symptoms and the type of food that I eat and the amount of exercise that I do.

In January I signed to to a challenge where I exercised every day for the month. During the month I was permanently exhausted, however I persisted and assumed that I was just unfit and my fitness levels and energy levels would improve if I persisted. This didn’t happen if anything my fatigue increased and it took me weeks to feel anything other than utterly exhausted.

I also recently attempted to cut out sugar from my diet in an attempt to improve my health. Once I reintroduced high sugar snacks such as chocolate and cake, I found that this had a direct impact on my levels of fatigue. Whilst eating a healthy diet without the high sugar snacks I felt relatively well and although I didn’t feel like I had massive amount of energy, I did not suffer with any debilitating bouts of fatigue. I also noticed that the night sweats completely disappeared.

It was recently my birthday and was bought a iced cupcake as a gift, which I felt obliged to eat. Soon after I started to feel ill and had to go to bed. The whole of the next day I was totally spaced out, extremely fatigued and felt generally unwell. I also experienced night sweats.

I have spoken with my GP about this who advised that they had run a blood test to check for diabetes and that the results were in the normal range.
I have pushed with my gp and they reluctantly agreed to refer me to an endocrinologist, however I have been waiting months for the referral to come though and have not yet had any contact in relation to an appointment.

Do my symptoms sound similar to anyone else’s, and does anyone have any advice in terms of where I could turn or tests I could try? I’m desperate.

Any advice you can offer would be so very much appreciated. I am so desperate to understand what is happening with me and to learn how to manage the symptoms I am experiencing.

 

[Inka]

Night sweats are associated with thyroid issues @Annie1234 Do you know if they also tested for that?

 

[Annie1234]

Hi, yes thyroid was also normal. I read somewhere that night sweats could link to pre diabetes, but I don’t know how accurate that is.

 

[Inka]

That’s not something I’ve heard @Annie1234 Another thought - did you have your female hormone levels measured (presuming you’re female)? Sometimes they can go temporarily haywire and cause sweats.

 

[Loobyloo]

I have suffered all of these problems and was found to have underactive thyroid. Treatment has def improved energy levels and feel so much better but hair still thin and morning sweats still persist. My Gp wont send me to endocrinologist and says just women's problems to be expected after menopause. If you are going to see one then hopefully they will find reason and can hopefully put right. Good luck.

 

[PattiEvans]

@Annie1234 Do you know what your thyroid results were? If not can you find out. I ask because they only perform a TSH test, which is for the Thyroid Stimulation Hormone which is produced by your thalamus gland in order to stimulate production of thyroid hormones. The problem often is that there is a large range of TSH results that are considered "normal". i.e. the range is often said to be 0.5 - 4.2. If yours was close to 4.2 you could well be suffering but still regarded by many GPs as not having hypothyroid issues. I have known a number of people who fell into this category and did not feel completely well until they received treatment, which is a fairly simple drug called Levothyroxine. I don't feel very well until my levels are very close to 0.5.

This is a good source of information, even if a little complicated.

 

[Jade]

I have extreme tiredness and hair loss which are common post covid symptoms. Also in menopause and stress responses from being seriously ill. Fortunately I’m getting less tired now 5 months on.
Could you have had covid? It would only count for your symptoms for a year or so.

 

[Annie1234]

That’s not something I’ve heard @Annie1234 Another thought - did you have your female hormone levels measured (presuming you’re female)? Sometimes they can go temporarily haywire and cause sweats.

Thank you for your reply. I asked if they could be checked but my gp refused and said there was no clinical need to do this.

 

[Annie1234]

I have suffered all of these problems and was found to have underactive thyroid. Treatment has def improved energy levels and feel so much better but hair still thin and morning sweats still persist. My Gp wont send me to endocrinologist and says just women's problems to be expected after menopause. If you are going to see one then hopefully they will find reason and can hopefully put right. Good luck.

Thank you x

 

[Annie1234]

I have extreme tiredness and hair loss which are common post covid symptoms. Also in menopause and stress responses from being seriously ill. Fortunately I’m getting less tired now 5 months on.
Could you have had covid? It would only count for your symptoms for a year or so.

Hello, the symptoms have been present for years so I think it would predate COVID. I’ve not had COVID as far as I’m aware thankfully. Thanks for your reply. X

 

[Annie1234]

@Annie1234 Do you know what your thyroid results were? If not can you find out. I ask because they only perform a TSH test, which is for the Thyroid Stimulation Hormone which is produced by your thalamus gland in order to stimulate production of thyroid hormones. The problem often is that there is a large range of TSH results that are considered "normal". i.e. the range is often said to be 0.5 - 4.2. If yours was close to 4.2 you could well be suffering but still regarded by many GPs as not having hypothyroid issues. I have known a number of people who fell into this category and did not feel completely well until they received treatment, which is a fairly simple drug called Levothyroxine. I don't feel very well until my levels are very close to 0.5.

This is a good source of information, even if a little complicated.

Just checked my results sheet and they say 1.4miu/L. I will have a read of the info thank you so much for your reply. X

 

[Loobyloo]

Hmm maybe not a Thyroid problem then . Maybe female hormonal problems or menopause (sorry i don't know your age) and endocrinologist can find problem and put right.