New here underactive

[Elena116]

TSH 55 (0.27 - 4.20)

Free T4 10.2 (12 - 22)

Free T3 3.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

Not diagnosed thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Elena116 Welcome to the forum. With results like that, how come you've not been diagnosed?

By the way, when posting results, can you please include the reference ranges, they differ from lab to lab so we can't interpret results without them. However, your TSH is so high it's pretty obvious you've got primary hypothyroidism

[Elena116 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok will put ranges. GP was ignoring my symptoms so I went private.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Elena116]

Have you made an appointment to see your GP? Some wont accept private results so he may want to repeat the tests. Make sure you book the earliest appointment of the day for your blood draw, and fast overnight. TSH lowers during the day and after eating, so to get the highest possible TSH you need your blood taken as early as possible and don't eat beforehand.

[Elena116 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi I plan to see a good GP tonight he has accepted private blood tests before

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Elena116]

Good luck then come back and tell us what he says.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Elena116]

Hopefully with such a high TSH and below range free Ts, your GP will accept these results. Let us know how your appointment goes.

[Nanaedake in reply to Elena116]

How many times and for how many months did you visit your GP with symptoms and get ignored? My sympathies.

[Elena116 in reply to Nanaedake]

18 months. I gave up going to them on the end

[Nanaedake in reply to Elena116]

Oh dear. And how many appointments? Did they ever take a full history of your symptoms? Poor you.

[Elena116 in reply to Nanaedake]

They took a full history of my symptoms the first time and they tested my thyroid which came back TSH 7.2 (0.2 - 4.2) and Free T4 15.2 (12 - 22)

They retested it 3 months later and TSH was 0.98 (0.2 - 4.2)

I went 3 times over the 18 months and for each appointment I was offered antidepressants

[Nanaedake in reply to Elena116]

Oh, that's ridiculous!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, makes my blood boil. Did they never test your antibodies and on what grounds did they offer antidepressants?? Do you think the surgery gets more money for patients who take antidepressants or does it tick an NHS box or is it being used as a pacifier to make ill patients go away? The NHS seems to hand them out like smarties instead of finding out why people are ill and giving the right treatment. A TSH of 7.2 was a BIG CLUE.

[Elena116 in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks the surgery I was with during these results never tested me for antibodies. I think the surgery I am now with tested me for other things and antibodies might have been checked. They offered me antidepressants due to symptoms that they could not explain.

[Nanaedake in reply to Elena116]

Get a copy of results, keep a file or register online to view results. You can print out from online data. Ask your receptionist if you can register for enhanced access for blood test results. All surgeries should be offering it from 2015 onwards.

[humanbean]

Don't let the doctor start you on a dose lower than 50mcg unless you are elderly and/or have a serious heart condition. You may well be better off with 75mcg. Once you have the prescription in your hand, and before you leave the doctor's office, ask for the blood test form you need to get thyroid function tests done in 6 weeks. Before you leave the surgery make the appointment to get blood taken.

Also ask the doctor if you need to make an appointment to see him/her about the results or whether you only need a telephone appointment. You will almost certainly need an increase in dose of another 25mcg per day. Each time you get an increase arrange the follow up blood test 6 weeks later - get the form and arrange the blood draw appointment, and also arrange the appointment needed to discuss the results.

And finally, tell your doctor that you would like a copy of your results every time the blood test is done, and that you will go into the surgery to collect them. Ask for this to be noted on your records.

[Elena116 in reply to humanbean]

Thanks humanbean I will now be leaving to speak to doctor tonight and I will post back what happens