Got my results 'all normal'

[upset]

I got my results TSH 1.3 (0.35-4.7)

So that doesn't explain my hypo symptoms (exhausted, brain fog, dry itchy skin, missing eyebrows, can't loose weight, excessive thirst, low libido). All other results are in range, so is it all in my head?!

[maxwellous]

Hi Upset, I had my results back as normal too, but have read from others of late that their is no such thing as normal. If the symptoms are there query it with your Dr. He (she) should send you for further tests that look deeper into it , I'm sure you will get replies from others on this wonderful site with more info than I can give. I too are going back to my Dr., same symptoms as you describe after my tests came back normal too. Good luck. xx

[Hidden]

You may need to be tested for thyroid antibodies. There are two tests that I know of:

1. Thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb)

2. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb)

My naturopath ordered these tests, which indicated that I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I experienced some of the same symptoms as you. My TG antibodies were >1000. I don't have a complete understanding of the reference ranges, but this is abnormally high. My TPOAb was at 10, which is high as well.

[upset]

Thanks for your reply maxwellus. My gp basically said that it's probably psychological so I just have to live with it so there's no chance for further testing, he only did this blood test to pacify me really.

I haven't had either of those tested Corey. Was your TSH normal even though they were high?

Looking through, I had a blood glucose level that was high but didn't count as it wasn't fasting ( even though I probably hadn't eaten as I didn't do breakfast) and my calcium levels were 0.01 units above the lower level. Is there anything else I should look for that whilst might be in range, is really too high/low? I'm seeing a different gp about a something else tomorrow but would like to bring this up if there's anything to bring up if you know what I mean?

[Clutter in reply to upset]

Upset, I would certainly mention excessive thirst which can be a sign of diabetes and ask for a blood test. If it's fasting don't eat or drink andything other than water after 9pm.

Were thyroid FT4 and FT3 tested in addition to TSH? If not ask for them to be done as secondary hypothyroidism,caused by pituitary dysfunction, presents with low-normal TSH and low FT4 and FT3.

[upset in reply to Clutter]

Thank you clutter, I will mention the thirst thing. The last gp wasn't bothered about any of my symptoms!

No unfortunately only TSH was tested. I think I will need to look at private testing for this , I can't see my gp agreeing to it (as I said he was very dismissive and not open to anything. Even if it was psychological surely he should support me though it not tell me to live with it?!) Worth a try though!

[Clutter in reply to upset]

Upset, TSH testing misses a lot of diagnoses of secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism. If your GP won't test FT4 and FT3 it would be a good idea to rule them out or confirm them with a private test from Genova or Blue Horizon via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[Hidden in reply to upset]

I'm in a similar situation. Tested "normal" for TSH rang a few times now for the actual numbers to get an answer phone message saying they are closed for training and being told twice the admin staff are not in...!! Used their e-mail system to ask for a print to be e-mailed/posted or printed to pick up and no reply as of yet! I teach so don't have much free time to ring when they are open. Like you I have been told TSH is normal and really starting to wonder if it's all in my head! I've ordered a blue horizon home test kit after reading good things on this site which include T4, TSH, FT4,FT3, THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES, THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES - and from what I've read they are really quick and e-mail the results

secure-eshop.com/epages/www...

[upset in reply to Hidden]

Twisted that's awful that they won't reply. I got a copy of mine no problem, had to pay £4.50 for the ten pages though! You have a right to be given a copy of the results, they are YOUR results!

I am thinking private testing is the only way forward. I hope it is useful for you. Presumably if they highlight an issue, you can go to your gp with them?

The More I Read the more annoyed I get that so many of us are being left to suffer with symptoms and how WE have to do the research!

[Hidden in reply to upset]

My other tests (numerous, including some of them here) were as follows, initially:

Ferritin 25

FT3 2.6

TSH 1.23

FT4 1.1

Thyroglobulin antibodies >1000

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies 10

RT3 16

Vit D3 24

My TSH was not too far off from yours.

The problem with many doctors, even generalists (I live in the US, so internal medicine or family practice is the equivalent of a GP), is that they do not look at a person holistically. I am far from a touchy-feely new age type, but I do believe that with the endocrine system a doctor must look at a person's entire health history and symptoms and run a battery of tests, not just the ones that will "appease" the patient. That does not provide relief for patients. This is not in your head.

I recommend also that you take a saliva test for adrenal fatigue. My saliva test results placed me squarely in stage 3 adrenal fatigue. Fortunately, my naturopath (not covered by health insurance) has me on a treatment protocol that is changing my life. My latest thyroid test results are as follows (about 2 months into treatment):

FT3 2.6

TSH 1.47

FT4 1.2

Thyroglobulin antibodies 859 (now measurable and dropping!)

