So after my previous posts about increasing TSH after my partial thyroidectomy I have become a nuisance at my GPs until they agree to further tests. He has agreed to test T4 but that's it, will this be enough to see a picture of what's happening to me alongside my increasing (but still within Range) TSH ?
I have gained further weight and now for the first time in my 32 years on the planet my BMI puts me overweight 🙁
Still doing gym and eating well, each week I gain. A locum doctor said its likely I wont be treated until I'm obese ....
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Adele-84
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Adele-84 If your FT4 comes back under range, your GP might do something, but no guarantee if he is a TSH only doctor. And he probably won't know that FT3 is very important too.
Why not just get a private test that includes TSH, FT4 and FT3 then you will have all the figures. Medichecks do it for £39 and at the moment they have a special offer on of 15% discount with code MRD32 until 24th March
It was mentioned in your previous thread that until you are optimally medicated with a good FT3 level you are very unlikely to lose weight, and exercising is using up what T3 you do have and it's not being replaced.
Thank you, My concern about the private tests is that if the GP won't listen regardless am I just wasting money! I think I'll see what the T4 test comes back with. If that shows in range I guess the only thing left is to check my T3. Could that be bad even with everything else in range?
I don't intend on giving up exercise because it has lots of benefits aside from controlling weight 😀
Adele-84 Yes, FT3 can be bad if everything else is right. If you're not converting T4 to T3 very well then your FT3 will be low. Ideally, FT4 and FT3 should be in balance.
Exercising may very well have other benefits but it will deplete T3 and if you are already low then with it not being replaced you will just feel worse thyroid wise. Gentle exercise is the way to go when FT3 isn't optimal, and you don't yet know if it is.
Hi, had my T4 result it was 2.27 in a range of 0.38 - 5.33 so they have said its fine and I need no treatment, I have tried the discount code on Medichecks but its saying invalid. Do you know where I get a correct code from please?
Adele-84 That result and range doesn't look like FT4, I think it is TSH and it's too high. In a normal healthy person you'd expect a TSH no higher than 2.
The range for FT4 is something like 12-22 or 9-21.
This is ThyroidUK's page for Medichecks with information about the discount code which is available until 24th March. If you have any further problems I would contact Medichecks thyroiduk.org.uk/medichecks
If the test you want is already on offer the code doesn't apply. Was it one of their Thyroid Thursday offers?
Thank you, I was told by the receptionist over the phone. Its all so confusing I trusted what she said! I am going to go in and get a print out !! Thanks for your help
If your GP wont take action recommended by members on this forum and if you have a proper blood test for your thyroid hormones, you can tell him that you are a member of the NHS Choices for information/help on dysfunctions of the thyroid gland i.e. Healthunlocked Thyroiduk.org.uk and you were recommended to get a proper Full Thyroid Function Blood test, which will be commented upon by the members when you put them with the ranges, onto a new post.
It's not that you should give up exercise but once you are on an optimum of thyroid hormones you should be happily be able to do so.
Levothyroxine is T4 only which is inactive hormone, it's job is to convert to sufficient T3. T3 (liothyronine) . T3 is the only Active thyroid hormone which is needed to drive our whole metabolism, and brain and heart would be the top two as well as the other billions of T3 cells in our body.
If we don't convert our dose of T4 to sufficient T3 we will continue to have unpleasant symptoms. A higher dose of T4 will be necessary but new research has shown that most feel best with a combination of T3/T4 and we can supply the T3 ourselves if GP isn't willing.
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battling with virtual gp
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GP only testing TSH now - no longer T3/T4 - concerned! 
