Auto-immune disorders

[lizzylemon]

Hey Sarz, I don't have any first knowledge of your problem but it does seem there are natural ways to manage Graves disease for instance. This website looks quite useful, they give a set of natural treatments. Grave's Disease Information - Graves Disease Symptoms and Natural Cures for Grave's Disease. Don't have say but it's always good to check with a doctor before taking or mixing treatments.

[SarzWix]

As you know Sarah, I'm in a similar position but I wonder what you mean by this? Obviously you (one) can't have so much that it switches you from hypo to hyper but it's my understanding that there's potentially a big difference between the 'recommended dose' and one that 'makes you feel well'. And it's not like painkillers etc where you end up needing more and more if you take too much. Genuinely asking.

I was told by the GP a few weeks ago that not only could I not increase my dose to 125mcg, but that the 100mcg I was taking was too much, because my pituitary was producing a lot less TSH than before. So I attempted to reduce the dose, gradually, to 75mcg. That's when the Tietze's kicked off really badly - I have swelling along every rib at the moment, and right up my breast bone into the collar bones; my neck aches and I'm having difficulty swallowing; symptoms which are very similar to Sj�gren's syndrome (Sj�gren's syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) have appeared, psoriasis on my feet has flared up and the arthritis pain in my foot has become really bad.

As the tests for Hashimoto's were negative for antibodies, it's not been treated as autoimmune hypothyroid so far. However, I saw a different GP last week when this was at its height, and she told me it was okay to go back 100mcg, and ordered lots of different blood tests which I'll find out the results of tomorrow. The worst of the symptoms have subsided somewhat - I can at least eat now, and come off the 800mg, 4 times a day of ibuprofen!

[Florence Fennel]

You poor love. With all your problems can your GP not send you to see a Consultant Physician at your local hospital? Himself has had psoriasis since the death of his father, it just appeared overnight. There is no history of it in his family. He has had psoriatic arthritis for years (but he is a lot older than you). All the various creams and potions have no effect. The one thing that did work on his scaley patches years ago was a course of sunbed treatments and they cleared up like magic, but that is now frowned upon and we wouldn't want to move abroad even if we could afford it! He has now been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid and his GP is trying to get to the correct dose of thyroxine. Don't up your dose of it Sarz, as I'm sure you know well it can affect your heart. Broccoli is the magic vegetable as I undertand it, but Himself is not fond of veg. He also has fibromyalgia and spondylosis which I think are also associated with the psoriasis if not directly connected. Keep questioning your GP rather than trawling the internet, you have every right to seek an effective treatment if there is one through the NHS. Oh and have a hug love

[Two_Sheds]

My advice is to stick with what the the doctor tells you....I don't advise self diagnosis.

However... a little intelligent guesswork can be well worthwhile. 3 doctors told me I had a recurrent mouth ulcer ~ until they decided oh yeah, it was actually mouth cancer

[its hilly]

My mum has been telling her doc for two years that she wanted to reduce her high blood pressure medication as she felt it was making her ill.
Eventually she was so bad that she came of it herself, under supervision of a local pharmacist. And lo and behold she has an underactive thyroid.
Symptoms were extreme lethargy, dry eyes, sore swollen throat with difficulty swallowing, and episodes of vertigo. And swollen joints, but she has arthritis anyway from long before this.
Any of this sound familiar?
Fortunately Dad has insisted that she be referred to a lady who is a specialist, although I'm not exactly sure in what. Sadly way down south. But When we next speak I will see if I can get any concrete facts and figures from her.
Incidently I was diagnosed with IBS, and cut ALL dairy (including all the hidden stuff like whey in spreads) and found that after a week or two a lot of symptoms disappeared. If you google IBS elimination diets you will find some basic diets that cut out a lot of known triggers for medical problems. Its fairly hard work at first, but might be worth it as you have such a variety of symptoms.
Hope you find some help Sarz.

[piskieinboots]

I have nothing sensible I can offer Sarz hun - but I do hope you get some improvement from whatever source!

[Jelliebabe]

I have psoriatic arthritis too. Although (touch wood) mildly at the moment.

I have seen of lots of diets that are supposed to be beneficial but only through searching on google. The main thing that I have seen repeated often is to avoid things from the nightshade family - potatoes, tomato's chillis and aubergine (all the lovely things that I cant live without!) I have heard that pineapple is very good anti-inflamatory-wise.

Also the supplement devils claw is supposed to be very good! My friend gave it to her dog and saw a marked improvement

[SarzWix]

A common theme which keeps coming up in American studies is a regime of low-dose antibiotics like Minocycline, apparently a lot of the inflammatory type autoimmune disorders are caused by bacterial infections. One report mentions 'toxic root canal' as a common factor. Quite a few talk about candida. Funnily enough...

Lots of things to talk to the GP about tomorrow

[FionaH]

I have nothing to add but hugs I'm afraid. About to toddle off to bed but you have made me very grateful right now. xx

[SarzWix]

Everything's relative Sleep well hun x

Those of you who also have these problems might be interested in this: http://autoimmunityresearch.org/prep...09Preprint.pdf

Might be worth taking to your GP.

And this: http://mpkb.org/home/pathogenesis/th1spectrum

[BroadRipple]

cyberhug from me too...you can get very far (cf. FloFen) with pushing for a specialist; you're entitled to it, and if you push you'll get it. An Endocrinologist might be able to help a lot.
Poor you, sounds really tough. Health stuff is miserable isn't it.
Goodnight.

[bearded bloke]

I see psoriasis on your feet mentioned Sarz,get a foot spa/massage thingy & add a sprinkle of Epsom Salts to the water,the easy way to clear the skin scales (temporarily) is to use Head & Shoulders as a soap

[Patchninja]

No advice, but wanted to add my sympathy and hugs.

[Glutton4...]

Think I'll shut up about my aches and pains, after reading this thread...

((((HUGS)))) to you all!

[SarzWix]

As expected, she (the GP) didn't have a bloody clue
Just said, yes, I'm taking too much thyroxine, no, she hasn't got a clue why these symptoms all flare up when I drop the dose, no, I don't have thyroid antibodies, yes, the symptoms make it look like I do, yes, there may be a rheumatoid factor but she doesn't know really.

Couldn't even make up her mind which specialist might be the best, because all the symptoms fall under different depts - dermatologist, rheumatologist, endocrinologist. She's settled on endo., even though I asked for rheumy. *sigh*