brummy blood test

[Brummy]

sorry here it is!!

[puncturedbicycle]

They appear to have tested your tsh only. Are you on meds or trying to get a diagnosis? That isn't a bad result but it depends on the context: symptoms, previous test results, any other thyroid testing that was done earlier (antibodies etc). You can have a very normal tsh and low t3, high antibodies etc feel awful.

Have you had your ferritin, iron, folate, b12 and d tested?

[Brummy in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I have been on 200mcg of levothyroxine for 26 years...after a thryroidectomy

I am 4 stone overwieght, extremely lethargic, heavy periods and on high blood pressure medication as well as anti depressants!!!

The previous results done 2 years ago showed free t4 as 13.8

[Brummy in reply to Brummy]

I dont ever think my T3 levels were checked

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Brummy]

Yes, that's what you need if you feel unwell. You really need to know what your t3, t4, tsh, b12, d, folate, ferritin and iron are. You shouldn't be so symptomatic on this dose of levo and your tsh should be lower, so you are most likely undermedicated and you need to know if you're converting.

[Brummy in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I have a telephone appointment on Fri with docs...they don't really know what theyre doing i dont think!!

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Brummy]

That is very possible. Do you have a plan for that appt?

[Brummy in reply to puncturedbicycle]

It is a telephone appointment ...an actual in person appointment would be the end of March!!

I intend to

1. ask what my t4 levels are

2. if they haven't been checked ...ask why?

3. ask if a re test can be done....I'm not due one until Aug 17...which will test for T4 and T3 and TSH

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Brummy]

Was your blood drawn more than a week ago?

[Brummy in reply to puncturedbicycle]

The results I showed were done in Aug 16

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Brummy]

It is not unreasonable to ask for closer monitoring for a while if you're unwell. It is *not* reasonable to expect you to wait a year for treatment when unwell.

[Brummy]

To be perfectly honest...I feel that my thyroid is not seen as an important enough issue to be looked at in depth. I feel that they have stuck me on 200mcg of Levo and left me to it...no one has ever explained what the results mean.

also i feel that my other health issues would not have occured if my throid was treated properly in the first place.

I am a bit fed up really!!

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Brummy]

Yes, I think most of us have this experience.

I think you need to tell them how unwell you feel incl all your overtly hypo symptoms (heavy periods etc) and say you just have to find a resolution and it seems logical to look at whether the thyroid can be better replaced than it is now. After all, you've gone along w all their suggestions to take antidepressants etc and you don't feel better. You have been a compliant patient and you aren't really any closer to feeling well.

If it helps, if it comes to this it is not difficult to self-treat w a bit of t3 or ndt (if that's what you need) and a lot of my symptoms improved w the addition of a small amount of t3. Just so you know there is light at the end of the tunnel and not everything revolves around what they tell you!

[Brummy in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I am so glad i have found help in this community!! Thankyou very much for all your advice x

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Brummy]

x

[beh1]

Can you afford to have private testing done? That was the turning point for me. Around £39 for tsh, t4,t3 (medichecks) or £80ish for those plus vits and mins (blue horizon plus 10). Post results on here, get advice, go see doctor armed with info. You could book that March appointment in anticipation!

[Brummy in reply to beh1]

Hi...yes I think I am going to go for a private test and then be armed with the results...£39 is very reasonable for peace of mind!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Brummy]

If you can afford it, getting vit D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested as well would give you clearer picture.

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Brummy]

Just to clarify, you may not get any action from gp on the basis of private tests but if anything turns up that is very abnormal it may pique their interest. In any case as you say you'll have peace of mind and you'll be in a much better position to self-treat if that is what you end up deciding to do.

[Brummy]

I have just ordered the £39 test from medichecks for tsh t3 and t4...I feel empowered!!

[beh1 in reply to Brummy]

Do the test first thing in the morning before meds, on an empty stomach, just water.

Your free t3 and free t4 levels will indicate whether you are converting well. Don't worry at this stage about reverse t3 (NHS doesn't take it into account) or gene test (your free readings should tell you enough). My gp is fab and has always taken notice of private blood tests.

Post results and go from there.

[riannabri]

Firstly remember Test results can show very little in Thyroid Tests, but a starting point is to get your T3 and reverse T3 measured.

Also I would recommend the DIO2 (Deiodinase 2 Gene) Genetic Test. This link explains everything about the test. So basically no matter how much T4 you take if you have the faulty Gene you can not convert the T4 you are taking to the active T3 hormone ( you need T3 as that is the active hormone that stops your thyroid related symptoms) thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

As you could have a genetic problem with converting T4 to T3 (remembering T3 is the active hormone needed in your body and no matter how much T4 you take if you are not converting then you stay unwell) This explains it well thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[bluebug]

I've just noticed your haemoglobin estimate level - While not low as it isn't under 120g/L it is not high enough. This is the WHO and NICE boundaries of iron deficiency anaemia not the NHS one which is deliberately lower. If you can afford it or convince your GP do do so you need to get your ferritin, folate, vitamin D and vitamin B12 levels tested.

People with thyroid conditions need optimal nutrient levels for the replacement hormone(s) to work efficiently. Many GPs are either unaware of this or simply refuse to test any of these particularly ferritin in women having heavy periods to save money.

Ferritin is basically your iron stores and when that is depleted you will end up with iron deficiency anaemia. This means it is possible to have a haemoglobin level just in range for months but a ferritin level that is too low. This is actually common if you have heavy periods.

[humanbean]

Be careful when telling doctors about how ill you feel. The biggest danger is they ignore it all, decide you are depressed, offer anti-depressants and CBT and tell you there is nothing else they can do for you.

You could then end up with a mental health diagnosis on your medical records, and treatment will be that much harder to get for any condition at all, because they will blame it all on the depression and anxiety they are convinced you have, and will tell you it is just your thyroid and you are already optimally treated.

It is this that makes me treat myself. I was depressed when I was in my late teens and got treated for it (it didn't work). I'm now in my 50s. Getting any treatment for any condition at all throughout my life has been an absolute nightmare.

Now that I treat myself for everything I possibly can I feel a lot better than I did under the tender care of the medical profession. Unfortunately, I still have health problems I need prescriptions for that I can't source online.