Endo on Friday - guesses for outcome?

[HarryE]

Latest bloods pre-appointment

TSH 4 (0.3-5)

FT4 13 (9-25)

TGAb 1823 (0-20)

What do we reckon the outcome will be? We could do a sweepstake?

[Sue777]

Make a list of your symptoms and notes on what you want to say as you know will forget half if it! Good luck and fingers crossed you will be posting an encouraging outcome on Friday. X

[shaws Administrator]

What about this link, plus a copy of your clinical symptoms:-

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

You can also mention Thyroiduk.org is NHS choices for information.

[HarryE in reply to shaws]

Oh I know what I want to say!

Was just wondering what daft ideas everyone else though he might come up with?

[shaws Administrator in reply to HarryE]

You might well be surprised and come away with a nice prescription. I look forward to our outcome.

[Stourie in reply to HarryE]

I reckon that because your tsh is in range and your t4 also the antibodies don't matter because of the other tests. You are fine. lol

[HarryE in reply to Stourie]

Joanna, you are spot on!

[Stourie in reply to HarryE]

I'm honoured to accept the smilies. Thank you

Jo xx

[Ansteynomad]

Well , you look perfectly healthy to me lol. Both your TSH and your FT4 are within range and I was told by one of the endos I saw that if that is the case then there is definitively not a thyroid problem.

I really don't know Harry - it's such a lottery. I think all you can do is go in prepared and hope for the best. You clearly have auto-immune thyroid disease and in that case will need treatment sooner rather than later.

Good luck!

[HarryE in reply to Ansteynomad]

I'm not holding my breath, and I have meds here ready to start self treating anyway.

Ten smilies for the person who guesses closest

[chihiro]

Is this the great endo that said you had negative antibodies in his letter? Yeah hmm no high hopes for tomorrow's appointment. Still...I shall be thinking of you and keeping all toes and fingers crossed.

Am I right though in saying that your tsh is going up? and those antibodies are also higher...weren't they around 1000 before? Oh and my usual questions...at what time did you get these bloods done? fasting or not?

[HarryE in reply to chihiro]

Well remembered chihiro! Yep, antibodies & TSH up, FT4 down! No fasting, bloods taken at about 9am.

[chihiro in reply to HarryE]

If he's smart then he will see that your tsh and antibodies having been going up in the past few weeks and that your ft4 is going down. It's not rocket science is it? You are clearly getting worse by the week and need treatment!! I really hope he manages to see beyond the stupid "within range" mantra.

Interesting about not fasting this time, did you fast previous times?

Look forward to your update tomorrow

[HarryE in reply to chihiro]

Smart?

P.s. it's Thursday tomorrow

[chihiro in reply to HarryE]

Argh of course it is! I've spent all day thinking it's Thursday!!! The good luck still applies but for Friday

[HarryE in reply to chihiro]

No fasting, I haven't fasted for any tests. Should I have done?

[chihiro in reply to HarryE]

And the answer to that is "I wish I knew!!!" LOL I've been trying to figure that one out for a while now. Have found completely contradicting information. My first test was fasting and my second wasn't. Higher TSH non-fasting so I think for my next test I will go non-fasting again. I have a feeling though that as we both have antibodies we never really know what our tsh is going to be so it's just a question of crossing fingers and hoping it's a swinging up day!

[soulchick1]

Really interested to see the response you get. I await blood results which I believe will look very similar to yours. I am trying to get a 'proper' diagnosis through my GP. I showed him antibody results from private testing which like yours were above 1000 and TSH above 4. Despite this he doesn't think I have a problem. But luckily has agreed to run his own tests for antibodies, t3, t4 and tsh. I too have been wondering about the fast/non fast thing. I fasted!! Hope that wasn't a mistake.

I am certain it's auto-immune thyroiditis.....

Appointment on Friday. I wait with breath that is baited...!!!!

