Hello...I've had an underactive thyroid for some fifteen years and now my sister is showing symptoms...as expected her GP tells her it's 'normal'. It looks borderline to me.
June 2014
free T4. 14.7. (9 - 22.7)
TSH. 1.35. (0.35 - 5.5)
June 2015
Free T4 9.9
TSH 1.02. same range.
Be interesting in hearing views, many thanks.
Clutter will be along in a minute to give you the definitive answer, I expect. Meanwhile I would just ask, the T4 has dropped, were the tests taken at the same time? And also, what symptoms? And might it be worth getting a private test done to look at all types of antibodies and the T3, given the family history?
Thank you Aspmama for your response... she has terrible stiffness, weight gain, very bad carpal tunnel and is waiting to see a specialist about that and I would say brain fog also. I will find out the timings of both blood tests...again thankyou. Agree T3 needs to be tested, always a struggle and time consuming to get things done unless she goes private.
My life transformed when I found you can do private blood tests directly without going to a private doctor. Possible testers available on the Thyroid UK site.
Order a test, have a blood draw get results - takes about two/three days in London. And I don't have to go through all that awfully pleading/humble/poor little me just this once stuff with the recalcitrant GP. Though maybe that just reveal how much of a beta female I am.
I have the same feelings, Aspmama. Having to beg and plead is humiliating, and it rarely got me anywhere anyway. Discovering that I could get blood tests without involving my doctor was amazing! And knowing that I could act on the results without involving my doctor was wonderful too. I realise that things could turn up in the results that I would have to see a doctor about, but luckily it hasn't happened yet.
Thanks I'm in agreement, last time I went to collect my prescription, I got a message saying they won't prescribe until they see me...my heart sank...I can't bear having to talk to them, especially now that I'm self medicating and buying my own T3. At least my sister who this post was for will have my years of experience in this struggle.
Elspethmann, Your sister's TSH is low-normal but FT4 is almost bottom of range. One would expect to see TSH near top of range or just over range with FT4 that low. I think your sister's GP should consider secondary hypothyroidism (pituitary dysfunction) or tertiary hypothyroidism (hypothalmic dysfunction).
cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...
Clutter as always thankyou for your sound advice, much appreciated.
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