This is my first post and it is my bed time so ill write this up quick. Male / 24 yrs Old
A few weeks ago I visited my GP to complain about a wrist problem, whilst I was there I asked for a blood test since it had been about 4/5 year since I visited the GP.
I got the results back and I was told I was ok apart from a little bit of high cholesterol (level 5 I think it was), the doc said since Im still young its not too much to worry about, she also said that my thyroid level was low, went on to say since this is the first blood test they have on my I should come back in 6 months to see if it's an issue or not.
I didn't think much of it so I said ok, upon further reading I noticed I have quite a few symptom's of Hypothyroidism, such as - Feeling cold, Hairloss, Tiring easily, Dry skin, Depression, Trouble concentrating, Sore muscles, Weight gain and forget fullness.
Some of these are much worse than other's which leads me to asking, do I have to wait another 6 months to get a proper diagnosis?
I've always been the type of person to fob off health issues since I never thought i'd make it past my 22nd birthday (depression). Thank god i'm past that and battling it effectively. I now want to take my health seriously and I would like to know if Hypothyroidism will hinder my success sooner rather than later.
Any advice is appreciated, hopefully I don't forget i've written this post in the AM.
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shabbah
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It's usual to have a repeat thyroid test 3 months after the first abnormal result to rule out a virus, infection or other non-thyroidal illness elevating TSH. Ask your GP receptionist or practice manager for a printout of your thyroid results and ref ranges (figures in brackets after results) and post them in a new question and members will advise whether retesting should be in 3 or 6 months.
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 suggestions.
Hello Shabbar
Welcome to our forum and sorry to hear that you don't feel well.
As TSH used to measure thyroid hormone levels can fluctuate, two consequetive blood test results are usual to confirm diagnosis, unless results are unequivocally abnormal.
Ask your surgery for a paper copy of your results and post in a new question complete with ranges ( numbers in brackets) for members to comment.
Depression and high cholesterol as well as all your other symptoms could be attributed to low thyroid hormones.
It would be reasonable to request another blood test in 8 -12 weeks to confirm a diagnosis if your symptoms were to continue or get worse.
Flower
You have a right to see your medical records under the Data Protection Act 1998. Guidance on The Data Protection Act 1998 can be found at: ico.org.uk/for-the-public/p...
Disclaimer: 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 suggestions.
flower I could hug you - thank you so much for the link about accessing your health records. I can also, hopefully access my fathers at a cost, although he was born and died in Scotland, served in ww2, had tb and then along I came in 1947 in England, where he then lived most of his life except last 20+ So I've got to see if I can also access the Scottish NHS records!
Now, in 2015 here in France, I have a whole list of unswered questions, trying to ensure I don't die of the same things as him, as there are too many coincidences with his last couple of years and my current health problems. All well documented on here as you know!
I took my thyroxine at 9am then forgot to eat, it's now 1pm here, been so busy catching up with TUK as not been on for a while. I can't find answers to me on posts I've made or commented on. these forgetful things are down to the B I. It's probably my wifi tablet that will kill me off not any pharma ones
When your next blood test is due, have the earliest possible appointment and fast. Many doctors only take notice of the TSH result and it's highest early a.m. If you are put on levothyroxine and the next time a blood test is due leave about 24 hours between your dose and the blood test and follow the other suggestions at the same time. Also ask for thyroid antibodies to be checked and Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, iron, ferritin and folate to be tested. Also always get a print-out of your results for your own records and post if you have any queries.
I wanted to just add that if you went with carpal tunnel syndrome that is also a symptom of hypothyroidism. When you start to join the dots, it all makes sense
Hi well if your doctor really understood the metabolism she would know immediately that your symptoms together with elevated cholesterol is an indicated of an underactive thyroid. Depression also is a hypothyroid symptom and, it may be nothing, but I wonder what was wrong with your wrist. If it's carpal tunnel syndrome then this too is a symptom of an underactive thyroid gland.
No I would not wait 6 months. Why suffer all these symptoms when you don't need to. I would pick a doctor on the Thyroid UK list and go and see them, if you are in the UK, if not then find another doctor who understands that you need treating.
You could ask them to prescribe natural thyroid hormone as this contains all 5 atoms unlike T4 only which is only one and is not balanced on it's own at all.
I hope this helps but if you need anymore info then please let me know.
Hi there, I managed a degree and a new carer and a diploma while striving to combat depression. My advice. is to stay positive, recognise the black dog and fight him. Sounds flippant but it can be done and don't get to obsessive about this site as in a low mood it can make things worse. All the best to you.
