Thyroid/Menopause Problems

[snoopy1882]

hey about 18 months ago diagnosed as officially in menopause with drastic slump in hormone levels. Struggled since 12 months ago commenced Sertraline 50mgs due to feeling down, low energy levels and joint pain (GP advised depressed) this did not help and eventually abandoned it. After 3 months with no meds, started to feel really unwell fluish, joint pain, headaches, considerable sudden weight gain and memory poor - saw different gp who did various routine blood tests, turns out TSH was raised to 4.37 which is not too bad, after some research have concluded that thyroid issue could be the answer to all my problems??? Have had trouble convincing my gp though she wants to wait three months and monitor again - I just want help after 18 months of symptoms - any advice?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells

Also have you had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's the most common cause in UK of being hypo. You can have high antibodies and "normal" TSH and have symptoms

NHS rarely checks TPO and almost never checks TG. NHS believes it is impossible to have negative TPO and raised TG. It's rare, but not impossible, there are a few members on here that have this.

ALWAYS 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. £99

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

[shaws Administrator]

If you are in the UK, the instructions to doctors are not to prescribe until the TSH reaches 10 - whereas in most of the developed world people are treated if TSH is over 3.

Some doctors will prescribe if TSH is over the range.

I think as you've been unwell for 18 months, the least your doctor could do is prescribe but she has to cover herself by following rules.

If you can get a print-out with the ranges from your surgery and post on a new question if you don't have them today, members will respond.

When you have a blood test for thyroid hormones you should have the very earliest possible and fasting (you can drink water). This keeps the TSH at its highest level and can make the difference as some doctors adjust doses according to the TSH and that doesn't suit many of us who have hypothyroidism.

If you were on levothyroxine you'd leave 24 hours between last dose and the test and take afterwards. Also ask for Thyroid antibodies, B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we can be deficient.

This is from Thyroiduk.org.'s website. and always get a print-out with the ranges of your results. These are symptoms of hypothyroidism but if you have antibodies you will have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called Hashimoto's but treatment is the same..

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[snoopy1882 in reply to shaws]

thanks this is really really helpful will do.