Newbie help

I hope noone minds me posting, but I'm a newbie and would love some help and advice.

I've been slightly overweight for the last 5 years - nothing drastic, but I can't shift it. I'm always tired (bed at 9pm, sleep through til 8am easily if allowed, and could happily nap for a couple of hours each afternoon). I feel the cold terribly. I have spotty outbreaks, very dry skin, sex drive left the building years ago, I ache most of the time, awful pins and needles, vertigo etc etc. It all adds up to low thyroid.

My GP is fairly useless. I managed to get her to test thyroid function several years ago, but she said the results were totally within normal and basically refused to consider that I had anything wrong.

After my latest failed attempt to lose weight, I'm going back to her and won't leave until she gives me some answers! So, my question is, what do I need to persuade her to test me for? I know a full thyroid screen and some vitamins (is it B12?), but specifics I can list to her would be great!

TIA!

3 Replies

oldest • newest

  • Welcome to the forum, Cokey.

    Ask for TSH, FT4, FT3 and thyroid antibodies, ideally thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies. It's likely FT3 will only be done if TSH is suppressed <0.03 and antibodies may not be tested unless TSH is abnormal.

    Pins and needles can be due to low B12. Ask for ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate to be tested. Low/deficient levels can cause musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and low mood similar to hypothyroid symptoms.

    When the results are available ask for a printout with the lab ref ranges (figures in brackets after the results) and post them in a new question for advice.

    thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/diagno...

    thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

    b12d.org/b12-signs-symptoms...

  • Thanks so much for your advice. I went to see the doc today armed with your list of tests to have done and she was happy to order all the ones she could. The only one she couldn't ask for were thyroglobulin antibodies and free T4. If the others come back suspect, she'll push for those two, and if they don't, I'll get them done privately.

    She was very helpful and open to the idea. She was also horrified at the treatment I'd had from two of her colleagues, one of whom wanted to prescribe anti-depressants just because I said I could cry when I see myself in the mirror... Clearly, that needs medicating 😢. Idiot man...

  • Cokey, your GP sounds ok. Post your results with the lab ref ranges in a new question and we'll advise. Hold off ordering private tests until you have feedback on your results.

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