What do I do if bloods say I am in normal range

[basten]

I have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism. I am being tested next week. If my bloods come back normal what can I do next to get T3 etc tested. I feel so ill and have always suffered with depression for which I take tablets but in last 4 months have got worse. I retain fluid and bloat out, have IBS and acid reflux. Muscles ache. Cant concentrate anymore. Remember things. Hair gone thin. Constipation. No interest in anything. off my food, weight gain. soo cold. One thing I also have for so longa are phrases going on in my head all day. I have aged a lot in last few months. Am always sleeping. Gritty eyes. lethargic. Actually feel worse on certain foods. I am pre diabetic. I put it all down to just depression and food intolerances but when I look up the symptoms I have so many saying I have hypothyroidism..So can someone advise me what to do if my tests are normal and GP wont I am 65 female.refer me to endocrinologist. I am desperate . I feel so unwell. If all is normal would it hurt to take dried thyroid I can buy myself? Can anyone help please. I feel I am going potty.

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Basten.

Ask your GP, receptionist or practice manager for a printout of you thyroid blood results with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) and post them in a new question and members will advise. Your symptoms do sound very much like hypothyroidism though.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/diagno...

If FT4 and FT3 aren't tested you can order private thyroid tests from Blue Horizon or Genova via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Ask your GP to test ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate as they are often deficient/low prior to diagnosis of hypothyroidism 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.

Gluten-free diet can help with IBS, constipation, bloating and gas but you usually need to try it for 3 months to gain any benefit.

Betaine Pepsin and/or a couple of teaspoons of raw appled cider vinegar taken in fruit juice or honey sweetened water can raise low stomach acid to aid digestion which can help with reflux.

Try keeping a food/symptoms diary to help you determine which other foods may be causing problems. You can then eliminate each food for a couple of weeks to see whether symptoms improve and note how you feel when you reintroduce it. Try eliminating one food type/group at a time so you know what is causing problems.

[basten in reply to Clutter]

thankyou so much for your advice and info. I shall certainly do as you say. many thanks

[Heloise]

Hi Baston, antidepressants do not help your thyroid, so not surprising if you already have a thyroid problem that you feel worse. Your tests should not look normal, feeling the way you do, but GP's tend to ignore symptoms and feel if you are anywhere "in" the range, that is normal enough. Not true.

If your TSH is above 2, you will probably show symptoms. Unless your FT4 is very low, they will say you should be fine. FT4 reveals the output of your thyroid gland and from that it converts (if all goes well) to the active free T3 which runs the metabolism. If all doesn't go well, your free T3 is probably becoming reverse T3 and that isn't good. Your depression is probably due to a thyroid symptom. This helps explain why.

youtube.com/watch?v=nZ_CP7l...(Not working as expected?)

Best thing is to educate yourself so you can make a stand if your GP is miserable.

[basten in reply to Heloise]

thankyou so much for your advice and the video was relly good. My blood sugars are all over the place. I fail to eat regularly. But I am pre diabetic and am seeing the nurse about it so that might help. The GP in the video says I could tesy normal, still have all the symptoms but it would be due to serotonin and sugars. I just hope I get sorted soon as my health has slowly gone down hill despite the antidepressants I am on. Cheers

[Heloise in reply to basten]

You are welcome. This video talks about cortisol. Glucose fluctuations are very hard on the adrenals. Carry healthy snacks with you since you don't eat regularly.

Listen to what he says about Dopamine. You should try to get off the antidepressants.

You can watch more videos by pressing the icon at the bottom right "youtube". You can learn a lot.

youtube.com/watch?v=qYeFh06...(Not working as expected?)

[basten in reply to Heloise]

thankyou for that.

[Jackie]

Hi For thyroid you need tSH, T4 and Free T3. It can make a huge difference. I always use Blue Horizon, finger rick ( well tested) quote TUK10 for a discount.

Jackie

[Poshpenny]

If you get nowhere with your GP (and you wouldn't be the first person that has happened to) you could ask Louise via Thyroid UK website for her list of private doctors? I went down this route and it has been best thing I have done. 5 months later, I'm not there yet, but I feel so much better.

