Help with THS result.

[Mcj68]

Hi was hoping someone could help me please. My son who is 22 has had all the symptons of hypothyroidism. I finally convinced the GP to do a thyroid test she reluctantly did but would only do TSH. The restult was 1.01 mU/L (0.27 - 4.2) . Is this really ok ? She said it was fine. Thanking you in anticipation.

[Clutter]

Mcj68,

As RFU says, TSH 1.01 rules out primary hypothyroidism but you need to see FT4 to rule out central hypothyroidism. You can order private tests via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin... The minimum tests you should order are TSH, FT4 and FT3, the rest are desirable but not essential to determine central hypothyroidism. Medichecks have a special order offer until Friday 24th.

[Mcj68 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you I will get a full panel done and post the results . Thank you

[shaws Administrator in reply to Mcj68]

The test should be the earliest possible, fasting (he can drink water) and if on thyroid hormones (hopefully eventually) allow 24 hours gap between the last dose and the test. The TSH is highest early a.m. and drop throughout the day.

[Mcj68 in reply to shaws]

Thank you will make sure he takes this advice.

[Caggie61 in reply to Clutter]

Sorry to butt in on this conversation but I wonder if you could confirm something for me please. I've struggled for over 10 years to get a diagnosis of hypothyroidism but GPs blocked me all the way because my TSH wasn't raised enough but my fT4 dropped from 17 to 8.2 at it's lowest some years ago and has not really raised to more than 10 or 11 since then, only with Thyroxine treatment at a low dose of 50/75mcg. I keep asking for a fT3 but neither GP nor Endo will allow it. Now my GP has become very defensive towards me because my last TSH result has fallen to 0.05 and she tells me she has to lower my dose. Thing is over the past 5 or 6 years, my symptoms have become progressively worse and because I also have Fibromyalgia I'm told that's more likely to be the cause. I have gained over 4 stones in weight, my face is puffy, I feel very tired and sluggish as if I'm wading through mud when I walk, my body temperature is low of normal (35 -36.5C) and worst of all, I've lost most of my body hair especially my eyebrows and eyelashes. My head hair has thinned and breaks easily.

I have an appointment with my Endo in the morning, should I request a full panel of bloods as listed above or would fT3 be enough to confirm any more than TSH and fT4? Btw, I'm expecting hostility.

Regards Carol x

[Eddie83 in reply to Caggie61]

OF all the tests, FT3 is the most important cuz T3 is what makes you feel well. TSH is a poor diagnostic tool, and not useful in treatment/dosing. I don't care where FT4 is (so long as it is within lab range), if you can't convert T4 to T3 then you will never be well unless you use T3. If the endo is hostile, consider self-treatment. BTW read what the late John C. Lowe said about T3 and fibro.

[Caggie61 in reply to Eddie83]

Thank you Eddie, reposting and responding x

[Caggie61 in reply to Eddie83]

I've read about Dr John Lowe, what he says is so spot on but whenever I try to discuss such things with anyone in the medical world they say we're in UK not USA. My response is always the same........my thyroid wishes it was in USA right now. Any info on self treatment please Eddie? 😊

[Eddie83 in reply to Caggie61]

There is lots of bad thyroid care in USA, too. The #1 problem seems to be getting T3 and a lot of patients here order it off web sites that don't require a prescrip. You thinking about going that route?

[shaws Administrator in reply to Caggie61]

Caggie, copy and paste your response onto a fresh post. You will get more responses then.

First, the biggest problem in the UK is that doctors have been told not to diagnose until the TSH reaches 10 but some do if it is slightly over the range.

The problem is that if our TSH is 'in range' and have disabling symptoms they name it as 'something else' and give us a prescription for that instead of making sure FT4 and FT3 are good.

This link will give info about FT4 and FT4. Tell Endo you don't think you've sufficient Active hormone circulating i.e. T3. You will read about FT3 and FT4 in the following.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[Caggie61 in reply to shaws]

Thank you so much for this, I will repost and respond x

[Mcj68]

I will get a full panel done and post the results. Thank you.

[Jazzw]

What's his diet like? It may be that he's iron or B12 deficient. B12 deficiency is getting more and more common. Is there a chance he might be gluten intolerant? All of the above have overlapping symptoms with hypothyroidism.

[Mcj68 in reply to Jazzw]

His diet is appalling. He has food issues. He will not eat fruit or veg never has he cant stand the texture. Im never done preaching at him other than force feeding him ive tried everything since he was wee. I think i will get some private blood tests done. I have thyroid issues so asked the GP to check him but i doubt she will agree to do the vitamin and mineral tests because I think he is developing thyroid issues.

[gabkad in reply to Mcj68]

Ever tried him on smoothies? Add enough pineapple, banana and (vodka).... he'll never realize it's actually good for him. Okay, joke (sort of) on the vodka. But my daughter wrangled me in to using the Nutribullet and what with all the spinach and whatnot, once I added the banana and pineapple (and vodka) ooo did that ever go down smooth.

I do not recommend the vodka. I was blotto after two big drinks. Had no idea how far gone I'd gotten until I was too far gone. LOL!

Don't take this serious, okay? But definitely smoothies made for better compliance.

Does he eat meat, fish, eggs, and dairy?

OMG I'd be so frustrated with a difficult kid. I feel for you.

[Mcj68 in reply to gabkad]

He doesnt eat eggs or fish. He will eat chicken and cheese but no red meat. Ive told him it will catch up on him. When i made him drink smoothies when he was younger he just threw them straight up but i think it was more emotional than physical though. Think its time to get him to see a dietican as it is really affecting his health and his diet is so poor its frightening.

