Thyroid

[Minnie7]

Hi for years I've been suffering with thyroid symptoms like hypothyroidism  these symptoms  don't show up in  my blood tests .. I'm so lost what to do .. I understand there are more accurate tests that the doctors do not offer does any one know what. Should ask for ? 

[Anthea55]

Can you get a print out of your latest blood tests?  Then post it on here for people to advise you.

Many doctors only look at the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and say you don't need treatment if that is in range, where the usual range goes up to 5 or even 10.   Experience here is that you may need a TSH nearer to 1 to feel better, so you can be ill and 'in range'.  'In range' is not 'optimal'.

You can get private testing in the UK - look at the ThyroidUK website

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

Have a good look round the ThyroidUK website - it's a mine of information.  This page is useful about getting a diagnosis

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

You may find it useful to print out some of the pages to take to show your doctor, such as the list of possible symptoms.

Keep fighting.

[Minnie7 in reply to Anthea55]

Thankyou for your advice

[Minnie7 in reply to Anthea55]

Hi thanks I'm of on holiday Wednesday  so I will post a copy of blood test ASAP, I also will follow your other advice

[BadHare]

Hi Minnie,

Try the Barnes basal body temperature test: just take your temperature every morning on waking for a few months, & keep a record to see if it's consistently low. Your GPs & endocrinologists won't take much, if any, notice of what you tell them, but it might confirm your suspicions.

My hypo symptoms are most likely due to my pituitary adenoma, which makes it secondary hypothyroidism. My TSH blood tests are in "normal" range, & all my other symptoms are completely ignored so I self-medicate, like many people on here. The last winter has been my first bearable one for 40 years, as I'm no longer constantly chilled, & I can now eat normally.

Mel

[shaws Administrator]

Your blood tests for thyroid hormones should be the very earliest test possible and don't eat before it. This allows the TSH to be at its highest and that is the only number the doctor looks at. They know not one clinical symptom.

Ask GP for B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate and thyroid antibodies. Just say you are suffering with bad symptoms and want to know why..

[Minnie7 in reply to shaws]

Hi thanks for reply  will do

[MariLiz]

As Shaws suggests, ask for B12 levels to be tested. If B12 is low a lot of the symptoms are the same as low thyroid.

[Minnie7 in reply to MariLiz]

Ok cheers

[milkwoman]

Good advice in the responses above. 

Every thyroid function blood test I ever had showed me to be "within normal lab range" and my results were even towards the HYPERthyroid side of things tho my symptoms were all hypothyroid (extreme fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, loss of exercise endurance, always cold but yet, intolerant to heat, loss of outer third of eyebrows, brittle eyelashes, dry skin, etc.). 

I had to go to a private endo who treats based upon symptoms.  I'm in the USA and go to Dr. Kenneth Blanchard. I thank god for him every day as I don't know where I'd be without his guidance and treatment with levothyroxine and slow release thyroid extract. 

You may just have to self medicate or go to a private endo to get treatment if your doctors refuse to acknowledge that you are hypothyroid. 

Have you ever been tested for thyroid autoantibodies? Your thyroid issues could be autoimmune based, meaning Hashimotos, and it is possible that you swing between hypo and hyper symptoms.