underactive thyroid

[lilian123]

I've been on thyroxine around 10yrs now and my symptoms are the same but doctors keep telling me my blood tests are normal

[galathea]

So what are your blood test results saying? What level is tsh, free t3 and free t4? Ask your doc for copies of all the tests he has done and maybe we can make sense of it.

Xx

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Lilian123

That's the problem with many doctors - they believe the guidelines but ignore patients clinical symptoms. Neither could they tell you one of the 300 symptoms that can arise if not optimally medicated.

They may say our tests are 'normal' but the patient feels anything but. What they really mean (but don't know it) is that the blood test is within the 'normal range' but as we thyroiders know, they ignore the clinical symptoms we have and you are still having for ten years and they have not resolved the issues.

We have to read and learn unfortunately otherwise we will continually be unwell which can be very detrimental overall to our health.

If you've not had a recent blood test for your thyroid hormones, make an appointment for the earliest, fast as well and leave approx 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood test. Ask also for Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we are usually deficient and that can cause symptoms too.

Get a print-out/copy of your blood test results with the ranges and post on a new question for comments. We are entitled to be well. We are not entitled to be restricted to either a hormone dose or a levothyroxine which doesn't do its job just become the TSH is 'in range'.