I want to be diagnosed so I can feel normal and start living again

[Soph1e23]

I have many of the symptoms for Hypothyroidism (easy weight gain, difficult loss), fatigue, depression and listlessness, poor tolerance to temperature changes and more! I've had these symptoms for years and have been back to my doctor repeatedly.

I've been tested for thyroid problems twice (alongside tests for diabetes... :-\) , but each time I just get told that the results are normal, and I have never seen the actual results from the tests.

My mother, her sisters and my grandmother have all had hyper- or hypothyroidism (fipping and coming and going over many years). I'm convinced my problems are due to thyroid issues, but I just need to be taken seriously. I feel so lethargic and all aspects of my life are affected - I'm totally at the end of my teather. Going back to my GP next week... I just want to feel healthy and normal again

[Hidden]

You need to put in writing to the Practice Manager that you want a copy of your blood test results, you're legally entitled to these. There may be a small charge for printing costs.

Post them up here and members can comment.

You're doing the right thing by taking control of your health, many of us on here have found GPs to be as much help as a chocolate teapot as well as suffering from the lazyitis virus.

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Soph1e23.

Ask your GP receptionist or practice manager for a printout of your recent thyroid results with the ranges (figures in brackets after results) and post them in a new question for advice.

When you see your GP next week ask for ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate to be tested as low levels can present symptoms very similar to hypothyroid symptoms. Get a copy of the results and post them for advice.

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

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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.

[shaws]

Some hints - many people remain undiagnosed due to the way doctors nowadays diagnose us. Previous to those blood tests we were diagnosed upon our clinical symptoms and given NDT (natural thyroid hormones) until we felt well again.

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

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

Ask also for Free T4 and Free T3 to be done too.

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

I'm sorry to say that we cannot rely on doctors to diagnose us (as I remained undiagnosed for a long time) - in the event it was someone who does first aid suggested thyroid to me and he proved right and the doctors wrong. So we sometimes have to take a crash course in how thyroid hormones control everything in our body and that the blood tests are a 'guide' only but doctors take notice of the TSH alone and pronounce diagnosis upon it, especially if it's at the top of the range where we might feel awful.

Also ask for Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be tested as deficiencies can also be problematic.

[MariLiz]

Unfortunately this seems to be a common story. I only got diagnosed when I paid to see an endocrinologist privately. I think my own GP at the time would have just kept telling me it was all ok, when it definitely wasn't! Good luck with getting a diagnosis and some help to feel better. MariLiz

[Mollyjane]

Hi Soph1e, Symptoms and family history alone should make him/ her take notice, but sadly........

My only advice would be to read as much a you can from TUK/ and this forum, so that you are prepared before seeing your GP. The amount of knowledge and support on here is absolutely phenomenal.

Please let us know how things go.

X

[Soph1e23]

Thank you for your support everyone - means a lot! I got detailed results from my 2013 test. I'll pop up a new post to share them. Booked in for a blood test in a week too!