Thyroid or not ?

[Shenasavage66]

I'm wondering what a tsh level of 0.755 mean ? I'm exhausted falling asleep all the time no matter how much sleep I get within two to three hours after I wake up I have to sleep. It's effecting everything. My memory. My body hurts . I can't get my Dr to run in depth test. She says she wouldn't know how to read them I don't know what to do

[shaws Administrator]

Your low TSH could mean you have hyperthyroidism and I'll give a link below. She should also have asked for a T4 too:-

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/i...

I would ask to be referred to an Endocrinologist.

You can ask her to do T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. The lab may not do all of them but she can request anyway. She should also test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

If she refuses you can get these done privately and we have recommended labs.

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

You can tell her you know where to get the results analysed

Tests for thyroid have to be at the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and if you were taking thyroid hormone replacements you'd allow a 24 hour gap between the last dose and test and take afterwards.

Always state the ranges of any results you get as it helps members respond.

[shaws Administrator in reply to shaws]

I have just realised you are a new Member and did you have your blood test at the very earliest, fasting. I am assuming you've not yet been diagnosed with a problem with your thyroid hormones.

If GP wont do the above tests (most do not) you can get them privately from one of the recommended labs.This is a list of symptoms:

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also get vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin tested, plus thyroid antibodies.

[hellybaybee]

You need your T3 and T4 results... you won't know off TSH alone

[PMRandRA]

hi Shena

.755 is the lower end of the normal range and as such not really worrying. Your test would say normal.

Firstly I would recommend you find a different doctor. Or should I say a doctor! because a medic who is unable to read one of the most common ailments is not suitable.

Hypothyroid should be gauged not only on blood reading but by symptoms. If you have any of the following, you may well need the help of a good doctor:

Hair loss, excessive daytime tiredness, weight gain, Balding of outside of eyebrows, and many more which you can find on the NHS Website.

Let us know how you do and please don't be afraid to let your doctor know that you are not impressed. The NHS might be "free" but that doesn't mean you get nothing for it!

🌺

[Hidden in reply to PMRandRA]

I agree with all the above but would also suggest monitering your temperature first thing on a morning before getting out of bed for 5 days if it is consistently low it would suggest low thyroid hormones.

Also. I dont agree that the NHS is free as much as governments would like us to believe so. We have all paid for it and are entitled to a good service.

[Katepots]

Bluehorizonmedicals.co.ukhave private testing, not cheap but might be worth it for proper testing and answers.

Thyroid plus 11,12 & 15 are all good comprehensive tests.

Medichecks are also good. See which has the best offers on.

I think bluehorizon have 20% off with the code insideout7 this month.

[silverfox7]

Well the 'good' news is that your doctor is honest enough to tell you that, by what we see on here some carry on regardless!

Now I don't know if this sort of scheme exists any more or whether it's just regional plus I had been monitored by my GP for a long time who also had the same problem so I felt in safe hands but when he left no one was able to step in his shoes. I myself had good knowledge andca new doctor who I'd known when he was a mature student but he trusted me and told me I couldn't go over medicated so I carried on and adjusted my dose when I thought necessary. So whether he knew about this scheme and thought it beneficial I'm don't know but this new scheme had me tested each year. They sent a kit to my GP to take my blood and I then got a letter saying I was fine. Being me I always got my doctor to ask for the actual result and sometimes they did and sometimes they didn't butvat least I was being monitored. I did eventually ask to come off it and let my GP give me my results but it's worth asking if they anything like that which will monitor and tell your GP what to do. There must be other people in this position or are they just treated by the lab manager's suggestions-another frightening thought. But if you ask your doctor these sorts of questions they may be able to ask your local hospital to oversee your results.

The other option and may be the first thing to do is ask if anyone else in the practice can treat you and give them a go.

[posthinking01]

Having had TSH figures the same as yours - I found the same - and it was that I was on too much med - we are like plants - too much water can make us wilt and too little we don't grow !!! Hair loss - muscle weakness - sweating - unable to control the heat - etc. etc. - I realised were signs of under medication or over medication - took me a while and I really suffered with fatigue for months before I realised what it was.............whilst our TSH can - without any problem be able to drop to a low figure and it suits some people - mine was 0.0l and a bit higher sometimes - it can also cause the symptoms you are experiencing - the fatigue is second to none - like no other - exactly the same as having no medication at all I found......................hope this helps. Forgot to add - if you get 'loose' bowels as well that is a sign of over medication and would mean you were losing your thyroid hormone anyway..............

[satu55555]

To me from my experience, especially recently this sounds like the problem could be with the gut and digestion. Extreme fatigue is usually to do with the gut, especially if all thyroid and cortisol tests are normal. Any gut issues SIBO, yeast infection, dysbiosis can cause exactly that and a lot more. I have got rid off SIBO and dysbiosis. Thyroid is now pretty much normal and it seems I still have a yeast problem that needs medical care. These things can be taken care of with a functional or integrative doctor. Normal doctors don't do these.

Also nutritional deficiencies can be the culprit. These need to be taken care of with the above gut issues as well.

[Heloise]

Hi Shena, without other test results it doesn't give much meaning. The National Academy of Hypothyroidism says: Consequently, the pituitary levels of T3 and the subsequent level of TSH are poor measures of tissue hypothyroidism, as almost the entire body can be severely hypothyroid despite having a normal TSH level (120).

Also: TSH and serum T4 levels fail to correlate with intracellular thyroid levels. Additionally, the free T3 will also tend to be less accurate with reduced cellular energy.

A reverse T3 test would be more telling. A high reverse T3 can be associated with hyperthyroidism as the body tries to reduce cellular thyroid levels, but this can be differentiated by symptoms and by utilizing the free T3/reverse T3 ratio, which is proving to be the best physiologic marker of intracellular thyroid levels (see Diagnosis of low thyroid due to stress & illness Graph).

But this really doesn't help you with what to do as you could be at either end of the spectrum. Adrenals also come into the picture as they react to what is happening with the thyroid.

nahypothyroidism.org/how-ac...

[HLAB35]

The last two posts are worth considering i.e. get rt3 levels checked, adrenals and gut; also, as posted up already, nutritional absorption issues e.g. B12, iron and folate. In fact, sorting out gut issues can go a long way to helping out with endocrine problems, hidden food intolerances and nutritional deficiencies too. Low stomach acid is often the culprit.

bodyecology.com/articles/lo...

If you suspect that you have low stomach acid, taking betaine Hcl with meals is a good start.

Bereavement / mental trauma can wipe you out for a bit, but I don't think that's relevant here... Word of warning - many doctors will concentrate on those kind of things these days (i.e. mental health issues) without necessarily considering a physical cause.

[Eddie83]

Probably most of the people here know how to read a comprehensive panel (TSH/FT3/FT4/rT3/TPOAb/TGBAb). Why don't you tell your doctor you want a full panel, which you are going to take to a "consultant" for advice.

TSH is a poor tool for diagnosis (it's not even a thyroid hormone). Lots of people can have an FT3 level which is too low for them to feel well, or have Hashimoto's, but the TSH can still be in the (too-broad) reference range.

[LAHs]

It is essential that you get a blood test. Eddie's advice is right on. Get the doc to authorize them and then take them to an endocrinologist - and post them here.

Your thyroid might have packed up altogether. I do not have a thyroid at all and a TSH of .755 mIU/L (i.e. your level) would render me seriously hypothyridic dropping to completely dysfunctional at 1.0. If the doc will not do a blood test you can get a private test from Horizon.

I agree with silver fox above: "Well the 'good' news is that your doctor is honest enough to tell you that, by what we see on here some carry on regardless!"