'My Story' & Help reading blood results please.

[scoobydoo87]

Hi everyboby , I am new to posting on here but use this community as my lifeline for support.

I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid 3 years ago . I take 75 mg of Thyroxine. . 

I'd become ill and more or less had an Mot at the doctors . I was put on HRT due to total lack of oestrogen. 

I am 54 yrs old and and had an  hysterectomy becuase of fibroids when I was 38 my ovaries were left intact. 

Since being diagnosed 3 yrs ago my health has deteriorated to an extent , that I have a job to lift myself out of bed somedays and do the slightest task . eg  walk to the loo , make a brew , the list goes on.

I was extremely active . A full time painter and decorator , often working evenings and weekends to finish a job , after reducing my hours little by little , 18 months ago I had to give up. I was an addicted golfer in my spare time, I was OCD with the housework. I can't do anything anymore.

I get very weak, I have extremely painful joints , I use a stick to walk . I get tremors , vertigo ,dizziness.

Weight gain and can't lose it. I am extremely forgotful and suffer from terrible brain fog. I also have terrible heat intolerance , if I get to hot I feel really ill .

I have given up on family and friends , not one of them understands.

My husband as just started  to understand after reading some of the posts on here. 

He got me to have the private blood tests.

One of the weirdest  symptoms I have is my scalp hurts when I move my hair even when Ive washed it. I have loads of other symptons , these are the ones I can think of.

Ive seen a : Heart specialist . Endochrinologist . Rheumotologist . A psychological wellbeing practitioner.

I take Venlafaxine for anxiety and depression , Ive just been put on a new one by the Reumotologist called : Amitriptyline. I take propranolol for Tremors . Climaval ( hrt ) for Sweating.  Naproxen for pain.

Thyroxine for my thyroid and vitamin supplement : Floradix

I had a Vit D deficiency last year and was treated. My  B 12 bood tests came back fine.

I have had every test done, my doctors advised and my Rheumotologist. 

The final diagnosis is ' Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia'  

I'm rather sceptical ,still waiting for something else to unmask itself.

Rheumotologist advised 6 weeks ago , Physio and Hydrotherapy referral , not heard  a thing,

GP referred me, on Rheumotologists  advise to Chronic fatigue clinic , they didnt send the relative information about blood results so referred it back to G P. I've since had to have loads of blood tests redone , because some of the others were over 12 months old. So I' m still waiting.

Ive read on here about T3 and T4 so I decided to have them checked out, I cant get my head round things like this so could someone please help reading them.

Thyroid function

TEST.                   PATIENT RESULT.               NORMAL RANGE.                     UNITS.

TSH.                         1.50                              0.27-4.20.                                   IU/L

T4 TOTAL.              H 145.4.                             64.5-142.0.                                nmoi/L

Free T4.                  15.38.                                 12-22.                                         pmo/L

Free T3.                  3.57.                                    3.1- 6.8.                                     pmo/L

     IMMUNOLOGY

ANTI- THYROIDPEROXIDASE ABS.                 11.3.        34.                             kiU/L

ANTI-THYROGLOBULIN ABS.                        100.2 .        115.                          kU/L

I have typed these results as they are printed. 

Any advise or imformation would be very much appreciated.

I don't have much faith in my Doctors , I usually go every couple of weeks.

1: I' ve usually another ailment

2: More blood test results

3: More importantly , so they know I'm still here and still poorly and in need of help.

I can live in hope.

When I come on this site , its nice to know I' m not alone.

                   

[Jose651]

Hi scoobydoo87,

Have you any results for Vitamin B12, Folate,Ferittin and VitD you could post for members to comment,

Is the Dot in the correct place for your TSH reading.

J

[scoobydoo87 in reply to Jose651]

Hi ,thanks for your reply. 

Stupid me it isn't 150. It is 1.50 sorry about that.

I have no other blood results , only what gp has done . Going to ask for copies for comparison.

[shaws Administrator]

H i,

Were your blood tests taken at the earliest in the morning. Did you fast before the test? Did you leave about 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood test?

[scoobydoo87 in reply to shaws]

Thanks for your reply. 

It's yes to all your questions . I followed everyones guidelines. Sorry about the TSH reading . It is 1.50 not 150.

[Hidden]

Assuming the TSH is really 1.5..???

Not converting T4 to T3 very well?

[Jose651 in reply to Hidden]

I do hope it is 1.5, although mine once went up to 93. something.

J

😱

[scoobydoo87 in reply to Jose651]

Sorry about that it is 1.5 not 150. Stupid me 

[scoobydoo87 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, thanks for your reply .

My TSH is 1.5 sorry about that .

If I'm not converting T4 to T3 very well what can I do about it ?

I get very confused with it all .

[Hidden in reply to scoobydoo87]

Clutter is the big expert. So do as she says. However if the increase doesn't help then be aware that there are a minority of patients who need to be given T3, guidelines now allow for a trial of this though you may find older endos resistant. If is not prescribed you can try some for yourself, being careful to monitor yourself and not take the stuff like sweets.

[scoobydoo87 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply , I will up my dose and see if their is any improvement. I was actually on a higher dose 12 months ago , 

gp lowered it , because I was getting symptoms of an overactive thyroid. 

Trying it this time might be different, put it this way I can' t feel any worse than I do now 

Thanks

[Clutter]

Scoobydoo87,

Can you confirm whether TSH is 150.00, 15.00, or 1.50 and whether you were taking 75mcg when the test was done?

[scoobydoo87 in reply to Clutter]

Hi , Thanks for your reply, my TSH is 1.5 not 150. Sorry about that .

I took my usual dose of 75 mcg  24 hrs previously ,

[Clutter in reply to scoobydoo87]

Scoobyoo87,

Thanks for clarifying and amending your post.  

Most people on Levothyroxine are more comfortable with TSH 1.0 or lower, and with FT4 and FT3 higher in range.  Ask for a dose increase to see whether symptoms improve.

Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...  Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP or endo.

Good news is that thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antiibodies are below range which means they are negative and you don't have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's).

If ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate haven't been tested in the last 12 months it is worth asking your GP to test as they are commonly deficient in hypothyroid patients and symptoms of musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and low mood are similar to hypothyroid symptoms.

_______________________________________________________________________________

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.

[MariLiz]

You say your B12 blood tests came back fine, do you have the actual level? Doctors often tell us it's all within range, but if we have thyroid issues we need our B12 to be up around 1000 to make sure we convert our T4 ( thyroxine) to T3 ( Liothyronine) properly. Also low B12 and low VitD are common alongside underactive thyroid.

Wishing you well. 

MariLiz

[scoobydoo87 in reply to MariLiz]

Hi , Thanks for your reply. I'm going to ask for some of my blood test results. Then I can see for myself. 

I'm getting a bit desperate now and need some answers.

I think diagnosing CFS and Fibro is a  cop out and I'm finding it hard to accept.

Its not easy fighting the NHS when somedays I've a job to pull myself out of bed, the last thing I really want to do is queston my gp.