Hello!

[Noji]

I am brand new here, so I'd like to introduce myself before bombarding the forums with questions. It seems I'm not unlike a lot of you seeking answers after being disappointed by a GP many times. I have been feeling terrible for quite some years but recently I've felt a lot worse. I've had blood tests returned as 'satisfactory' with no other information, and now my doc is adamant that I am depressed. I am, because I feel dreadful and frustrated.

I am exhausted. I sweat profusely whereas I never used to sweat much. I have gained a lot of weight, I am irritable, achey, my face and body seem to get swollen sometimes and my periods have disappeared. I am not producing progesterone. I have no libido and I just feel desperately miserable. I think I should see and endocrinologist. I live in Suffolk. Could someone please recommend one. I am very willing to travel. Thank you all in advance.

[shaws]

Welcome to our forum and, no, you are not alone. The majority here have had to find their own way through the unsatisfactory way they decide on who is/or not hypo. The TSH is not perfect as it is from the Pituitary Gland and sometimes doesn't rise high enough to be diagnosed but the symptoms are certainly disabling in many cases.

Can you get a print-out of your latest blood test results. I am assuming he did a thyroid function test. If he didn't, i.e. TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3 and antibodies ask if he will do them. Or, an option is you get your own from a recommended lab and you will get a small discount if you quote Thyroiduk's Code No.

Many GPs only do a TSH blood test and it's really no use to diagnose many of us as the British Thyroid Associations guideline is that we should not have hormones until it reaches 10. Whereas in many parts of the educated world, we would be prescribed around 3+.

Blood test should be at the very earliest a.m. and fasting although you can drink water. If on hormones you allow about 24 hours between last dose and the test and take it afterwards.

If your GP hasn't test Vit B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate get these done too.

[Noji in reply to shaws]

Thank you so much. I am feeling pretty angry about how dismissive GPs tend to be about exploring health issues.

He kept telling me I am depressed but couldn't think of a reason as to why I have stopped ovulating. Not interested. I have been doing as much research as possible but without specific tests, you can only do so much. I will call them now and ask for my results on paper. He said they would test 'for everything', whatever that means!

Nice to meet you by the way.

[shaws in reply to Noji]

Make sure the ranges are stated as labs differ in their machines, thus ranges can be different.

[Noji in reply to shaws]

It's a minefield isn't it?

Thanks again.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out. Alternatively you can now ask for online access to your own medical records. Though not all surgeries can do this yet, or may not have blood test results available yet online.

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

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

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.

Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) If you are taking Levo, then don't take it in 24 hours before (take straight after).

This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible