Been suffering from hypothyroid symptoms for nearly 10 years but consistently fobbed off. Out of desperation I just paid for my own private thyroid panel and just got my results. My TSH is only 2.02 but my FT4 is right at the bottom of the normal range (starting at 12, mine is 12.5). T4 is 77.6 (64.5 -142). I don't really understand the antibodies results but they seem fine as does T3.
According to the info on test results here it seems like the low FT4 and slightly lower T4 could be an issue - am I barking up the wrong tree? I'm so confused as the info here is so contrary to what actual GPs say.
If I take these results into my appointment this afternoon are they just going to say "see, you're fine?". Is there any way I can convince them to try treatment? I need my life back.
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cupcakegirl
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Thank you - so there's a good chance this could be affecting me? I need to find something to back me up to take with me as this is definitely not what the doctors say.
You need to get a copy of a Pulse article from Louise Roberts at thyroid UK To give to your doctor when you ask for a dose increase. Email - louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org
Finally you need to get your:
- Ferritin
- vitamin B12
- vitamin D
- Folate
Tested but again you will need to do this privately. These must be not just in range but optimal. Get them done and ask on here in a new thread what to do.
Just to say that I asked for these tests to be done at my GP several times and they've done them. if they seem to be resistant you can say you're vegan and worried....
Thank you so much for responding. To clarify, I'm not on any treatment at the moment as I haven't been diagnosed - so far it's been a case of "your TSH is fine so you're fine" basically. Sorry if that's not clear.
I really, really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I haven't been able to work for six years and I have 1 year old twins plus endometriosis and I'm at rock bottom physically right now.
So the results mean it's not an auto immune problem? That's something at least!
Thank you, I will email for that article. I did have those things tested about three months ago, but will look into doing it myself now - my doctor just told me they were normal.
I think these are pretty normal results for someone who is not on levothyroxine and does not have an autoimmune thyroid condition. As far an I'm aware, I don't think it matters that your FT4 is lowish as your FT3 is reasonable and since FT4 is converted to FT3, there must be enough of a supply to be converting reasonably well although it is on the low side.
I doubt that your doctor would consider treating you, even on a trial basis, with these results. Did you test first thing in the morning and fasting?
It's true that if a person is on levothyroxine medication and has an autoimmune thyroid condition then the ideal TSH is usually 1.0 or a little lower but this is not necessarily true for the rest of the population not on medication and without thyroid antibodies whose thyroid levels can be quite individual but would be expected to reside within the normal range. It could be worth testing again at a later date to see if there is any difference in the results to make sure your thyroid isn't beginning to fail.
I would ask your doctor to check your vitamin levels which if they are low can cause many symptoms similar to thyroid conditions. You may have low D, iron, folate or B12 for example. If you are taking any medication check that it doesn't have an effect on your thyroid function.
Thanks. It doesn't make any sense to me - was diagnosed with ME about 10 years ago but most of the symptoms I have are not related to ME. They are textbook hypothyroid symptoms. The Thyroid UK guidelines state that even if my TSH were lower and even if my FT4 and everything else were higher, they should still consider treating on the basis of symptoms. I don't know - I'm just desperate for some help really, it's been going on so long and doctors just aren't interested. I've had my vitamin levels tested and they're fine.
Do you have results from your vitamin tests? Doctors often say they are fine because they are somewhere in the NHS range so they are not required to treat you but having vitamins coasting along the bottom will not make you feel fine. You need to get a copy of the results. Everything needs to be mid-range and B12 needs to be high in range for your own thyroid to function well. For those of us on thyroid meds, they don't work well until our vitamins are optimised.
You may also be deficient in minerals and could consider taking some mineral supplements such as magnesium for which there is no very useful blood test.
If after posting all your vitamin results here and they are all optimal then you will want to look a little further.
Could be secondary or central hypo as FT4 is bottom of range but TSH isn't really high. That means a problem with the pitiutary or hypothalamus, so TSH can't rise. GPs aren't trained to recognise it - needs endo referral in case there are other hormone problems.
Thank you - I have other undiagnosed hormonal issues which I can't really figure out (been on various hormone treatments for years and things are messed up - had a five year stretch where I came off everything had no libido whatsoever, couldn't stand to be touched at all and this is now back post pregnancy and won't go away. Again, doctors not interested). Interestingly all this started while I was on a drug that induces a temporary menopause for two years, which literally acts on the brain to turn off ovulation - and I gather menopause is a thyroid issue trigger for some too, so I suspect it's related to that
Yes, my bowels don't work properly at all - attributed to endometriosis and painkillers, but I've significantly lowered my dose and still have chronic constipation.
Thanks everyone. Found some old test results which showed that my FT4 used to be in the middle of the range (15 with range 10-22) and my TSH was only marginally lower so it appears to me that my FT4 is falling and my TSH isn't really rising much. GP wasn't much help and from what he said he doesn't know a lot about this beyond very standard practice (don't need treatment unless TSH is above 10, wouldn't test FT4 if you were on thyroxine etc). However, after a long discussion he did admit that in some cases it's not that simple and he's going to speak to an endocrinologist and see if they think a trial of thyroxine would be warranted. Not holding my breath.
He did tell me that my results showed I'm actually anaemic but I was in such a state I forgot to ask for a print out of my blood results.
Is it worth just taking vitamin and mineral supplements anyway? Don't really have the money to run more tests right now.
Hi cupcakegirl; I'm fairly new to all this as well. But what I've learned thus far and what I'm about to request, and you probably need the same is some iron supplementation but in its quickest form and that would be through IV Infusion depending on how low we are talking.
If you have been diagnosed as being anemic, I would def ask, your GP for an iron infusion on the premise that as a menstruating woman a low iron/anemic is nearly impossible to improve swiftly, it inhibits conversion of t4 to t3, it micmis thyroidsim, and in some cases causes thyroid disfunction.
It sounds like your GP is at least reasonable, so I will hope that she/he will assist in this regard as well as ordering proper labs that other members here have mentioned.
There is a member here, seasidesusie, she has offered a thorough directive in self iron supplementing. Look up her posts, here on this website, on iron. Her instructions helped me.
However, if you've been diagnosed anemic you're probably more in need of a doc ordered infusion to get the iron up far quicker and for efficiently than self supplements.
My goal, and theory, is that with upping and sustaining the iron either with supplement or with infusion, we can better gauge if the iron is causing the thyroid, worsening it, or interfering with conversion (a critical step in thyroid physiology and function). With new labs after the iron increase, we can better gauge whether it improves symptoms or bloods in any way, and how it effects labs/bloods. From there you may have a better idea of what, how much, or if any thyroid replacement is necessary.
And as someone above mentioned your basic minerals must be tested and improved if necessary: vit d, vitb12, folate, and ferritin, as they are the cornerstone harmonizing all the components of an efficient hormone, hence endocrine and thyroid system.
It appears to me, and again, I'm very new to this and not a medical doctor, that your elevated antibodies indicate some sort of irritation/inflammation to the gland, at the very least.
If your GP is as empathetic as it seems, get him/her to help you with ordering necessary labs. Once you have all the proper labs, post them here and the forum will further you along.
For iron deficiency anaemia you are likely to only be offered iron tablets on the NHS. You only get an infusion if you collapse and are seen at A&E simply because so many people especially women have iron deficiency.
Unfortunately iron tablets cause many people problems. So once you get your prescription but before you take it to the pharmacist start a new thread asking for advice on what you should do pointing out you gave constipation problems. It would help if you put the test result and range in the thread.
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