Getting a diagnosis

[PaulineB2016]

Hi. I've been extremely unwell for almost 3 years, progressively getting worse. I've just had full blood tests which showed there's a problem with my thyroid. The GP has said that they'll retest in 3 months. Is this necessary to wait that long? Is there a faster way to get a diagnosis? If there is treatment I can start now I want to start asap - another 3 months seems like eternity! Any advice appreciated

[shaws Administrator]

PaulineB2016

Welcome to our forum and you haven't yet been diagnosed but told you have to wait another 12 weeks before another blood test to clarify if you are definitely hypo or not!

Most of our members know full well how that decision flummoxes us as we provide symptoms to also go along with our blood test results.

First thing to do is get a print-out with the ranges from the surgery. We are entitled to them by Law in the UK.

Post them on a new question and you will get responses.

Once-upon-a-time before the 60's we were diagnosed and given natural dessicated thyroid hormones according to our clinical symptoms.

Nowadays - in modern times - we are diagnosed due to a blood test with complete indifference to our suffering - no acknowledgment of our clinical symptoms which can be quite disabling and left to get on with it ourselves. Consultations mainly consist of them looking at computers instead of the patients.

When you have blood test for thyroid gland, it should be the earliest possible and fast although you can drink water. If on levothyroxine or other thyroid hormones you allow 24 hours between the last dose and the test and take it afterwards. This allows the TSH to be at its highest as that's all they take notice of.

Many of our members self-medicate because they are fed-up with the inefficiency and ineptness of our professions who deal with non-diagnosing and non-treatment until our TSH reaches 10. and thereafter don't often provide sufficient to ease symptoms. In other countries it would be around 3.

If you provide your blood tests you will then get more positive responses. Also GP should test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate and thyroid antibodies as deficiencies in the vits/minerals are usual and can also cause problems.

It is a case of learning and reading. I have posted earlier an archived post today of a Dr who helped many of us who, by resigning from his association so he wouldn't be treated like others who lost their licences and was able, before his early death, to treat and help others to recover their health. He was also an Adviser to Thyroiduk.org.uk who this forum belongs to and is a charity trying to enable us to get the treatment we deserve.

Would you believe that if we are undiagnosed/undermedicated we can develop other more serious diseases - the profession are unaware of this it would appear.

(I am not medically qualified - have been undiagnosed - diagnosed with other problems I didn't have - underwent a procedure for no reason until, finally, diagnosed by a first-aider). This must have taken around six or seven years.

[PaulineB2016 in reply to shaws]

Thanks so much for your detailed response, it's much appreciated. I'm going to be collecting the test results today so will post them as you suggested. Many thanks.

[Clutter]

PaulineB2016,

Thyroid protocol is to wait 2-3 months after the first abnormal TSH as TSH can be elevated due to a virus or infection.

Arrange for the next blood test to be early in the morning when TSH is highest and fast (water only) as TSH drops after eating and drink.

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

[PaulineB2016 in reply to Clutter]

Hi thank you for your reply. The initial test was done in those conditions and there was no virus or infection at the time to my knowledge. I'm hoping to arrange a retest sooner than 3 months.