Thyroid levels

[ursa]

I got some reading after blood tests

39.2

.1

I am new to this, what are the rading, and where do I stand on the 'normal' scale?

I am waiting for a hospital appointment.

[helvella Administrator]

It is difficult to be sure without knowing what tests those were.

They could be Free T4 - at 39.2 that is very high - and TSH - at 0.1 that is low which is what we would expect with such a high Free T4.

If that is right you are severely HYPERthyroid with your Free T4 somewhere around twice what you'd expect.

Perhaps you could post something about how you are feeling which would help to know if I am right - or very wrong.

Rod

[ursa in reply to helvella]

I am feeling constantly tired and am losing weight. I have also lost some of my appetite.

What worries me now is that my GP told me that my Hyperactive Thyroid was mild.

[silverfox7]

Lots of information on the Thyroid UK site. Read and ask questions on here about anything you don't ubderstand. Nothing is ever too simple. We have all been where you are now, not understanding what is happening to your body and not really understanding what your GP is telling you either-often they aren't fully understanding this themselves. But lots of experience people here to help you each step of the way. It's best to get a print out of any results, they cannot refuse to give you this but may charge a few pence to cover the paper and printing ink, then post them as they are given by the labs. The ranges, in brackets, are important as well as each lab can vary on these. It isn't easy to understand at first but we shall help you on the journey.

[eeng]

You should be treated within weeks, not months. They will almost certainly give you Carbimazole, which will calm your thyroid down a lot. They will then add in some Thyroxine, which will perk your thyroid up a bit. It's called block and replace therapy, and they normally try you on this for a year or two to see whether the hyperactivity then goes away. With some people it does, but others find when they stop the block and replace their symptoms come back, so something more permanent is advised (RAI or thyroidectomy). Hyperactive thyroid is often caused by Graves disease (it's OK it shouldn't kill you!) which is why someone asked about antibody levels - Graves antibodies to be precise. Sometimes it can be caused by other types of antibodies and then the pattern of the disease is different. Get back to us and let us know how you are doing. There are lots of very knowledgeable and helpful people on this forum. Best of luck!

[ursa]

Thank you all for your advice. I agree, GP's are not that knowledgeable. She did request an urgent hospital appointment though. This was on 18th November. The NHS appointment system sucks.

I was supposed to have keyhole surgery in my shoulder, and the anaesthetist spotted my high thyroid levels and refused the procedure until the thyroid problem has been resolved.

I think there are serious communication problems within the NHS.

[Heloise]

I think Rod is guessing correctly, there should be no reading of 39 with any of the things they usually test, i.e. free t4 (storage hormone), free t3 (active hormone) or tsh which may be .1 but that is the lowest that can be measured. You certainly must be overactive and your thyroid is over producing. This raise in metabolism speeds everything up, raises your temperature and burns calories. Stay away from caffeine and chocolate. Raw cruciferous vegetables may tamp it down.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/g...

[ursa]

Thanks again, I have just checked hospital waiting times, and can expect up to 18 weeks, which implies that I have to wait to the end of March 2015 to be seen by a consultant. It is very disappointing.

[ursa]

I now got a hospital appointment with an endocrinologist fro 29th December. Will get you updated.

[helvella Administrator in reply to ursa]

I am very glad your appointment is sooner than you had feared.

I am also very pleased that the anaesthetist picked it up (as he should). We have seen a few people for whom their anaesthetist has been vitally important in getting thyroid issues recognised and treated.

Rod