Not sure what to do next

[emmie]

sqad if you are about,
not to put too fine a point on it i haven't been well since before christmas, and now am faced with the following, severe weight loss, even though my eating has been steady, freezing cold, cannot get warm no matter what, hands and feet so icy there seems no blood running through. Mood so very low, eyes have large dark circles, and bloodshot, and now my skin has become parched, dry as a bone, sound bizarre i agree. Doctors have been tooing an frooing with endless theories, whilst i have been getting worse by the day. I was told had a viral illness back in early December, but quite honestly no idea. I have had chest x ray, and the most recent bloods done by a gastro consultant for pancreas and thyroid, in the hospital and the latest one recently has shown up a thyroid problem, but i am in limbo land whilst they debate, haven't felt so ill in my life. I know they are doing their best but not sure how long i can stand this. Have a pancreas test mid feb as well.

[emmie]

apologies to all who think i had been whinging, i am perhaps but only because i don't know what to do. Put this on here to gauge opinion, or maybe anyone recognises some of what's going on.

[albaqwerty]

Em, I have no idea at all. Just wanted to give you a cyber hug xxx

[emmie]

alba thank you much appreciated. I have looked at stuff on the net, not perhaps a good idea, but i have been going around in circles. One possible as suggested by the gastro consultant is overactive thyroid, and having viewed Bupa info and other sites to match up, it would explain a lot, but i'm no doctor. Feel shaky, ill and very out of sorts, also wonder at other things i have ignored before as being odd, strange.

[Sqad]

em....I have been watching your posts over the weeks, but on the available evidence, i had little to add.
If investigations return NORMAL, then that is what they are NORMAL and the doctors have no pegs on which to hang their hats and the diagnosis of psychosomatic comes into it's own.

You say that recent blood tests have shown up a thyroid problem (unspecified), so this may well be an avenue of enquiry.

[honky-tonk]

has your consultant put you on medication for your overactive thyroid ?

[emmie]

gp did two separate blood tests two months ago showed slight abnormalities, but third blood test done at request of gastro consultant in the hospital recently showed overactive thyroid. The consultant called me to give me the info, but the gp isn't sure? got to have another blood test to see if the same levels in two weeks time. so no firm diagnosis as yet.

[Sqad]

em...very sensible to repeat a questionable test result.

[Brenden]

Em, Hugs and kisses to you, I know you are so low when reading your threads over the last couple of months, cannot advise you just rest,xx

[emmie]

sqad agreed, meanwhile getting very thin, as advised by doctor, am eating small meals, feel excessively cold, and even if could run around the house all day to keep warm, don't have the energy. it's as though someone sucked all the moisture out of my skin, leaving it itchy and dry beyond words. The doctor has given me some ointment petroleum jelly for the dry skin, it helps a little. I use moisturiser on my face and it now turns a rather patchy red. seeing how i been using the same one for 20 years or more, can't understand that at all. Hair gone so thin as well, i feel like i have aged 10 years in a matter of months, perhaps that's it, went to sleep and woke up and i am now into my late 60's... what a thought...

[anneasquith]

morning em, how much fluid do yo drink in a day ?

[emmie]

Brenden thank you so much, rather not rest, that's the problem, better for me all round to get the bottom of this and go forward, because everything has become so negative, and when doctors aren't sure or disagree this leaves one as piggy in the middle.

[emmie]

Anne
as much as can handle, maybe not enough, but coffee, water, diluted low sugar squash, also think it better for the moment to boil water and let it cool to drink, my face feels particularly strange, it's hard to explain adequately, like there is no moisture, so dry but feels hot inside, like you do when you have the flu. Bonkers and frightening all at the same time.

[bednobs]

Em, by nature i am a person who has a tremendous amount of sympathy for people that feel unwell, and i understand about how frustrating it is when you feel Drs are not getting to the bottom of your problems, having been through that myself.
Therefore what i am about to say may sound a bit contrary to that, but bear with me, even if you don't like the answer.

I have huge sympathy with your GP if i'm honest. The way you speak about him in your previous posts is horrible. Your GP has many years training and many years experience yet you dismiss a treatment he wants to give you to help without even trying it, whilst at the same time asserting that if you take this treatment, he wont help you any more and will essentially just "forget" about you. Your gp IS referring you AND giving you tests that present themselves, but you are not taking his professional advice, and then still blame him for not feeling any better. I am not saying that taking anti depressants will Magically make you all better, because you probably do have something physically going on too but it may well help, yet you are refusing to try.
on another note, one thing springs to mind from your symptoms - have you had the menopause yet?
Sorry if you don't like my answers

[emmie]

Bednobs
it's a largish GP practice, with at least ten practitioners, plus nurse, and a dietician who visits. You don't often get to see the same GP. Believe me when i say i am more than grateful for any input of theirs. But they are human beings and can and do make mistakes. I am not taking anti depressants because quite frankly that is not the answer. I know from past experience how devastating an effect that many of these medicines have had on me, and don't wish to go back to that. They are aware of how i feel.
The GP i have seen a number of times is very thorough. Some are not, but dismissive and offhand.
You have your thoughts, points, i have mine, but quite frankly if anyone had lost 4 stone in a few months, they would i am sure be a trifle worried.

Sqad
i have the various tests to do, and will wait for results, if it turns out to be over active thyroid as suggested by the hospital consultant then i could at least get it sorted.

[islasmum]

Firstly, I'm very sorry tha ou are feeling lousy, and hope that you feel much better soon. Your symptoms sound very like my sister's recent illness and it was an overactive thyroid that was giving trouble - she is now feeling much better, but it did take a great deal of getting her pills right to start with. I do hope that you find out what is wrong very soon, and is it not possible to ask to see the same doctor in the practice when you need to visit? I always try to see the same person as I have a long and jumbled medical history, so I prefer to see Dr's who know my background. Hope you feel better very soon.

[emmie]

Islamum, thank you for your kind words, i have in fact managed to see the same woman GP a number of times, and feel that a rapport of sorts always helps.
I am veering towards either Overactive thyroid, or undiagnosed Diabetes
but will do the various tests and wait to see. Lots of these symptoms fit both. My mother has had thyroid problems, starting with a goitre since her mid twenties, and now has to take medication for the rest of her life.

[boxtops]

I've sympathy for you in your state of health (or un-health), em - I can't help, but I feel for you in your concerns about what's going on inside you ♥

[DTCwordfan]

from someone with an Alzheimers mother who has had thyroid issues for a long time, your symptoms sound very familiar.

Get that worked through asap - it is only blood test with results in 3 to 4 days within the NHS.....and then they can get you onto the right drug and importantly with the thyroid right dosage...

Good luck

[Psybbo]

em10, I can't offer any advice but you are in my thoughts constantly and I always check in the hope you are improving. Your weight loss sounds frightening. I hope the tests will provide answers. Lots of love and best wishes for a positive outcome xxxxx

[emmie]

DT, the next one will be the fourth blood test, first two were variable, i am keeping my frozen fingers, toes, crossed that it's not something worse, but boy do i feel awful.