HELP

[Browne123]

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed as hypothyroid in 2011 and after reading posts on here am starting to question whether I've received the best care under my GP as other than t4 and tsh levels I don't believe I've ever been tested for anything else. I've seen people talk about B12, folate etc, was you all referred to an endo? My doctor just tested as my symptoms fit and then that was it I was found to be hypo so put on levothyroxine and have my repeat blood tests every 6(ish) months.

What type of care has everyone else experienced?

Thankyou x

[Clutter]

Browne, Few GP practices and labs test FT3 unless TSH is suppressed <0.03. FT3 testing seems to be to rule out hyperthyroidism rather than to check hypothyroid patients are adequately converting T4 to T3.

Primary hypothyroidism is usually dealt with by GPs but patients may be referred to endocrinologists if they aren't responding to treatment. Hyperthyroid and thyCa patients are usually managed by endocrinologists.

Members advise requesting vitamin and mineral tests because they observe that hypothyroid patients often have low/deficient levels of ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate which can cause musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and low mood similar to hypothyroid symptoms. If your TSH and FT4 are good but you are still symptomatic it may be worth asking your GP to test ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate.

My endo refused to test vits/mins saying my full blood count was good so it was unnecessary. I persuaded a trainee GP to test and was found to be severely vitD deficient, folate deficient, low B12 and high ferritin.

If your GP is unwilling to do the tests you can order private FT3 and the vitamin/mineral tests from Blue Horizon, Genova and City Assays via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[Browne123 in reply to Clutter]

Thankyou for this info. I have repeat blood test next week as showing signs of all the usual so will book in to discuss results and further tests. Thankyou xx

[Clutter in reply to Browne123]

Browne, leave 24 hours between last dose and blood draw and have the blood draw early in the morning before breakfast as TSH is highest early in the morning and drops after eating.

[Browne123]

Thankyou for your reply, most helpful. I will definitely discuss with my gp about performing these tests and I will go armed with evidence to support it.

Thankyou x