TSH ft3 ft4

[suresh786]

I had discussion with the endocrinologist and he said he will first test TSH FT3 FT4 and thyroid scan. But he will not test antibodies. If any thing wrong comes in above tests then he will test antibodies otherwise no.Is it ok?

[Hidden]

I would have said 'no' (as a medically unqualified person, though). I could so easily have been in that situation, had I not had a phobia of needles. I'd have gone to my GP with symptoms and family history, she'd have given me a blood test without antibodies and it would have come back in the normal range (although my TSH was already at 4.25, just under the top of the range. As it was, I did the test via BH and chose the one with antibodies (more by luck than design as I knew next to nothing about it at that point) and they came back raised and flagged up. That was when I took the results to my GP and she listened, I did another BH test (as 6 weeks had passed) and my TSH had then gone over-range.

What I'm saying is that finding antibodies helped a lot in understanding what was going on with my thyroid and that I had Hashimoto's, and was not just 'tired' or 'depressed' or whatever else they like to blame it on. Your tests could come back 'in normal range' but it doesn't mean you don't have antibodies there. You need to know, in my opinion.

[greygoose]

Well, it's rather short-sighted of him, and reflects rather badly on his knowledge of thyroid, but grab what you can while it's going, and jump the next hurdle when you come to it.

[Oobie_]

Not a doctor but as someone with hashis my answer is No. Find another one. My tsh ft3 ft4 were fine but had high antibodies and felt very very hypo and miserable.

[suresh786]

Tired of explaining to them to test all things at once. Anyways today only the TSH, FT3, FT4, and ultrasound of thyroid scan.

I told him that I have a family history of hypothyroidism. But still he insisted that antibodies are tested to find the cause of problem and if there is no problem then why try to find the cause. So he said lets first find if there is a problem or not then we will find the cause.

I am feeling sick of all this.

[Marz in reply to suresh786]

Knowing you have an auto-immune condition enables you to take on the challenges of making yourself well. Also there are so many websites/books helping you with this journey. I have Crohns and Hashimotos - so have read loads over the years.

The problem is - in my non-medical opinion - is that mainstream medicine has absolutely no idea how to treat chronic conditions, which of course includes the myriad of auto-immune issues many suffer today.

Surely it would be good to be thorough from the very beginning .....

Roll on when Functional Medicine is mainstream

PS I had a TSH - FT4 and FT3 all in range back in 2005 - but anti-bodies were very high. And so my thyroid treatment began .....

[suresh786 in reply to Marz]

Have you tried the funcational medicine? Is it worth a try for my anxiety/depression.

[Marz in reply to suresh786]

I would look at the website of Kelly Brogan for information about the best way forward for anxiety/depression. I have been blessed not to have suffered ...

[Hidden in reply to suresh786]

If you feel unwell then there IS a problem, though! However finding antibodies won't tell either of you what caused them to be there in the first place. None of us know the answer to that, but once you know they're there, you can at least continue on your journey towards feeling better, and there are recommendations if you have high antibodies, such as going gluten free or even dairy free, or looking further into gut health. Trouble is if your values fall 'in range' then that journey will stall until they are out of range and you feel even worse.

I simply cannot understand the mindset some (most?) doctors appear to have.

[Hidden]

My bet is that the reason he doesn't want to test antibodies is a) the treatment will be exactly the same with or without antibodies and b) he hasn't got the vaguest notion what causes antibodies in the individual.

[shaws Administrator]

The treatment for hypothyroidism is the same as for Autoimmune Thyroid Disease so I assume he thinks, at present, that antibodies aren't that important. He is waiting until the scan and then might test antibodies.

[suresh786 in reply to shaws]

He said if there is a problem in TSH, FT3, FT4 then he will test antibodies but if these three and scan came good then there is no need to test antibodies

[shaws Administrator in reply to suresh786]

I haven't Hashis but I assume those that do are aware at times of feeling there's too much (hyper) and at other times too low (hypo). Also you'd probably want to go gluten free as it helps reduce antibodies.

It is good he is doing FT3 and FT4 and things might work out. Some doctors don't do Free tests.