Where do we go from here...

[JG1985]

Hi everyone,

I've stumbled across this site which seems like a real gem! So here is what's going on...

My fiancée (Female, 26) went to the doctor as she was becoming really tired and seemed to be getting quite emotional. She broke down in front of the Dr who suggested that she have a blood test for Thyroid issues. After some research everything seemed to make sense, all the symptoms she was having were common in people with Hypothyroidism! Unfortunately, as is always the case, the nice caring Dr was a temp and is now long gone! So we phone up for the results which they said were 'Normal' but I've read that you should ask for the actual results, so she phoned back and in a range of 0.27 - 4.2 my fiancée was 3.5. (Some of the main symptoms she has are tiredness, lack of drive, constipation, easily bruising, lack of confidence, and struggling to lose weight).

We insisted on having a consultation with the Dr to discuss the results (which happened this morning). I went along with her for support armed with everything that I've read expecting a fight. It turns out that they only did the TSH test but not the FT4 or FT3. I grilled him on why this hadn't been done and he said that it is not normal to test for these, but he would 'make a special request' for them to be tested. So we'll see what they say, but to be honest, as nice and as caring as he was, I got the impression that whatever these test come back as will not make a blind bit of difference.

He seemed to assign these symptoms to stress with work (she isn't particularity stressed btw) and I don't want to say that he prescribed her anti-depressants, but he did suggest that this is something we should consider and made it clear they were there if she wanted them. She does not feel that this is the right path to go down, and for what its worth, neither do I.

During the consultation today, we found out that she had had the TSH test done previously and these were the results

Sept 2013 - 5.3

Sept 2015 - 3.6

I've read a lot of conflicting information online and I guess we'll have to see what these other tests come back as, but I don't hold out much hope whatever the results are. If anyone has any suggestions on what we could try next, I'd be extremely grateful to hear your advise as it breaks my heart seeing her like this.

I don't know if this makes any difference, but we have both just signed up to Bupa healthcare through work, but don't really know how to use it, or if it would be beneficial in this situation.

Thanks in advance,

J

[alangardner]

hi there j.g. , welcome to this [ our ] site .... i am so glad that you are supporting your lady in this , i had the same type of problem with my lady 3.5 yrs ago and with the superb help and advise from the people here as well as my forceful attitude --- i never suffer idiots or fools EVER -- together with the correct information [ gained mainly from this site ] -- she is now relatively stable[ish] -- in my view you need to insist on t3/t4/ferretin/folate/vitb12/vitd3 tests to be carried out AT THE SAME TIME to have a correct evaluation ==== most labs do not carry these out ,other than the tsh [ norm] test , but the g.p./doctor / consultant requests AND PAYS THE LAB FOR ..... from a personal view do not ' go with the flow and accept whatever is being offered -- the first will be to say that 'normally we would offer r.a.i. or surgery ' ---- you can get there without cutting it out [ some cases may need it --- but that in many cases is an stop-gap easy fix --- my lady's case is a prime example --- just keep on gaining more relevant info to your particular circumstances and you and your lady will get there and keep on supporting her ---SHE WILL NEED IT --- ......hope this helps alan x

[JG1985 in reply to alangardner]

Thanks Alan, it's a relief to know that she isn't the only one going through this. She thinks she's "weird" or abnormal, but through this site I've been able to show her that there are many many other out there going through this. I've told her it's going to be a long journey, but that we'll get there!

Thanks for your support!

[alangardner in reply to JG1985]

just keep on reading the daily posts on here and both of you will realise that not only is she NOT weird or abnormal ,but , she is actually as ' normal' as the many thousands of people that are not only members of t.u.k. but also all those that freely use it --- IT IS NOT SOMETHING IN HER MIND --- but it does lead on to a myriad of effects that at first you may not think have anything to do with it --- with both of you supporting each other you will get through this damn great tunnel ....... alan x

[Chrys]

You may be interested in this report in today's Independent. independent.co.uk/life-styl...

[JG1985 in reply to Chrys]

Thanks Chrys, this is perfect! I went on to Amazon right after reading the article and ordered his book! Thanks for passing on the link!

[Chrys in reply to JG1985]

I hope it helps, as you will already know, it is only by sharing our information that we can overcome the apparent inability to deal with thyroid problems properly. You may also like to read the 'Stop the Thyroid Madness' Book, which I found very useful.

[Pig4u]

JG1985do not let your Dr give your fiancé antidepressants .That response from my experience is the standard reply when the Dr is confronted with hypothyroidism about which he probably knows very little. Best to request that you be referred to an Endocrinologist --- but do some research yourself into whom to see Are you near a good London Hospital?

[JG1985 in reply to Pig4u]

We were both quite shocked to be offered them to be honest. While she is generally feeling down about things, we think this is due to the other symptoms finally getting on top of her!

We're in Kent so London would be within reach for us!

Thank you!

[Chrys in reply to JG1985]

Anti-depressants is also what my wife was given, but, like your fiancee, this was not the problem, merely a symptom, and in our case, made my wife feel more ill.

[shaws]

Welcome to our forum

It's very good you are taking an interest and are on her side. You will find that doctors aren't knowledgeable about the symptoms of hypothyroidism which they were before the late 1950's and before levothyroxine and the blood tests were introduced instead of practical knowledge.

Her TSH is and has been high but the British Thyroid Association's guidelines state that it has to reach 10 before medicating. Some doctors will prescribe with symptoms around 5. In other countries we would be medicated at 3.

Any blood tests for the thyroid gland should be as early as possible and fasting (you can drink water) and if taking thyroid medication leave approx 24 hours between the last dose and the blood test.

I find it very frustrating that they take no notice of clinical symptoms of which there are about 300. But they will willingly prescribe anti-depressants for which there is no blood test but they go by symptoms.

Depression is a clinical symptom of hypothyroidism because we don't produce sufficient T3 (liothyronine) as our thyroid gland is failing. When they give levothyroxine (T4) some of us don't convert it sufficiently to T3 thus we can then get more physical symptoms.

Ask GP to do Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate and antibodies. Also always get a print-out of results for your own records and so that you can post if you have a query. They must have ranges (figures are in brackets) that's due to labs having different machines and different ranges.

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

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[JG1985 in reply to shaws]

Thanks so much! This is great advice. I'll make sure that we get a print out next time we go, as hopefully this will allow us to get some better direction on what to do next! Thanks for running such a great forum, I had no idea this place existed till now but it really has given us some hope!

[JG1985]

Thank you! I'm going to get these results and then look for a specialist who will hopefully take it more seriously! Thanks again

[Coastwalker]

Hypothyroid.

In Europe and America they have lowered their TSH blood level down to 2.5 and your Fiancee is way over with her TSH at 3.5