Do I have hypothyroidism???

[suellengreen]

Just wanting input from others with this bothersome condition. I have my TSH levels checked almost every year; GP says they are always "normal"....so he won't prescribe anything. But the more I read about it, the more I'm learning that your thyroid can be underactive and your test results normal. I am interested in taking dessicated thyroid, but after reading so much, my head is swimming as to which brand to choose. Any input from others similarly situated would be appreciated!

[bantam12]

You need to get a copy of your results so people can advise, you really don't want to start taking thyroid replacement if you don't need it.

[Mary-intussuception]

Why is GP testing TSH every year if you have never been diagnosed and not on Levothyroxine? Has GP done any other blood tests? You could ask receptionist for copy of results. If you post them always include the normal ranges in brackets.

You may want to consider the following:

Make a list of all your symptoms for next time you see GP (is your temperature ever low, if you check occassionally and it is, add to list).

Ask GP to send you for an Ultrasound scan of your Thyroid.

Ask GP for full TFTS including FreeT3 and FreeT4. Also Thyroid Antibodies - TPO and Tg. You could also ask for blood tests for levels of Vitamin D , B12, Ferritin and Folate. Some of these may be low.

You could ask for referal to Endocrinologist because of your symptoms. Where I am it is usually only the hospital Consultants who test for Antibodies.

What are your symptoms?

I wouldn't recommend self medicating without proper investigations and diagnosis. Who will monitor you? If you are diagnosed by Endo or GP you would be started on a low dose of Levothyroxine and retested after 6 - 8 weeks and dose increased until on your full dose.

After 3 appointments with Endo I was discharged back to GP for monitoring.

The therapeutic level for TSH in Hypothyroid patients is far lower than the top of the 'normal' range. What is really needed is for your symptoms to be considered alongside your full Thyroid Function blood tests and scan results for diagnosis. Endo should do this.

If you have any continuing throat /voice/ swallowing problems you could ask for a referal to ENT. Any digestive, gastro, you could ask for referal to Gastroenterologist.

Hope this helps.

[suellengreen in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Thanks for your response. My GP tests me every year at my physical...at my insistence ....because I have EVERY symptom of underactive thyroid. My mother had this also and I saw what a difference it made in her overall health when she was diagnosed decades ago.

[suellengreen in reply to suellengreen]

BTW, my symptoms are: extreme fatigue, dry skin, cold feet, foggy mentally, and an overwhelming depression, such that I can barely get out of bed in the morning...and can't wait to go to bed at night, anger outbursts that are not merited, constipation, weight gain, hoarseness and feel like something is stuck in my throat, muscle aches and pains...and I could go on and on.

Again, thank you

[Anthea55 in reply to suellengreen]

My first thought is - see another doctor - you definitely need a second opinion.

Do you know what tests your doctor does? Some only go by TSH, but Free T3 and Free T4 are more important, as are the antibodies. You also need to have vitamins and minerals checked, but many GPs have very little knowledge of nutrition.

A good website to go to is the Thyroid UK one. Plenty of useful info there.

Thyroid problems can often run in families, so tell your doctor about your mother having it.

Keep fighting ...

[suellengreen in reply to Anthea55]

Thank you so much for your response!

[shaws Administrator in reply to suellengreen]

Many people remain undagnosed due to the reliance upon TSH alone and doctors are poorly trained in dysfunctions of the thyroid gland and they appear to not know any clinical symptoms

We have to read, learn, ask questions ourselves in order that we can get better.

First, blood tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and if you were taking thyroid hormone replacements you'd allow 24 hours gap between last dose and the test and take afterwards.

Ask GP to test TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. If he or lab do only the TSH and T4 you can get the others from one of our recommended labs. Also Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, iron, ferritin and folate.

TSH and T4 alone are useless at diagnosing when they ignore symptoms.

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

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

Get a print-out of results with the ranges and put on a new post for comments.

Say you have been given advice by the NHS Choices for dysfunctions of the thyroid gland, Healthunlocked Thyroiduk.org.uk.

[Mary-intussuception in reply to suellengreen]

If it's only TSH that is being tested then I don't see the point. As mentioned, you need full tests for Thyroid function. If you have Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroiditis then bloods can fluctuate anyway. I had Hypothyroid Blood results in 2008, 18 months later they were Euthyroid, 18 months later after I had asked for the Ultrasound scan of my Thyroid I was urgently refered to Endo and diagnosed. Ask the most agreeable, approachable GP in the practice for the scan. If they ask why tell them your symptoms and say you want to eliminate or confirm Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism. Keep pestering GPs until you get proper care.

Hope you have the scan, get to see an Endocrinologist and get properly investigated, diagnosed and treated soon.

All the best.

XMary 🐥

[TSH110]

Those are classic hypothyroid symptoms and if you mother has it then you are more likely to develop it.

I was decades suffering with it being fobbed off that it was menopause or depression or heart problems or piles or IBS etc etc I told doctors repeatedly there was a family history of hypothyroidism but this was simply ignored, bar once when one doctor did test (only because my mother's endocrinologist had said we should be tested as the problems she had were highly inheritable) I was told my thyroid results were normal but I never saw the results and my medical records were subsequently lost by a hospital undertaking an investigation of one of my seemingly endless ailments. I thought I was a crazy hypochondriac in the end.

I would see a different doctor and get your results to post here, some ill informed doctors think results are normal when they are anything but as 'in range' does not equate with normal coupled with obvious symptoms.

I became seriously unwell to the extent that I was lucky to survive at all, this disorder is no joking matter.

Levothyroxine saved my life but I did not ever feel properly better on it. Eventually I switched to ThyroidS (NDT) which has been really good. My mother and sister was/is fine on Levothyroxine.

If you are able to get a diagnosis of hypothyroidism from a more sympathetic GP and treatment with levothyroxine I would try that first before attempting the lonely road of self medicating with NDT - even though I have never looked back on it.