[HarryE in reply to soulchick1]

Good luck for you too xx

[Clutter]

Harry, endo will erm and hah! Tell you you're now subclinical hypoT and to go away and come back in 6 months. When you protest and give him links, he'll tell you USA sites are rubbish and tick you off for doing internet research while he writes you a scrip for 25mcg T4.

Good luck!

[HarryE in reply to Clutter]

If he doesn't give me anything, I won't be going back at all!!

[Marz]

...if you are not helped then you could put the ball back in his court and ask if he could suggest a consultant that specialises in Auto-immune issues - that should floor him - or not ! All depends which camp he is in - as I do believe some medical people think Hashimotos is not a problem and does not require treatment. Possibly because they have little or no idea how to treat....

Wishing you the very best - and as you sound well prepared it should be a howling success....

[HarryE in reply to Marz]

Apparently there is a consultant at our other nearest hospital with a special interest in autoimmune issues, but he is in the chronic fatigue clinic, and I am very reluctant to get tagged with that label, instead of being treated for my thyroid. But needs must, as they say, I guess. :-\

[Marz in reply to HarryE]

...sounds as if you need to steer clear of the AID man...I believe it is difficult to have the CFS tag removed - once allocated....

[HarryE in reply to Marz]

Yes, that's what I thought. They haven't tried to blame depression yet, but I think that's because I have had depression and this isn't it! If people have never had it before, maybe they are more likely to believe that label? Although frankly, this farce is enough to make you depressed!

[crimple]

If he is like our local endo he will suggest slightly increasing your levo and that's it. I paid for a private ultrasound scan after his "diagnosis". Thyroid severely atrophied. Now reading as much as poss about autoimmune disease and will be trying Paleo diet (no gluten no lactose) after 30 days you can then gradually re introduce some foods. My father has Crohn's disease, another autoimmune illness and I was diagnosed wheat intolerant (private consultant) 15 years ago. In your shoes I would try the diet. good luck

[HarryE in reply to crimple]

I haven't had any treatment at all yet, and have been ill since before Christmas. I have seen a homeopathic/naturopathic doctor who said I wasn't gluten intolerant at all, which surprised me as so many of you seem to be. I had always had a cast iron digestive system, and eat really well, so I was pleased with that. I have been cutting down gluten anyway, but as my antibodies have almost doubled in a month I am not convinced! But I do have a history of autoimmune problems, in my opinion all linked to severe childhood trauma.

[fixit]

Hi HarryE, just read your post and hope your appointment was helpful and productive. I think it is a lottery as to the outcome. I am in a similar situation to you. Im trying to get a diagnosis as I have loads of symptoms and have a TSH of 3.5, free T4 of 11 and free T3 4. My GP says she cant treat me as all within range and cannot treat until TSH 10. She says my symptoms are due to ME and cant be thyroid. She did arrange an ultrasound as she agreed my neck is swollen. This showed that I had a nodule. My GP is going to ask endronicology for their advice. In the meantime I am having my folate ferritin and B12 tested privately. I am looking forward to hearing how you get on. Fingers crossed for you. It is such a battle and takes so long.

[Hidden]

Before I put my bet on can I ask has this endo been recommended by someone else with thyroid disease? ,

[HarryE in reply to Hidden]

Well he was on the TUK list, but isn't now!! Also, his nurse told me yesterday he is a diabetes specialist!

[BeansMummy]

I think he will tell you that you are cured, and it is a miracle.

[HarryE in reply to BeansMummy]

All hail the miracle!

[Hidden]

Ok I bet one smiley face (don't know how to do them)he says"Good news yoir levels are in range so theres no problem.when you point out your antibody levels he will say"oh we dont need to worry anout that as long as you're in range.After you have educated him he will say"well you could try you on a low dose og thyroid replacement and see if you feel any better come back in 4 months.I REALLY hope I am totally wrong and it is a successful consultation. Good Luck

[HarryE in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. Smiley is like this : - )

If you do it without gaps it comes out like this

[Hidden]

: - )

[Hidden]

Fail

[Hidden]

[Hidden]

Yes! Thankyou