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies 7 (normal)

Besides taking a bunch of supplements, I went completely gluten-free. I believe the key for me has been gluten.

Good luck.

[Hidden]

My thoughts exactly, MY results gimme! With my job I can't hassle them as much as I'd like. I planned to leave on time today and just turn up at GPs to ask for a print out but got stuck in a meeting with a parent! That's the plan, get private results and go back to GP - and show them if there is something to show. If not keep results to myself see what he suggests next... The test is pricey though just seems easier that battling with GPs!

[Nanalinboy in reply to Hidden]

Can you tell me please twisted, how much the tests costed you? My doc won't do them so I'm gonna try private

[Hidden in reply to Nanalinboy]

£108.75 - using the £10 off code form this site.

homebloodtests.co.uk/epages...

Ordered it yesterday evening so hoping to receive it on Friday and take the sample in the morning as suggested on other posts.

[upset]

Is your gp open to investigating things further then? Or do you 'have to live with it' too?

I hope you get opportunity to get your results.if not, maybe a call to the practice manager and remind them of their legal obligation under the freedom of information act or whatever it is that means they have to provide them!

[Nanalinboy in reply to upset]

My doctor is a ...".. He won't test anything, I'm imagining ,take these anti depressants, buy a dictaphone if you can't remember, then they sent a letter telling me I'm gonna get struck off cos I keep forgetting appointments! I told him I'm worried about my memory, wtf! Out of 120 I have 75 symptoms but I'm imagining it

[upset in reply to Nanalinboy]

They have no idea do they?!

He said if my lifestyle is busy with the kids, maybe I should stop work! I only work 15 hours a week anyway, but where am I going to get the money from?! Don't get me wrong, i'd love to be a stay at home mum, but really, !

[Flower3]

It's not in your head, please don't believe that and get further testing. Thyroid disorders can give the same symptoms as other diseases. I would say your TSH result is good, you still want a FT4 and FT3 test.

Diabetes, B12, vitamin D and ferritin should be checked. All these can give similair symptoms as the thyroid.

My best advice is to not give up and keep searching!! I have lost 7 years because they said it was in my head. They gave me a lot of pills, anti depressants, anti psychotics, sleeping and calming pills..All without effect because it was that little thing in the neck to blaim. The only reason I get treatment now is because I didn't stop searching. You need to read a lot about the human body and take control.

Good luck and don't give up!

[Nanalinboy in reply to Flower3]

Thanks flower 3💝, I'm seeing him again Monday evening to get a referral letter to a private endocrinologist, I just want someone to do the tests I want, and confirm that I'm not potty👀

[upset]

Thank you for your reply flower, and sorry you've had to deal with this for 7 years before you got the answer and treatment you needed.

First results from 11/08/14 second from 20/02/15 range in brackets.

Serum Vit b 12 - 327 220 (115-1000)

Ferritin - 23 33 (15-300)

Foliate - 11.4 4.4 (<3 deficient )

Glucose - 6.1 (3.6-6.0) ignored coz not fasting not done second time.

HbA1c - 32 31

No Vit d results.

[Marz in reply to upset]

Your symptoms could be due to your LOW B12. Yes it is in range - but low in range. Needs to be well above 500 at least. The range in Japan STARTS at 500 and goes up to 1300.... Also only 20% of the B12 in your blood is available at a cellular level where it is needed....so that makes matters even worse. Are you supplementing ? Ferritin and Folate also need treatment. So take a GOOD B complex with the B12 and think about Iron supplementation. Type Iron into the Search Box and posts of help will appear Here is a list of signs and symptoms of B12 deficiency....

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

As you can see many are similar to low thyroid.

[upset in reply to Marz]

Wow thank you marz, just looked on the list and there's symptoms I had noticed but not paid much attention to like nocturnal cramping.

What's the chance of a gp giving me the supplements you suggest? Or is it something I can buy OTC ?

Currently I am not taking any medication other than that for my asthma. I was going to start a multivitamin but wanted the blood test without first.

[Marz in reply to upset]

I would buy your own. Jarrow Methylcobalamin B12 5000mcg or 1000mcg from Amazon are very good and often suggested and used by people on this forum. They are chewable and to be kept under the tongue so they are absorbed into the micro-circulation under the tongue - thus avoiding the stomach. Also take a GOOD B complex as you need Folic Acid to support the B12 as they work together in the body.

