Newbie with questions....

[Chips1974]

Help, I have just been diagnosed with underactive thyroid serum free t4 level of 11.5 and tsh of 2.97. Does this mean I am borderline or really do have thyroid issues? My only symptoms are tiredness, palpitations and weight gain but not sure if any are related. Thank you so much for your help x

[greygoose]

Well, fatigue, palpitations and weight-gain are symptoms of low thyroid. And, your FT4 does look low, but would need the range to say for certain.

Your TSH says you're struggling. Are you on any thyroid hormone replacement? If so, how much? When did you have your last labs?

[Eddie83]

Those symptoms are likely hypothyroid. You need full labs to decide. Many docs do only TSH and T4. To make an intelligent decision, you need to have the full panel TSH/FT3/FT4/rT3/TPOAb/TGAb. FT3 (free T3) is the single most important test because it tells you how much active thyroid hormone you have that is free (available to be used). The two Ab tests are what you need to decide if you have Hashimoto's, the most common cause of hypothyroidism.

[Eddie83]

BTW, if you have additional testing, please be sure to post the units and ranges with results.

[epow in reply to Eddie83]

i am due to have bloods Wednesday to test for hypothyroidism. The CP did not state which TFT's i would be having ? this is through my nhs doctors surgery. which tests do you think they will be and how do i make sure i get a full range done?

[Eddie83 in reply to epow]

I am in the US. However from what I have seen on this board, NHS only allows TSH and T4 (or FT4) to be tested. I am assuming the average NHS doc won't do a full test suite, but all you can do is ask. If they won't, the only option is to get private testing. I have seen some UK patients mention a private lab, but I don't recall the name. In general, from what I have seen on this board, NHS docs are negative about treating with T3+T4/T3-only/NDT, and the NHS has made a deliberate effort to exclude T3 from their treatment protocol, due to cost (which is bogus, because T3 is not expensive on free markets).

[culejules]

Gp's are reluctant to prescribe T3, but there are many good endo's out there who are less worried about the cost and more concerned about their patients quality of life: thankfully I am treated by one of those and take 20mg of T3 twice a day plus 125mg of Levo. I feel much better in myself, have lost a stone in weight, and my TSH is finally suppressed. which I never managed to achieve in 4 years of varying doses of Levo.

[Kazi-Taiyeba1921]

I think u have hyperthyroidism

[Marz in reply to Kazi-Taiyeba1921]

I think you mean HypOthyroidism

[Kazi-Taiyeba1921]

I told it on the basis of t4 level.though his symptoms match hypo