Advice please 😊

[Rach0311]

Afternoon all,

I'm sorry it's a long one lol

Towards the end of august this year I found that I had a lump on the right side of my neck which was confirmed to be a goitre. My GP ordered for my TSH level to be tested which came back at 3.11 and sent me for an unltrasound and it turned out it was nothing to worry about and advised I was to leave well alone. Since then I have been noticing lots of other symptoms such as thinning hair, irregular periods, bad pms, fatigue, cold hands and feet, bad memory, pressure head and weight gain but I have also quit smoking 1.5yrs ago so put it down to that. Because of the growing symptoms I asked for my GP to test TSH, free t4 and free t3 I was advised that it was unlikely for the NHS lab to test for it so I decided to go private and I have just been given the below results,

TSH- 3.29 free t4- 14.7 free t3- 5.6

I would like to know in your experience are these levels classed as normal when a goitre is involved? And should I persue my GP to refer me to an endocrinologist? As I'm not being given and information or is any interest being shown around my symptoms.

Both my dad and my sister have overactive thyroids, I hope that's enough information.

Thanks in advance

Rach

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Rach0311 To interpret tests we need the reference ranges, as they vary from lab to lab we need the ranges used by your lab. However, your TSH does show your thyroid is struggling.

It really would have been best to go for a more comprehensive test, thyroid antibodies (both TPO and TG) would tell us if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (often connected with goitre) and vitamins and minerals - Vit D, B12, Folate, Ferritin as all these need to be at optimal levels for thyroid hormone to work (our own or replacement). Low levels or deficiencies can also bring symptoms of their own and some of them can be very similar to hypo symptoms.

[Rach0311 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SeasideSusie,

I will be getting a full copy of my results tomorrow so I assume this will include ranges so will update when I have them. When my GP ordered the TSH first time he advised he would test everything antibodies etc and I was advised this was all "normal" again I should get these tomorrow as I am requesting copies of all results,

Thanks for the info re vitamins etc, I wasn't aware this could cause the symptoms I am experincing, would of been helpful for me GP to advise this, It's so frustrating to keep being dismissed 😕

Rach 😊