[Jazzw in reply to gabkad]

I'm sooo having a vodka smoothie later

[Eddie83 in reply to Mcj68]

Cheap, pseudo-foods like gluten are kryptonite for many of us.

[Eddie83 in reply to Mcj68]

Crappy diet makes me wonder if he has Hashi's. Be sure he gets the TPO and TGB antibody tests. If positive, tell him his diet guarantees he will stay sick and get worse.

[Mcj68 in reply to Eddie83]

I need the whole picture so will get the full panel for thyroid done and post the results. He needs to make serious changes to his diet either way otherwise he will just get worse .

[pussycatwillow in reply to Mcj68]

I know exactly what you mean. My 25 yr old son the same re food. I asked the GP to refer to an endocrinologist and we are going privately.

[Jazzw in reply to Mcj68]

He may well be developing thyroid issues but from what you say, that's probably not his biggest problem. Bad diets catch up with all of us in the end. That TSH result is a normal one. Not saying that you won't find tha his FT3 and FT4 are low in range, but when the body is fundamentally unwell it down-regulates - which includes reducing the amount of thyroid hormone available. His brain knows that he's not up to doing loads so is making him rest. Brains are clever like that. He might find that if he fixes his diet that he can ward off a lifetime of pill-popping.

Said the life-long pill popper who left it too late...

[Mary-intussuception]

Has he considered asking GP for an Ultrasound scan of his Thyroid?

Have you looked up Hashimoto's?

[Mcj68 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

I am going to get the full thyroid panel done and make an appointment to see her and go with him. I have thyroid issues myself and she has been so dismissive about it all. She doesnt seem to know much about thyroid and she makes me feel like a nusiance so i think i will have a fight on my hands to get a scan unless something shows up in the private tests but i am determined for him to get to the bottom of his symptons he really is unwell at the moment.

[Mary-intussuception]

Sorry - that should have been:

Have you considered Hashimoto's?

X

[Joesmum]

I would suggest he has a full thyroid panel done to rule out secondary hypothyroidism.

With those results he doesn't have primary hypothyroidism but it certainly doesn't rule out secondary / central hypothyroidism.

I am secondary and had a low TSH with low FT4 and low FT3 results.

[Bonniet51]

1 to 2 is the best. I feel my best at right around 1

[Mary-intussuception]

To Caggie61

Dear Carol, They're not symptoms of Fibromyalgia though are they? Low body temperature and hair loss. I had these. And all your other symptoms.

After time on Levothyroxine some leg hairs grew back. My body temperature still fluctuates between 35 and 36.5 sometimes it's been lower. The weight gain coming after an infection or illness.

I suffered many years off & on before diagnosis. (Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroiditis & Hypothyroid).

When blood tests were Hypothyroid, no one told me.

The rheumatologist noticed them 2 yrs later and did more blood tests. They were reported Euthyroid so he told me Thyroid OK. His diagnosis? - Fibromyalgia.

I got a copy of my Medical Records from the hospital (free of charge). When my bloods were reported 'normal'/Euthyrold they were actually borderline. And old blood tests prior to the Hypo ones were borderline.

I spoke to someone on a helpline who LISTENED to my symptoms then said 'you've got Hashimoto's'. She told me to ask my GP for an Ultrasound scan of my Thyroid. The morning after the scan GP made urgent referal to Endo. He did full blood tests and arranged Short Synacthen Test to check my adrenals. Then started me on the Levo.

Could you ask Endo for Ultrasound scan of your Thyroid tomorrow? You should at least have the significant blood tests ( including T3)

Are you able to tell him all your symptoms. I used to forget so would make lists! Sometimes I'd still forget or get upset.

I remembered to tell Endo about LOW temperature though. That seemed significant to him.

Hope it goes well for you tomorrow and you start to get somewhere.

Will be thinking of you.

X

[Caggie61 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Thank you for your reply I'm sorry I didn't see it before my appointment. I've had thyroid scan and sestamibi scan for parathyroid but I'm told there's nothing wrong. I have all my blood test results for the last ten years and the readings are all over the place, up and down, but I'm told either that's normal for people with fibro or I'm having tests too often. Also low body temperature, I take it myself everyday and note it down. I showed to my GP (my fifth one btw) she said that it's normal and I must stop reading up on medical conditions and making my symptoms fit. She said I have to accept that I'm not hypothyroid, I should never have been given thyroxine in the first place, and I need to stop going round in circles trying to prove something that isn't there. When I first went to this particular GP in tears and totally depressed and distrort, she was very kind to me saying she was on my side and that I'm the expert of my own body but as soon as my TSH result came back very low she changed to such an extent that I feel I have nobody to go to anymore.

Five years ago I used to walk my dog for six miles every morning, now I have problems even with cleaning myself without help.

I'm looking for somebody who treats with functional medicine, does anyone have any info on this please?

Thank you for your concern and sharing your experience.

Carol xx

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Caggie61]

Hi Carol. How awful , that GP has no right to talk to you like that. I don't think you should see her again without someone with you. What did the Endo say! It seems your GP hasn't considered Hashimoto's. Have you seen copy of the report of your scans?

I'm new on this site and was wondering if you've ever posted your blood results on here? The main question I would put to that GP is What is my diagnosis?

I have a GP who was lovely at first then turned offensive. So I don't go to her now.

Did you mention the low temperature to the Endo?

I have never heard of blood test in connection with Fibro and certainly not fluctuating Thyroid function bloods.

There are no diagnostic blood tests for Fibro, are there?

I don't bother taking my temp anymore unless I feel 'extra' unwell & remember to.

It's such an uphill struggle to get diagnosis.

I hope you get a breakthrough soon.

X

[Caggie61]

.......and cost the NHS far less in treatments that are not suitable for the conditions the medics are denying