Sounds like you've had a rough time. This could be the light at the end of the tunnel. Finding the cause of your depression & fixing it.
I would definitely not wait. I would go back & explain how all your symptoms tie in with Hypothyroid & ask to be re-tested. Be positive & impress upon the GP that you're trying to help yourself. Print a few articles off & take them, let him/her know you've done your research. Ask for the following tests :
TSH
fT4
fT3
Ferritin
Folate
B12
Testosterone
Get a printout of results & post them here. You must get a printout. "Normal" is not a result, as you will discover when you get into this subject.
Do you work or have access to £89? (£10 off with Thyroid UK) You could also get tested privately. Give you evidence to support your case.
What's your lifestyle & diet like? If you eat junk food & fizzy drinks, you could do a LOT for your depression by ditching that. Not what a 24-yo bloke wants to hear maybe, but better than depression.
men and women can have thyroid problems, mostly the women.
list all your symptoms in writing and go back to your doctor with them. I know what you mean about not making a fuss, I spent most of my life brushing things off, I'm retired now, and now spend more time having doctor or specialists generated tests I wish I'd realised or known when I was younger that it would have been worth following up!
Don't start self medicating with this or that bought over the counter - go to your doctor and if necessary ask for another blood test, thyroid scan, and to see a thyroid specialist after further blood test results back, if warranted. Post your results on here also for the Admin to see.
No doubt very soon Louise or one of the other Admin on here will tell you what exactly to get blood tested. try and keep calm and unstressed for now, make sure you are eating well and properly - not junk food, so you are getting the necessary vits, minerals and everything from your food and a healthy diet!
Shabbah, I have dealt with depression since my early teens as well as other symptoms that indicated thyroid issues. I have had my TSH tested over and over again but never had results that caused the Dr.s concern.
I am not 53 years old and was diagnosed with Hashimotos disease which destroys your thyroid a year ago. I believe I have had issues with that all my life but only found out about the Hashimotos because I felt like a baseball was in my throat and they did an ultrasound and found I had a goiter so put me on Levo. The Levo had helped with all kinds of issues for about a year then I started to slowly decline again I believe because of Hashimotos. I had also found at the same time that I did not absorb folate or folic acid very well so went on 1000 mcg or 1 g of folic acid.
Memory problems, dizziness, and a host of other issues cleared up after about 2 months and I felt better than I had in years. The depression is still present but I think dealing with the Hashimotos for so many years had done a lot of damage to my system and I will never get off the depression meds, that is not saying that if you start getting treated for it right away that your depression will not clear up. I have only had the regular TSH test done but want to have the others done to find out what is going on, it is worth checking out all avenues. Good luck Shabbah, do all the research on thyroid you can and get well.
Hi Shabbah, these things do not happen overnight. They make you wait in the UK but this does not seem a temporary condition which I believe that is why they make you wait. Something is causing your thyroid to act this way, the main one being an autoimmune condition attacking the gland and causing it to fail. But there are many other causes such as low iodine or selenium that deprives the gland of basic ingredients it needs to make hormone.
You could feel ill with a TSH of even above 2.0 but likely they might convince you to hold out for treatment until you are at 5.0 or even higher. As you will find, they seem to be reluctant to treat this and I thought it was primarily women but I guess they are equally negligent for men. Demand further testing as has been mentioned above.
I agree with all that's been stated here and I hope you will take this to begin your journey to becoming well. There is no need for you to be rebuffed by the medical profession since almost all hormones are available to you if they refuse to treat you or attempt to stall. Here is the reason for your depression.
I would return to your doctor and tell him that you have many of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid. Wrist problems can also be a symptom of low thyroid as, even when I was first medicated, I had this; I wasn't properly over my thyroid symptoms until I had become optimally medicated which can take a while.
Hypothyroidism is already hindering your success. The link between hypothyroid and depression is well known, except that the average doc gives his patients an SSRI instead. Kent Holtorf MD was seen on twitter saying that T3 is the most powerful anti-depressant, better than any BigPharma AD.
You should immediately go back to the doc and ask for the minimum full thyroid panel: TSH, FT3, FT4, rT3, TPO antibodies, TG antibodies. Since most cases of hypothyroidism are due to Hashimoto's, it's best to know now if antibodies are present so you can do something about it. If you're eating a crappy diet with lots of gluten and processed foods, chances are you're getting leaky gut/gut dysbiosis which is promoting anti-thyroid autoimmunity.
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Hi , new to this site . Autoimmune thyroid !
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