Hi to everyone. I'm just starting to try and unravel this thyroid business and find if I have any problems or not. A brief intro to get going-aged 48 , TAH BSO getting on for 4 years ago. HRT Ellest Solo 2mg
Full time family carer plus part time job so busy bee, achy muscles, rubbish at sleeping, brain foggier than it used to be and feel clumsy.
Now for the confused bit- never ever feel cold, brilliant internal body heating system and yet I have been recording my temperature with oral digital thermometer for a week or so morning and evening getting a low body temperature ranging from 35.8- 36.6 but averaging about 36.1.
Any initial thoughts welcome. Looking forward to participating in forum.
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Houndy
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I will give you a couple of links from our main Website which might be helpful and others may respond.
On this one click on 'About the Thyroid' and you can see the different diseases one might get. You can click on the condition and you will also get 'signs/symptoms' and if you think one applies to you tick them off. (not that doctors will be aware of any).
Usually the most frequent is an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called Hashimoto's (it is detected through testing thyroid antibodies - if high we have Hashi's). Then look below at 'Thyroid Testing'. Your GP should test TSH, T4 and T3. It would be good if he also did Free T4 and Free T3 but sometimes labs don't if ranges are 'normal'. Also ask for Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as these can cause problems if deficient.
When you ask GP to test your Thyroid Gland, make the appointment as early as possible and don't eat before it but you can drink water. If/when you are on hormone replacement leave about 24 hours between the last dose and the test and take it afterwards. This allows TSH to be highest as doctors only go by the TSH result.
Always get a print-out of your blood test results with the ranges (important as labs differ in their machines) for your own records and you can post if you have a query.
Maybe you could ask for cortisol to be tested along with these. As you're asking for lots, might be good to make a list of your hypothyroid symptoms put your request for these tests in writing. I found GP was more ready to test given list of 15 symptoms, having previously brushed us off.
Ask your GP to test thyroid function. Arrange the blood draw early in the morning and fast (water only) because TSH is highest early and drops after eating and drinking.
Ask for a printout of the results and ranges a couple of days later and post them in a new question for advice.
Yes, sorry Houndy. Stick with us - promise we'll help if we can. It certainly sounds like thyroid issues and Clutter and Shaws have already given good advice. And as Shaws has said, it could also be any one of (or all of!) Vit B12 deficiency, Vit D deficiency or ferritin deficiency, so if your GP is amenable, see if he/she will test all those as well.
Hi Thanks all for so many replies and such good advice. I have a GP appointment later this week when I will ask for the test. That is really useful information.
TAH is Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and yes BSO is Bilateral Salpingo Oopherectomy so no ovaries left.
In case anyone wants to add the abbreviations to the list on here, these are the hysterectomy abbreviations - or just for info.
TAH: Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (removal of uterus and cervix through an abdominal incision)
SAH: Subtotal Abdominal Hysterectomy, Supracervical Abdominal Hysterectomy, Partial Hysterectomy (removal of uterus, leaving cervix, through an abdominal incision)
TAH-BSO: Total Abdominal Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (removal of uterus, cervix, both ovaries, both tubes, through an abdominal incision)
TVH: Total Vaginal Hysterectomy (removal of uterus and cervix through the vagina) -
LAVH: Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (removal of removal of uterus and cervix through the vagina with the assist of a laparoscope to see into the abdominal cavity through a small incision, usually in or near the belly button)
Unilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy: removal of one tube and ovary
Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy: removal of both tubes and ovaries
Radical Hysterectomy: removal of the uterus, upper vagina and pelvic floor tissues it often includes removal of ovaries and tubes as well.
Just an observation on digital thermometers I bought one, well two actually from the well know chemist and found that if I leave it in till it beats it gives a very low reading. This is why I have two, I didn't believe it either but two thermometer s in mouth at same time give the same reading so that would suggest they are accurate or does it! I now leave it in until it set he's off as that gives an accurate reading and I checked this against an ear one in hospital at the same time.
Thanks Silverfox- I was wondering about their accuracy as I read somewhere they can be as much as one degree out either way and I've only used the one sort-sounds like the same as yours -bought from a popular high street chemist
I suspect that they bleep after a certain time rather than at maximum temperature. I found out my mistake, I was writing something when it bleeped so left it in my mouth as almost finished what I was writing! It was higher than I was ecpecting!
Thanks Silver Lady- I will try that and see if it goes up to 37 when I leave it in for longer.
I've made an appointment for a blood test next week adn asked for the full range of Thyroid tests which she seemed to agree to but I wasn't given a blood test form, she just typed it up on the computer so we will wait and see with fingers crossed that they do the full test. I asked about Hormones being tested at the same time but she said as I had no ovaries and was on HRT there was no point in testing hormones. She mentioned possibly increasing my HRT dose depending on Thyroid tests.
Shaws said at the beginning
"When you ask GP to test your Thyroid Gland, make the appointment as early as possible and don't eat before it but you can drink water. If/when you are on hormone replacement leave about 24 hours between the last dose and the test and take it afterwards. This allows TSH to be highest as doctors only go by the TSH result."
I usually take my HRT in the evening at bedtime but my blood test is in the morning. SHould I take HRT earlier the day before or miss a day and take it when I get back from the blood test. Perhaps take it an hour or 2 earlier each day for a week so that by the day of the blood test I can take it in the morning, Say for eaxample 10 PM today, 8.00 PM Sat 6.00 PM Sun 4.00 PM Mon 2.00 PM Tues 12 Noon Wed then go back up again after blood test? What do you suggest would work best?
Is there any more advice for pre first blood test? Actually Dr said I had already had quite a few but I guess they all got a bit muddled with the hysterectomy blood tests and I wasn't concentrating on thyroid. All I remember was that everything was "normal"
Sorry only just spotted this. I can't remember now what I did with HRT. Never even though it could skew results. If you end up leaving it to after the test you will end up taking it and thyroid meds at the same time which you shouldn't do so I think itcitcwas me I would concentrate in keeping up to speed with my thyroid meds. Not sure what HRT does though if you miss a dose. May be the pharmacist may have a better idea?
I had the blood test results back and took HRT as normal. The GP didn't check a few bits so I've just sent off for some postal diy tests to plug the gaps and then will report back for some opinions.
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