Blood test in the afternoon.

[Suzanam]

So even after being discharged from hospital with the diagnostic written by NHS doctor Hypothyroidism,my GP said to me that she is not convinced because my thyroid levels were not that high to give me palpitations and all other symptoms. Only done t3 and that was fine and Tsh that was first time 5.60 and 5.33,the range was 2.3-5.30.All this after me keep going back cause I don't feel good. Now she wants to do another blood test but i am booked at 12:30. I know thyroid levels are taken in the morning. What should I do? Is it OK to do a test at that time.

[Clutter]

Suzanam,

I don't understand. Are you saying a NHS hospital doctor has diagnosed hypothyroidism but your GP won't treat you with Levothyroxine?

TSH >5.0 is certainly high enough for you to experience palpitations and other hypothyroid symptoms.

I would cancel the 12.30 appointment and reschedule an early morning appointment at another time. TSH is highest early in the morning and will be lowest around lunchtime. If your TSH is <5.30 at 12.30 your GP will probably refuse to diagnose hypothyroidism.

[humanbean]

Palpitations can be caused by low iron, as well as other low nutrients.

Low nutrients are common in hypothyroidism.

Have you been tested for any nutrients?

[Suzanam in reply to humanbean]

I was hospitalised and they checked. The only thing that came back wrong was the thyroid. They said go back to gp. Gp says it can't be that. I still have occasional palpitations but bit as bad as the one that got me to hospital.

[humanbean in reply to Suzanam]

Imagine four patients - A, B, C and D - get their ferritin (iron stores) tested.

The reference range for the test is 13 - 150 i.e. this is the range that doctors insist on called "the normal range".

Patient A gets a result of 10.

Patient B gets a result of 13.

Patient C gets a result of 85 (i.e. roughly mid-range).

Patient D gets a result of 150.

Patients B, C and D would be told their ferritin result is normal by the vast majority of doctors. Patient A would be told their result was normal by many GPs - the attitude being "it's close enough".

But from the patient's point of view :

Patient C is the one most likely to feel well

Patient D will feel fairly well, but possibly not quite as good as C

Patient B will most likely feel awful and would feel better with higher levels

Patient A will also feel appalling and would also feel better with higher levels.

The above example is commonly what happens with all nutrient testing, not just ferritin or iron.

[Note that iron testing isn't as simple as what I've just described, there is more to it than just testing ferritin, but it is a reasonable example of what really happens.]

If you want to feel well then getting nutrient levels to optimal is essential.

[Angel_of_the_North]

So the GP knows better than a specialist? She probably thinks that you have to be hyper to have palpitations - you don't - low T3 does it too. Bloods ned to be taken first thing in the AM, fasting - don't do it at lunchtime.

[Suzanam]

I've re booked my appointment, and I ordered a private blood test from. Medicheck. I am planing to book a private endocrinologist after the private blood test. Thank you lovely people.

[Suzanam]

Doctor gave me beta blockers to calm my heart , do they influence the thyroid blood test in any way?