Hi, I have RA and have been feeling dreadful for the last three years with little or no energy. I was referred to the thyroid UK website by someone on RA website and I went through the check list and I have 75% of the symptoms. I asked my GP for a test as about 10 years ago I was diagnosed as having an under-active thyroid and was put on thyroxin but when I moved and changed GP surgery they said I was only slightly under-active and took me off it. My latest blood test last week showed my TSH level at 0.31 which when I rang for results receptionist said was normal and no action. I have seen on this site and various others different normal ranges , what is a normal TSH range? My FT4 was 16 and my thyroid antibodies was 50. I don' understand the results and any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Donna
Written by
dmc12
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Hi, No not been told anything . I have had RA (rheumatoid arthritis) for about twenty five years but in the last three have been feeling dreadful and think it could be under active thyroid?
Is your RA currently well controlled by RA drugs? RA is, as you know systemic and as it is an automimmune disease you can acquire other secondary conditions with it that might also make you feel lousy.
If you could put in your lab's normal ranges then people here could help you more but from what I know I think you are unlikely to get much more help from your doctors re thyroid concerns from the look of those results.
Hi, Thank you for your reply. At present my RA is not controlled and I have secondary RA lung disease but it is the tiredness and weight gain that is getting me down . You are right about my thyroid test results as GP has stated no further action. I am not sure what my normal range is but thanks anyway.
I really do think that your RA is the more likely suspect if it is in your lungs too now. I have suffered recently from the most awful fatigue but my thyroid bloods are normal in 100mcg of Levothyroxine and the GP puts it all down to RA/ autoimmune flare ups. NRAS have just sent a fatigue survey and are focussing on rheumatic fatigue this year for RA Awareness Week. Hope things improve for you soon. Twitchy
Thank you and I hope you are feeling much better soon too, I have completed the RA fatigue survey which until seeing it yesterday I was not aware about it as for the last three years my RA has been out of control and I have complained about chronic fatigue but none of my specialists have mentioned this. Hopefully now with some more information I will be able to get it sorted.
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