What test to ask gp and endo for?

[danny1981]

Hi ,I am finally getting round to taking control of my thyroid treatment to see if I can make a difference to how I feel.For over ten years I been on levothroxine and only seem to be getting worse symptom wise.I was going to go private but thought I'd give my the nhs one last go before I do.I have a endocrinologist appointment in around a month but I am going to try and get my gp to do all relevant tests I need related to hypothyroidism like vitamins and others alike.I have pains in my right arm which I think is tendonitis,and my lower back has also been in agony for a while now,I put this down to my manual job and the sports I pursued but my body literally feels like it is falling apart and I heard that being hypo can cause bone and tissue problems,my tinnitus has increased so I'm getting 3 hrs sleep roughly a night and all the usual symptoms are still there except weight gain instead for me it seems I can't keep weight and muscle on which I don't understand.Any help much appreciated.

[shaws Administrator]

If you are not on a sufficient dose of levo you will have clinical symptoms as you state above. The first thing to do is ask your GP for a Full Thyroid Function Test - TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3. Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Some labs don't do the thyroid tests if the TSH is 'in range' but tell GP you want to take these results to your Endo so that you can get right to the point without waiting for another blood test and more weeks to get a decision.

Have the blood test as early as possible and don't take levo before it. Take afterwards. Leave at least 24 hours before your last dose of levo and the test (set a reminder on your phone or put levo in a different place the day before as sometimes we are on automatic pilot and may take levo). Get a print-out after a few days with the ranges (these are important as labs differ in ranges) and post for comments from members.

We are entitled to copies of our blood tests but may be charged a nominal sum for paper/ink.

[Clutter]

Danny, I had huge (unwanted) weight loss a few months prior to diagnosis and more since I've been taking Levothyroxine. Most has been loss of muscle mass. This isn't uncommon in hypothyroidism although weight gain is more common.

Joint pain is common until optimally medicated and can also be caused by low vitamin D and ferritin (iron).

[danny1981]

Thanks very much for the advice?

[danny1981]

That wasn't meant have a question mark on the end of my reply.Thanks for the advice?

[danny1981]

It's happening again sorry.