Hello, I have had lots of symptoms of thyroid for last two years, mainly problems with swallowing (not food when eating), (shortness of breath, occasional tingling over whole body, slight horse voice occasionally, problems with weight - overweight, cannot conceive a 2nd child, easily irritable, fed up, tiredness slightly more then used to be.
Sometimes I have the swallowing very bad together with tightness on my chest, sometimes it is much better. I can't see the pattern. I am 40 years old. It seems to be better since I changed my diet - reducing sugar, carbs as much as possible.
I had various tests done, full blood tests ok, thyroid ultrasound OK, gastroenterology ok, ENT endoscopy ok, various allergy tests, all ok. I've been to GP maybe 20 times for last two years. GP keeps saying it might be globus hystericous. Been treated with omeprazol for acid reflux, antihistamines, antidepressants for a year, nasal spray. Still the same. No change. Stopped taking them.
I have been treated for thyroid when I was about 15 years old for a year or so..(my mum can't remember). Apparently it is quite common in teenage years..
I only found out yesterday, that there should be other tests (Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Thyroglobulin Antibodies. But are these required if TSH is normal? My GP ( and I have seen few different persons) seem all satisfied with my TSH. None ever mentioned the other test.
I only found out about it as my sister was diagnosed with thyroid problems and had TSH, FT4 and FT3 tests as standard ( she lives in the Czech republic).
Should I go to the GP again and demand (BEG them) for other tests?
Any thoughts please?
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tinka1
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Demanding other tests for thyroid is unlikely to get you very far in these penny-pinching days, although it might be worth asking for thyroid antibodies to be done - although you can expect to be turned down. However, you might convince a doctor to test your ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and folate. It would be worth getting them done if you can.
Alternatively, if you want the full works done, and you can afford it, you can pay for it yourself without your doctor being involved, if you are prepared to prick your fingers. If you know someone who would take blood for you then that would be even easier.
Referring to your TSH, you can have a perfectly normal TSH and really poor Free T4 and Free T3 in cases of secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism. Doctors often miss those conditions though because they assume that TSH would be zero or virtually zero in those cases, but there is no evidence I know of for that belief.
Also, if you have positive thyroid antibodies then you can have swings in thyroid hormone levels from high to low and back again which makes life a misery.
But you really need to know what you are up against and the only way to find that out is by testing.
I forgot to say - ask for copies of your blood test results including the reference ranges. You should expect to pay a small fee for the paper and ink. The receptionists will have to ask the doctor for permission before printing out results, so you are unlikely to get the printout the same day - but you might be lucky. Take proof of identity with you.
When you ask for copies of your results ask if the surgery offers access to medical records online. If they do then ask for access. You will have to fill in an application form, show proof of identity, and then will be given various codes you need to gain access online. If you can get access online then obviously you don't need the paper copies of the results.
Once you have some results to tell us about create a new post, post your results including reference ranges, and ask for feedback.
Unfortunately your GP is only testing for primary hypothyroidism which presents with high TSH and low FT4 and low FT3. Testing TSH only will miss diagnoses of secondary and/or tertiary hypothyroidism where TSH is low-normal and FT4 and FT3 low. Some health authorities won't agree to test FT4 or thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOab) unless TSH is abnormal and FT3 is rarely tested in primary or secondary care unless TSH is suppressed <0.1. Thyroglobulin(TgAb) is not usually tested in primary care. If TPOab is positive there is no need to test TgAb too. If you can't persuade your GP to order the tests you would like you can order private thyroid tests via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
You can have a private blood test from one of our recommended labs as your GP will not do them all. The mainly do TSH and maybe T4. Not sufficient. I'll give you a link for labs. Many I believe prefer the pin-prick ones.
A blood test should be at the very earliest possible and fasting although you can drink water. If you were taking thyroid hormones you'd allow about 24 hour gap since the last dose and take after test.
Thank you everyone. I think I will do the private blood test and will take it from there. (Somehow I feel very sceptical GP would do the tests for me and frankly I can't be bothered "to fight" anymore and leaving the surgery with rejection again.. I'll keep you posted. x
You sound like you are describing my good self. I am still in this position now and extremely frustrated. I too have difficulty swallowing, especially dry-ish foods -breads and chicken . The shortness of breath is also a grind. It happens intermittently and then, without warning , wham! I have pain in my limbs and it hurts when walking . I get pins and needles on a regular basis. Alas, my GP has said it is all down to anxiety as my blood results came back 'satisfactory!' TSH .88 and never mentioned T3 T4.
I was referred to my GP by my dentist as he said he thought my outbreak of mouth ulcers (every week) were due to B12 def. My optician also referred me for dry eyes as my prescription has changed in less than a year ! He suggested Sjogrens. My hairdresser noticed how I am losing hair from around my forehead! I can't bear to wear anything around my neck or near my throat! Still my GP insists "age and anxiety' All that aside , I know how 'rotten ' I feel and not at all myself ! Most days I can barely shuffle about.
Autoimmune disorders run in my family and it appears there is usually some connection. Reading the suggestions madd here about obtaining blood results has made me think that might be the route I need to go down. People on this forum seemed to be so much more clued up than most GP's.
I shall watch out for your results posting and wait for interpretation by these very knowledgeable people!
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