Slow diagnoses

[Andrew1968]

I've been having blood tests for nearly a year now, every result shows that I have an under active thyroid. I've been tired and feeling really low for a few years now, suffering from joint pains and struggling to control my weight. My GP seems reluctant to start treatment, just blood tests every six weeks. Is this normal?

[ROMM53]

Hi

Do you have your thyroid function test results to post on here?

If not, ask your GP receptionist for a copy.....you are entitled to have a copy.

Someone experienced will comment on your results once you post them :

[sharon_hearn in reply to ROMM53]

I asked the receptionist for a copy she said i have to see the doctor so i asked well you said they were normal id like to see them. So i asked for an appointment with the doc who ran the tests she said about two weeks?

This is why i give up then cos two weeks go by i feel fine so dont bother but nowi its been nearly two years. Cant keep doing it.

[shaws Administrator]

Andrew, please do as suggested by rach67 and get a print-out from the surgery of your latest blood test results with the ranges.

It is surprising that you are underactive and haven't been given medication. It's a puzzle but nothing would surprise me nowadays.

It's definitely not normal to be given a blood test every six weeks but haven't had any levothyroxine prescribed. It is only normal if you are on medication till you get well and thereafter a yearly blood test is done or if you have clinical symptoms occur.

[eeng]

You are having these blood tests first thing in the morning aren't you? The results always look more impressive then. Some people find their thyroid hormones are extra low the day after exercise, so you could try that the day before a blood test. Anything to get the doctor to start prescribing. I have a suspicion that because once they prescribe you levothyroxine you will be eligible for free prescriptions for everything for the rest of your life, they are doing a bit of cost reduction by spinning you along like this. I hope I am wrong.

[Andrew1968]

I've been to my surgery and got a copy of the test results, hope they make sense to someone!

Serum free T4 level = 13.5pmol/L

Serum TSH level = 4.53 mU/L (0.27-4.20)

Hope someone can translate!

Thanks

[Poshpenny]

Bit odd to be having a blood test every 6 weeks.... Why don't you ask him what his thinking is behind that, and at the same time ask him if you can have a trial of levothyroxine as you are feeling dreadful and it's affecting your ability to function like a normal human being.

[Vallillyann1]

You are hypothyroid & I'd guess your GP is waiting for you to hit magic number 10 before treating by which time you will feel whole lot worse. My Endo says I am completely normal at 6.1!

I'd suggest you get GP to request full Thyroid panel including free T3 & T4 to get full picture of what is happening.

It'd be good to know where you are upto with B12, Vit D & iron. These need to be optimal - so 80% in the range.

I'd suggest reading Stop the thyroid madness so that you understand what is happening.

Good luck x

[Browneyes27870]

Hello Andrew ,I hope what I am goimg to say will help you I was exactly the same as you tired couldn't think straight no energy couldn't sleep hair brittle bones aching nausea never felt so ill in my life couldn't work crashed my car at least 6 times .doctor said all my bloods where normal ,fobbed me off with all sorts .i decided to go on line everything pointed to iodine deficiency investigated fully then decided to self help .went on sea kelp multi vitamins gave up tap water started to feel better,looked up fluoride that was the thing that was making me so I'll,looked into milk because that made me nauseas there was the fluoride .I also read on the net there was an epidemic of various thyroid problems because of lack of iodine,which is destroyed by the flouride

Do try the kelp and multi its and don't drink milk or tap water it worked for me

Pat x

[lemonlollies]

Hi Andrew, had a similar experience, except im currently being asked to return every 3 months. First tested in October 2013, TSH was 4.6 so they said normal and sent me away. A year later returned with much worse symptoms and managed to get a blood test and TSH came out as 8.3, but they said test again in 3 months. Came back now it's 8.9, and they've asked me to come back in 3 months again. It's hell. So presumably when it reaches the magic number 10 they'll tell me I'm hypo after I've been telling them this for 2 years! I don't know what the answer is sadly except to book an appointment and come armed with as much info as possible, request a trial of thyroid hormone or perhaps a referral. Good luck!

[Andrew1968]

Thank you all for your replies, I am starting to understand things a bit more now.

I'm due to have blood tests again next week, after which I will insist on an appointment with my GP.

One thing has come to mind, and I don't know if it's relavent. When I was about seven years old I had an xray taken of my kidneys and bladder, they used a dye to highlight what they were looking at. After the xray, I passed out and woke up in the A&E. I was told the dye was iodine based and I'd had a reaction to it. Is this connected my current thyriod problem?

[onecanhope]

have you asked to have your antibodies checked?

mine were way off the chart which led to seeing an endo and being doagnosed with hashimotos