A little advice please?

[snowmansmartie]

Hi all,

My Wife has been suffering over many years from a lot of symptoms. The GP has done bloods and her "Thyroid test" came out at 1.6, but we haven't been told which test was actually done.

Using the Symptoms checker on Thyroid UK she has 34 of the Symptoms, and I believe she has an under active Thyroid. She has had another blood test for Diabetes for some reason that the GP has yet to reveal to us (She shows no signs or symptoms of Diabetes)!

We have an appointment tomorrow morning 8:30 and apart from the symptoms checker and her own description of what's going on, is there anything else that anyone could suggest that we ask for and anything we should be asking.

My plan at the moment is to present the Symptoms Checker and to get previous test types and results, I am also going to ask for a full Thyroid screen.

Any advice anyone could give would be amazing as we need to get to the bottom of the issues.

Cheers

[shaws]

That's a good idea to get a Full Thyroid Screen. Some labs only do the T4 when the TSH is 'in range'.

If you've been given a form for the test, make the appointment as early as possible and fast. You can drink water. If on thyroid hormones (if you wife is given any) leave about 24 hours between the last dose and the blood test and follow the above advice, i.e. early and fast.

Always get a print-out of blood test results with the ranges for your own records and so that you can post if you have a query.

Suggestion. TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3, Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

[snowmansmartie in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaws, I appreciate the fast response

[shaws in reply to snowmansmartie]

Just for info these are the blood tests and read about FT3 further down the page.

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

These recommendations are nothing like the BTA but we find they make far more sense.

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

I forgot to mention on the previous reply 'antibodies' to be checked if not done previously.

I am not medically qualified in any way. I am qualified through my own personal experience with hypothyroidism and the statutory treatment regime of the BTA and their guidelines which didn't make me well. - in fact I had even more symptoms and pain but finally recovering my health with the help/advice of Thyroiduk.org.uk. and alternative hormone to levothyroxine. This comment is not given in my capacity as an Admin of Thyroid UK or endorsed by TUK. Information on the forum is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor

[Hidden]

Hello snowsmanpatry,

I am sorry to hear about your wife’s ongoing health problems.

Your wife could ask her GP’s surgery for a copy of the thyroid hormone blood test results (we all have the right to access our medical records) and then with your wife’s permission you could post the results complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment.

Diabetes is closely linked to thyroid issues. Untreated thyroid disease can cause issues in managing blood sugars because of the effects of the symptoms and how your body metabolises glucose and insulin.

To get a good picture of what is happening with the thyroid tests that need completing are TSH, FT4, FT3 and thyroid antibodies TPOAb & TGAB. However, you may not get all these tested and many members often use a private testing.

Ensure your wife has Vit D, Vit B12, Folate and Ferritin tested as people with thyroid issues often suffer deficiencies in these and these are all required for good thyroid function.

Please note that this information is being sent from me personally and not in my capacity as an Admin of Thyroid UK. I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these recommendations.”

Good luck for tomorrow. I hope the appointment goes well.

Flower

Thyroid blood tests

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

Accessing medical records

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/NHS_In...

Diabetes

diabetes.org.uk/Information...

Private testing details

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

This following link explains the importance of vitamins and where they may be obtained. This forum is supported by the charity ThyroidUK. You do not have to join the charity to benefit from this forum but by doing so you will be supporting the charity and also entitled to various discounts when buying supplements, as detailed in the link below.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

[snowmansmartie]

So her last result for TSH was 1.6 (0.5 - 5.5).

Never tested for FT3 or FT4. She's got an appointment on Thursday for more bloods to do full thyroid screen and ECG.

She's the got an appointment next week with the Dr to go through the symptoms check list along with results of bloods etc.

Hopefully a diagnosis is in sight :s.

Thanks for all your kind advice, thank you.