Hi everyone, I was just wondering if anyone has anyone managed to get treatment for hypothyroidism on the nhs with a TSH of 4.9. I do have thryoid nodules and lots of Hypo symptoms but my dr tells me that thats normal test result and would need to be over 5.5
Thanks in advance
Yes I did, with TSH 4.95. I told my doc my mother had Graves and I had also done a private blood test that showed I had raised antibodies, so she agreed to start me on 25 mcg Levo. Your result isn't normal, your doctor should treat you on your symptoms, you shouldn't have to suffer till your TSH goes up more.
Did you get your blood test early and fasting? That way you'll get the highest TSH value possible.
Thanks for replying, yes i did go early and fast but only for 8 hours (is that long enough). My TSH has risen slowly but my dr seen really reluctant to do anything and tries to seek any other possible illness than the one that seems so obvious. He even was considering sending me to a neurologist but now my bloods show i am anaemic so now he is convinced this was problem all along. thanks again 
Yes that should be long enough. It really does depend on the doctor, I think. Some are more inclined to treat and others not.
You should ask GP to check thyroid antibodies. If these are high you should be given levothyroxine. If GP was reluctant TUK have an article from an ex President of the BTA who confirms that levo should be started if antibodies present.
If you don't take any thyroid hormones, fasting for 8 hours was fine.
Get your thyroid antibodies tested, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
If GP unhelpful then get tested privately via Medichecks or Blue Horizon
thank you
My GP has an upper reference range of 5.2 so he would not treat that. He would recheck the levels a month later though to see if your TSH has risen further.
Consider getting a thyroid test with antibodies privately. There are two antibodies that you'll need to check which are peroxidase and thyroglobulin.
If thyroid antibodies are negative then your TSH could just be raised temporarily as your body deals with an infection. I wouldn't start medicating until it has been established that your TSH is consistently high.
My last TSH was 6.90 test done feb 2017 and I have so many symptoms i can't list them all here including lump in my throat and choking fits, but my GP said blood test is "normal" and won't treat me. I even got a private blood test done and showed him but he refused to act on this too. Its taken me 4 weeks to get an appointment with any gp in the surgery Im at but when I do get thereat the end of this month, Im going to try to get them to do another test as Ive just found out my aunt had hypothyroidism as did my grandmothers on both mum and dads side. Its criminal that we have to fight for health. hugs Joolz.x
What was the top range of the lab's TSH blood test? The ranges are in brackets.
Hi I am a little confused as In jan the dr sent my blood and said I was T4 which I'm not which came back as 4.6 but with an upper limit of 5.5. But the limit for not on T4 was 4.2, I did question this but he just fobbed me off and said it didn't matter. My results in July came back in the same ref range box but this time it had risen to 4.9. Yet again I questioned this but with no real answer only that it had to be over 5.5.
Thanks you
Here's my results
TSH Levels (reference range 0.27-4.2)
April 2013 - 3.1
Jan 2014 - 2.3
Jan 2017: - this is where it gets confusing as the Dr put I was on T4 which I am not so my results came back in the wrong reference range of 0.35 - 5.5.
my result - 4.6
Jul 2017 - 4.9 (no mention if this result was on t4 or not)
all the following results are from July 2017
Adjusted Calcium : 2.15 (range 2.2 - 2.6)
Iron Saturation: 14 (range 15-45)
Vit B12: 132 (range 211-911)
Folate 2.5 (range >4.0)
I am going to add SeasideSusie into this as she is excellent with analysing blood test results and advising how to increase.
Your B12 is so very low but you have to ask your doctor to check the intrinsic factor in your blood to ensure you do NOT have pernicious anaemia. The recommendation for us is to have a B12 towards 1,000 as we can have changes in our spinal fluid if B12 is below 500. (from the PA Society). Don't supplement with B12 until you get a decision about P.A.
You have gone over the top of the range in TSH but your GP is probably waiting till it goes to around 10.
Tick off the following and also show bothyour GP the 'interpretation'. You can say you've had advice from the NHS Choices for information/help re dysfunctions of the thyroid gland Thyroiduk.org.uk.
Hi shaws. the NHS range was 0.38 - 10. doctors keep telling me it "normal" and that they will not treat until its nearer 10. I know this is criminal! I purchased thyroid s over a year ago and started to take them after a BH blood test in Sept 2016 stated if I was on thyroid meds they should be increased. Ive never been on thyroid meds because I can't get that far with doctors. I took thyroid s increasing slowly qtr tab every week and got to 2 tabs per day. I was taking at night but woke every morning with horrendous headache tried taking them first thing in the morning but didn't notice any relief of symptoms in fact I had more pain in my joints. I took them until end of Jan 2017. I was also put off continuing with them because I am worried about getting further supplies and get confused about dosage etc.
