No thyroid.

[Alexara10]

Does anyone know whether the TSH levels are the same when you don't have a thyroid? Am fed up with being told "the levels are OK" when I feel tired all the time, itchy skin and can't shift the extra weight I seem to have gained no matter what I try.

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Alexara.

The ranges are the same whether or not you have a thyroid. If you post your recent thyroid blood results with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) and say what dose and medication you are taking members will advise whether you are optimally medicated.

Thyroidless patients don't always do well on T4 only and sometimes need the addition of some T3 to a reduced dose of T4 to feel well as they don't always convert T4 to T3 sufficiently well.

Ask your GP to test ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate as hypothyroid patients are often deficient/low and these deficiencies can cause musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and low mood similar to hypothyroid symptoms. Post your results with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) in a new question and members will advise whether supplementation is required.

[Alexara10 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for the response. Am waiting to see if GP will let me have copies of my last 3 tests. Once I have these I will post them.

[Stourie in reply to Alexara10]

By law he has to give you them under the freedom of information. They are yours.

[Clutter in reply to Alexara10]

Alexara, under the Data Protection Act patients are entitled to see their test results free of charge within 40 days of testing. Otherwise you can pay a £50 fee for all of your GP manual and electronic summary records.

ico.org.uk/for_the_public/t...

[jellynpain]

Hi Alexara,

I have atrophied half thyroid (one sided literally) and suffering symptoms like ataxia, fatigue, pain and more. I am getting nowhere with Endo (I feel because I am diagnosed CFS/ME/FM & more than happy to leave it at that... but I am not typical of their symptoms).

Hormone bloods 'normal', no hormone meds.

I am going to ask Endo gp about conversion ability & hopefully get results to post.

CLUTTER.... do you know how a Dr checks if a person is converting properly? x

[Alexara10 in reply to jellynpain]

Hi am just starting my investigations but my impression is that the doctors only use the scales they are given and Don't treat us as individuals whose needs for meds might differ from each other and the laid down doses of the necessary drugs. The danger of that is that we get the name of being awkward or whinging patients unless of course you manage to get a doctor who has the same problem and understands just how debilitating any thyroid problem can be.

[Clutter in reply to jellynpain]

Jellynpain, For a person on thyroid replacement low TSH, high in range FT4 and low in range FT3 can indicate a conversion problem. I don't know whether this will apply if you are not on replacement. Low FT3 can be caused by serious illness, surgery and ongoing illness. It's thought to be nature's way of slowing downing metabolism to aid recovery and prevent people overdoing things.

[jellynpain in reply to Clutter]

Thank you Clutter. I so wish I had your knowledge.

I am not entirely sure if I have had FT 3 & 4 tests. I know I have for T3 & T4 (if remembering correctly).

I will check with my Endo this week, though he isn't very helpful.

X

[jellynpain]

That's exactly what I am finding. Endo doesn't like me cos I demanded 'gold standard' 24 testing. He won't let me speak, has given me incorrect info & even told me I probably have a complete thyroid even though had specialist scans to prove I have half.

Seeing him this week so going to ask him about considering my symptoms & possible conversion issues. If he signs me off clinic (which he wants) I will go back to gp & request a NeuroEndocrinologist as I also have a pituitary adenoma.

Agree Dr's attitude can be that we are grumpy or loopy patients..... its not nice or helpful. Personally I find their attitude gets bad if they don't have the knowledge, rather than admitting that.

Wish me luck. Be great to share as we go, knowledge helps.

Xx