Advice on levels please.

[fluffy1910]

Hi all,

I had a partial thyroidectomy in 2009 I had a very large multinodular goitre. t4 was in the high teens at this point.

since my levels have been monitored and always considered normal even With symptoms of weight gain, lethargy, loss of libido, headaches & breathlessness.

I have been feeling worse over the last 6-9 months and was tested in August. I was T4 13.8 Tsh 1.09. I fell pregnant in October my levels were 12.7T4 not sure about tsh.

I have been getting more severe headaches/breathlessness but the doctors have just said it as hormones!

Well today I had a call to say the tests I have just had done are borderline.

T4 12.2 and tsh 1.69

the doctor is going to investigate further as he says he is no specialist so he is liasing with the hospital.

What are your thoughts?

He mentioned potentially trying the smallest dose of thyroxine.

Thanks in advance x

[shaws Administrator]

It looks as if your T4 is low in the range. It should be towards the upper part. T4 has to convert to T3 and if we don't have sufficient T3 our body cannot funtion. Our heart needs T3 to pump properly (breathlessness?) plus in every single of the billions of cells in our body. T4 isn't useful unless it converts. Ask GP to do a Free T3 blood test and this link explains the reason why. If he doesn't agree you can get a private one. Read about T3 on the link below:-

P.S. always get a print-out from the surgery as the ranges should be on it. Labs differ in their machines as does the ranges so it makes it easier to comment on tests.

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

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

[fluffy1910 in reply to shaws]

Thank you, the gp said he didn't need to do a t3?! I think I will get some private tests done if I don't get anywhere this way.

Thank you. X

[shaws Administrator in reply to fluffy1910]

If you do it is a Free T3 blood test.

[fluffy1910]

Ok thank you.

[eeng]

If you are pregnant you will almost certainly need thyroid support. Your thyroid needs monitoring carefully and treating if necessary because there is an increased risk of miscarriage if you are hypo.