I think you should get a new blood test from the GP. I can understand people's desperation and I also know other countries treat if TSH reaches 3.
Copy and paste your comment above onto a new post and let other members respond too.
I think you should have a new blood test, the earliest time etc and it may be above range (below 10 but just over top of range) and GP might prescribe levo for you.
We also have to have everything optimum so ask GP also for B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Deficiencies in these can also cause unpleasant symptoms.
Tick off your symptoms and give GP a copy. I doubt they know any but if your TSH is now high enough you may get a prescription.
If we take up to an optimum for us (you got to 2 grains = 200mcg of levo) which may have been a little too much. Did you had try reducing by a 1/4 tablet at a time for a week or two -it may have allowed you
find a dose. However, some people have to try several and if buying it ourselves we might find we waste money if it doesn't work as it should.
Thanks for replying. It's awful and so frustrating. I have always been very active but since this began a few years ago I have been too exhausted to do anything. Good luck with your appointment 😊
hebden
I can't remember exact date, but years ago I contacted a number on the Thyroid UK website. It was long before Health Unlocked existed. The lovely woman I spoke to told me to ask my GP to send me for an Ultrasound scan of my Thyroid. However, I didn't pluck up the courage. I was very ill with many symptoms and couldn't get far with GPs. Then when my bowels couldn't function, that took priority - I got referal to Colorectal Consultant. Around the same time saw Orthopaedics. Ended up in ENT after seeing a patient on local TV news having a nasendoscope to investigate throat problems and asking GP to refer me to him. I have Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. Rising stomach acid caused damage to Arytenoids which was fixed with 8 weeks double dose of Zoton Fastab lansoprazole tablets. Still wasn't right. A Barium Swallow revealed cricopharyngeal prominence as well as small sliding hiatus hernia. Have to stay on Zoton.
Orthopaedics refered me to Rheumatologist. On a later appoinment, when I was feeling a bit better than I had previously couple of years he retested Thyroid bloods as he found old Hypo results on computer. The tests he ordered came back in range so he told me Thyroid OK !!!
It was only when I got copies of my hospital records that I discovered these were just in range as were others pre the 2008 Hypo results that I wasn't even told about.
At some point I found that number again on Thyroid UK and spoke to the same woman. She told me, to ask for the Ultrasound scan. This time I did. She also told me that I have Hashimoto's!
In 2011 got an appointment with the most approachable, agreeable GP and asked for the scan. He asked why,so I told him some symptoms and that I'd been advised by a Thyroid helpline.
Morning after the scan the GP made urgent referal to Endocrinologist who tested Antibodies which, yes, were raised. He also had adrenals checked out before starting my Levo. His diagnosis - Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Hypothyroidism
He also mentioned in his letter to GP that I was overtly Hypothyroid in 2008. No one ever apologised. They don't do they.
I agree with you. We shouldn't have to fight. You shouldn't have to wait 4 weeks for an appointment either. We make 'same day' appoinments at our practice.
Things are so bad now with the NHS ( it was bad enough back then ). I don't know if you'll get a scan if you ask. But something to consider?
Joolz, I wish you all the best with GP appointment and getting your diagnosis and you too Mrs_.
It's such a hard, uphill struggle. We shouldn't have such a battle to fight to get diagnosed, but we do.
Keep fighting.
xxx Mary
Thank you so much for your reply Mary. Sorry took a few days to acknowledge only I met up with an old work colleague and I haven't felt well since as I get so fatigued. I will certainly ask for a scan on my throat. Ive had a nasal scope done twice when I was referred to ent by my last gp surgery (they closed sadly). I was just told each time that the nasal scope showed no problems with my vocal chords but I probably had gerd. I take probiotics along wit d3 and B vits and don't get heartburn or indigestion so I don't think this diagnosis was correct. I get so confused with it all but I will try to call thyroiduk to see what they suggest. thanks again. Joolz.xx
I didn't get heartburn either or indigestion as such (problems further along digestive system). I did on rare occassion get acid taste. My larynx wasn't affected but I had sharp pain when singing.
X🐥
Hey through fertility consultation i was diagnosed with hypo having level of 4.4 TSH xx
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