You cannot overdose B12 as it is water soluble and you pee it out I take Thorne Research B Complex - more expensive - and contains methylfolate instead of Folic Acid which some say is better. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

You can buy iron over the counter too. Sorry I am not experienced in this area - so do read the posts of others from the Search Box or from the list on the right of this page headed topics You will need to take VitC in large doses with the iron to prevent constipation. 1000mcg x 2 should do the job. Also take a good multi-Vit to give you things like Magnesium/Zinc etc.

Please try and read as much as possible on the link I gave you. Have you watched the Films there ? Menu on the left of the B12d homepage....

Asthma can be another sign of low thyroid due to low moisture in the lungs - sorry to add to your list.. Maybe the treatment is skewing your thyroid results. Not sure about that one

[upset in reply to Marz]

Thank you, I've had a look and is gonna be about £15 for the b12 and £20 for the b complex, is that about right? Not too bad if it does the trick.

I seem to think spatone as a good iron supplement and they do one with Vit c but will have a look on here for advice first.

Thank you

[Marz in reply to upset]

Am not up to date with the prices - but sounds about right. I am in Crete. I read further down that you ask about VitD. You can have it done privately at City Assays Birmingham - they have a website - and it costs just over 25 pounds - sent to your home.

[Flower3 in reply to upset]

You can buy it yourself. Buy sublingual B12 tablets and take a high dose. I take 1000mcg in the morning and 1000mcg in the evening.

You also want your vit D to be checked. This is often low and give a lot of symptoms. You want it to be at least 80.

[upset in reply to Flower3]

Thanks flower, can that be tested privately as there's no way gp is going to entertain it!

Will very some b12 ordered.

[Flower3 in reply to upset]

I don't know as I'm not from the UK, sorry. What I've read here people do get private testing, vit D is nothing special so I would expect you can get this tested. Hopefully someone will answer how and where.

[upset in reply to Flower3]

Ah ok thank you

[upset]

Oh dear, seems they know nothing. 

He said my b12 levels are fine and that if I were deficient, my red blood cells would be larger than normal which they aren't. The only thing he said was a little low was my ferritin. I knew when he said all of this that I had no chance. 

When I said would supplementation be beneficial he said I'd be wasting my money as if it did work it would be through a placebo effect and nothing else. 

So stuff the medical profession, I'm going it alone!

[mrsm49]

My mum has been having the same problem for years,having to fight for thyroxine because of "normal" tsh results and being refused other tests. After reading this site, I persuaded her to see different doctor and to take my dad with her to confirm how bad she is. New doc sent her for all the tests as recommended on this site. She has made a massive improvement on b12, you can't look back but it's frustrating she's suffered so much for something so simple to sort.

[mrsm49]

Btw forgot to say she's not had results yet but is self medicating with b12 as was desperate to try something. Also we all know that when docs say you're normal that doesn't always mean normal for you, you may need to be higher or at top of range.

[upset in reply to mrsm49]

Yes why can't the doctors understand that 'normal' doesn't account for everyone?!

Where did your mum find a doctor who actually knew their stuff? Was it private?

I'm glad your mum is improving now with the right medication, but such a shame she's had to wait so long for it. For the sake of £15 or so for three months supply of b12 just to see if it helps, is gotta be worth the try.

[mrsm49 in reply to upset]

My mum had to make an emergency appt as one day she was so weak and wobbly my dad had to feed her! So luckily she got to see a different doctor who put her down for all the tests without argument. She has a new endo appt next week and I'm hoping that'll go well as she's been very disillusioned by previous endos. At least she's feeling so much better on b12! I myself had a TT last Dec ,was started on 100g thyroxine(not good but endo said that's all anyone needs!!) , just upped by another endo 2weeks ago to 125g, still having some problems but next appt is 3months away. I may try b12 myself.

[Marz in reply to mrsm49]

Definitely you should be on supplements. Have you had all the tests ? Once you are on B12 there is o point in it being tested as it will skew the results....

[mrsm49]

Yes hve been tested at last 2 endo appt but despite asking several times all they would say was that all was "normal", fair enough though as they did up me from 100 to 125g thyroxine because of my symptoms. Just made appt with my gp for a months time as next endo not till May. I'm not prepared to wait til May for help if I'm still having problems so will ask gp about upping thyroxine or taking b12 etc. He's been a good gp in past so hopefully he'll help with this. I've only been on higher dose for two weeks, there is a deff improvement but it's not constant, I'll have couple good days then be wiped out for couple days,hard to make plans. I'm sure it'll b fine eventually and if I ever get a copy of my bloods I'll post them for advice!