The NHS have finally acknowledged there are nodules/cysts on my thyroid, I had to push to get gp to even examine my thyroid and then he forgot to follow up and order ultrasound, I had to chase him for that. I got referred to endcrinologist, but they weren't interested at all, said he was unconcerned by them. He did a load of blood tests and said it was probably the menopause responsible for my symptoms. I had good fortune to have him do a blood test last Thursday and with my newly returned mental clarity got him to agree to annual scans of my thyroid to monitor it. all the time he's in his shirt sleeves, and I have a shirt, a fleece and a coat on top!

the cost of the private doctors is more hundreds than thousands. I appreciate however,not may not be possible for you to go down that route. frankly you shouldn't have to, but we are where we are. Definitely ask for the vitamin D, B12, folate and ferritin tests as well as the thyroid function tests.

[basten in reply to Poshpenny]

thankyou so much for your help. I feel I have hypothyroidism most my life. Always being in the OK range.My health is getting worse. I will find out about going private if it all says normal again.cheers for help

[Hidden]

Dear Basten, you are not potty. I know exactly what you are going through, I have underactive thyroid, diabetes T2, depression, and sleep apnoea. It took almost 2 years for my GP to diagnose hypothyroidism; I had variously been told I was 'too fat and just needed to take exercise' (after putting 4 stone/ on in six months, a symptom of hypothyroidism), I had depression - (well yes of course I did because its a symptom of hypothyroidism), and I had ENT problems (because I had a feeling of a lump in my throat another symptom of hypothyroidism) and was prescribed antibiotics. At one point I was also prescribed a diuretic as my ankles swelled up - another symptom of hypothyroidism! All the while my health was deteriorating, and the only symptom I didn't have was feeling cold! I know it can be very difficult to be forceful with medics especially when you are at such a low ebb, but if youre told your results are normal, you can still insist on a second opinion and ask for a referral to endo. GPs do their best but they are General Practitioners not specialists (unless they have a specific interest) and you need a specialist to review your case and your medication.

What I and my GP found helpful was that I wrote down all the symptoms I was experiencing, physically, mentally and emotionally, so it might be worth doing this in case you forget something or can't remember all you want to say once you are in your appointment. Ten years on, and I have only just reached the correct dose to control hypothyroidism - I seemed to have a dip every two years, so its a long haul I'm afraid. Good luck and take care x

PS. I have recently started a low carb high fat diet - its 'not recommended' by the NHS but I feel better than I have for years, so it might be worth investigating diet options

[basten in reply to Hidden]

thankyou so much for replying. I too am about to start the ketogenic diet similar to Atkins. I read Gloia Hunniford lost two stone on itt. I am prediabetic too and suffering badly again with depression and they say I have IBS I had a small op on my voice box cos I had gone croaky. My stomach swells no matter what I eat and drink. Like youI have so many things going on I feel I am slowly deteriorating too. Glad you have at last got somewhere. Cheers

[Kettle-belle]

Hi Basten,

I can't add any more than the ladies above but I just wanted to say that I've recently had a similar experience to you in that my TSH registered within the 'normal' bracket but my T4 was above whatever is considered 'normal'.

I printed off the symptom checker here on this website and took it to my GP to show how much I was suffering. I had a real battle persuading him to prescribe me Thyroxine but in the end he relented because I'm Bipolar and I said my symptoms were impacting on my depression.

I'm now 10 days into taking 25 micrograms of Thyroxine a day and I'm already feeling an improvement. I have energy at last and my brain fog has cleared.

Please listen to the advice above and go private if needs be.

Best of luck.

[basten in reply to Kettle-belle]

how strange. I am bipolar too and I am sure my thyroid has played a big part in all my symptoms. Thankyou so much for replying. I am glad u atlast feel better.

[Heloise in reply to Kettle-belle]

Hi Kettle, I read recently that they are treating bipolar with straight T3. Maybe you can look into it. I don't think it is a coincidence. It is not impossible to acquire your own T3 if it comes to that.

[Kettle-belle]

Hi ladies, sorry I missed your messages and thank you for replying.

The thing that finally persuaded my GP to prescribe Thyroxin for me a few weeks ago was when I mentioned my thyroid condition was impacting on my depressive illness, which it really was.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for any changes to bipolar treatments; I'm on a very good drug right now & formerly on Seroxat (always worked for me but hellish to come off). If I didn't have to take SSRIs any more I'd be very happy - I used to be really slim but I'm 2 or 3 sizes overweight now & nothing will shift it.

Happy days!

[basten in reply to Kettle-belle]

thankyou for your reply. just had my bloods done yesterday re thyroid