Help!!!!

[Reariek]

Hi . I've just joined! My TSH is always normal but for yrs I've felt I have a problem. Symptoms are always cold muscle aches sob constipation low mood resting pulse 52( not an athlete!) low body temp round 35 itchy skin... anything else? Weight gain! My ferritin is 7 so quite low but I am a veggie and gp says it's that. Any advice? Thinking about just trying some t3 and seeing what happens

[greygoose]

Well, that wouldn't be a very good idea, without knowing what your levels are. Do you have copies of your lab tests? Just accepting your doctor's opinion that your TSH is normal, just isn't good enough. There's not such thing as normal. Do you have the actual number? Plus, if he just tests the TSH, that's not good enough, either. You need to know what your FT4 and FT3 are - especially your FT3 if you're thinking of taking T3. If your problem isn't low T3, if it's high, then taking T3 will make you feel worse, not better.

So, before you do anything else, get hold of your results - with the ranges - and post them on here. Then people can advise you!

[Reariek in reply to greygoose]

Thank u! I know your right... just feeling tiny bit desperate!!

[greygoose in reply to Reariek]

Well, I can understand that, but... one step at a time. And the first step is always getting hold of your labs so that you know exactly what was tested, and exactly what the result was. And, keep your own records for future reference.

Oh, and if you're in the UK, it is your legal right to have a copy of your results. But you doctor will never just give them to you, you have to ask.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum. Have you been diagnosed as being hypothyroid?

If not you need to get a blood test which consists of TSH, T4, T3, T4, Free T3 and Free T4 and thyroid antibodies. B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

The blood tests for thyroid hormones has to be the very earliest possible, fasting and (you can drink water) and if you are on levothyroxine allow 24 hours between your last dose and the test and take afterwards.

Early morning TSH is always higher. Always get a print-out of your results for your own records with the ranges. Ranges are important as labs differ and it makes it easier to comment.

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

[AiryFairie in reply to shaws]

shaws Is your advice re blood tests the same if taking NDT? Thanks.

[shaws Administrator in reply to AiryFairie]

Yes. As far as I know it is the same for any combo etc we take.

[AiryFairie in reply to shaws]

Thank you shaws

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Reariek Your ferritin is 7!!! Your GP says it's because you're a veggie? Is he not doing anything about such a dire level? It doesn't matter if you're a veggie, you still need that ferritin level increased. It needs to be 70 for thyroid hormone to work. You need some serious supplementation, probably an iron infusion. Ask your GP for a full iron panel.

[Saggyuk]

Yes, I really do hope your gp is seriously treating you for iron deficiency. Also, if you're a vegetarian, are you taking B12 supplements? You really need to check this along with everything else

[Angel_of_the_North]

Your ferritin is awful - even for a veggie. Mine was a bit higher than that and I'm vegan, and my GP referred me to gastroenterology, who gave me ferrous fumarate (and many tests). Lots of veggie foods are high in iron (but not spinach as the oxalates stop iron absorption).

[Angel_of_the_North]

Not so. You can get better on any "real food" diet.

[Reariek]

Perhaps I got crap gp. They gave me month supply of iron and refused to repeat bloods!!!! That was July 2016

[elaine2447 in reply to Reariek]

Tell me a GP that isn't cr*p at least when it comes to thyroid, parathyroid or anything that isn't visible like a boil on the btm!!