I almost dread going to the GP here. The first time I went to the local surgery I told the doc I was feeling tired and sluggish. So she set me up for a wellness check and said they'd check my thyroid. Well I was told I was normal with a TSH of 4.57. All things were in the normal range. But I still feel I need to check further just in case, so today I had an appointment requesting further testing for my thyroid. She said they usually only do that if you are already on Thyroxine. Then she asked if I worked. I said no. He recommendation was that I needed to maybe work part-time as I must just be bored. What?!?!?!?! Also because I had begun having anxiety attacks around 2010, I have been on a medication for that. So then she says that is probably why I am tired and I should maybe reduce it. The tiredness has been more recent. Then she mentioned that I am getting older so things change. But she finally said she would have some tests done. She is doing a full blood count, Iron and Iron binding capacity, Thyroid Function Test T4 and my Vitamin D level. While I am happy to get some further testing, I am so frustrated at the whole appointment. Made it seem like I am sitting around doing nothing and am coming up with things wrong with me because I have nothing to do. I told her that if it comes back normal than I can at least mark that off as not the cause and we can all be happy about it. In the US a TSH of 4.57 would be high and they'd start you on treatment. My prior test in the US in 2008. Then my TSH was 2.63 so it has risen that much over the course of 7 years. Maybe I am being too sensitive?
So frustrated......:(: I almost dread going to... - Thyroid UK
So frustrated......:(
What cheek! "Should get a job!!" What range was used for the TSH? Could you get a print out? I have been given a diagnosis of hypothyroidism at pretty much the same level by my GP, so I think yours was possibly following out of date guidelines. You have the symptoms and your TSH is rising and clearly failing, you are clearly hypothyroid.
You could get your thyroid antibodies privately tested, I did this, and it was helpfully persuasive to the GP.
It would be useful to know your cholesterol count.
I am suprised they started you on medication for anxiety without first checking your iron levels. I hope serum ferritin is one of the tests she is doing.
TSH was 4.57 miu/L, my serum cholesterol was 5.4 mmol/l , the HDL was 1.4 mmol/l, LDL was 3.4 mmol/l, serum folate was 10.3 ng/mL, Vitamin B12 395 ng/L, serum calcium 2.24 mmol/l,
I really don't know what all that means. I think I am lucky to have gotten what I am going to get. Test tomorrow morning. After that I am going to try to schedule an appointment with Dr. Peatfield.
Oh and the normal range from this lab was .35-5.50 for TSH. Mine was 4.57.
OK, so the TSH is a bit below their range. You are unlucky, my GP uses a lab with a lower top limit on the range. Did you do the test first thing in the morning fasting? Be sure to do that for morrow's test - get there absolutely first thing.
Your serum cholesterol is a bit raised as you would expect in hypo. There should be a ratio figure, the LDL is the one they worry about. If they tested your kidney function they might find the global filtration rate was dropping a little (mine certainly is - yet another symptom, I read).
Wouldn't do any harm to take some methylB12 once your latest tests are over - posters in the Pernicious Anaemia Soc often say that a B!2 reading of a 1,000 is more like it, though your GP would dismiss that as nonsense of course.
I would recommend getting your thyroid antibodies done privately, but wait and see where your TSH is on this second test.
Can you feel or see any nodules on your thyroid?
Yes, that one was a fasting. Not sure if she is doing TSH again or just T4. Still going to have it tested fasting even though they didn't request. My appt's at 9:15.
My LDL is 3.4 I guess there was an overall serum cholesterol number which is 5.4 (again, not mentioned in my follow up. Was termed "normal") as their range is 3.0-5.7
On the liver function:
serum total bilibrubin 4 umol/l
Serum ALT level 22 iu/L
total alkaline phosphates 60 U/L
So your options are - (1) wait for a year or so till your TSH goes over their arbitrary limit. Clearly not rational since further damage is being done to your body meanwhile and you are unable to function properly during this period.
(2) Find a practice which uses a different lab with different lab ranges.
(3) Go privately to a doctor who has a sceptical view of the establishment approach to hypothyroid diagnosis.
If you can afford it (3) is the no brainer, isn't it? Good luck. Please post on the results.
Question about retesting timing (TSH+ ft4)
NEWBIE TO SITE - NEED CLARIFICATION PLEASE
14yr old - Don't think all the necessary blood tests have been carried out
Frustrated!
Confused 🤔 
