As many of you will know it's very difficult getting tested in the UK for thyroid difficulties as nhs only do the usual tests. I am getting tested for antibodies and more today privately as this is what o have resorted to after being told I am borderline and sub clinical hypothyroid all the time!
I am hoping that by getting tested privately today I will finally get an answer, of course I don't want to get my hopes up but as I'm sure many of you know the amount of people that are probably in the same situation as me it can be very frustrating and difficult to have doctors constantly telling you, it's normal no further action, when slightly high or low results plague your mind and you just want to feel better.
I'm about to take the 2 hour drive to see a private doctor wish me luck!
UPDATE: I had my results back today! So quick for starters, I will attach what my results are, does it mean I’m hypo or hyperthyroid?
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Coop20
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Your TSH is over range and your free Ts are low in range. You would be diagnosed as Hypothyroid in another country, most diagnose when TSH reaches 3, in the UK we often have to wait until it reaches 10 with the NHS.
Thanks for your reply, I’m lucky that I have gone to one of the fantastic private health organisations through thyroid uk. I have been advised to start some medication. I’m so relieved that I finally have a diagnosis and confirmation that I’m not imagining symptoms like my nhs doctors had made me believe.
If you were diagnosed hypo, you cannot ever 'go hyper', because your thyroid isn't working well enough to produce enough thyroid hormone, so can never start working well enough to churn out enough extra hormone to make you hyper. Exogenous thyroid hormone (Levo, etc.) does not treat the thyroid gland an make it well again, it just just replaces the hormone your gland can no-longer make.
You could, on the other hand, be over-medicated (doctors don't seem to know that term!), but you aren't. If you were over-medicated, your FT3 would be over-range. It isn't. In fact, you are under-medicated with such a low FT3. You need an increase in dose.
Hi Greygoose, thanks for your reply, I’m not actually on any meds as yet. So I’m hoping that by beginning them as soon as I can my symptoms will start to ease with time.
You should have a repeat test every 6-8 weeks and have your medication adjusted until you feel well. It takes 6-8 weeks for Levothyroxine to build up in your system, and for the pituitary and thyroid glands to respond to the change in hormone levels.
My doctor confirmed today that the results show hypothyroidism, I haven’t been diagnosed before so this is actually a bit of a relief to actually know that when I get some meds it might help my situation whereas before I was in the dark and wondering if I was actually imagining everything!
So my medication arrived today, I have nature thyroid and will be taking two a day, is anyone else taking these? Are they available on the NHS? I have paid £35 to have them delivered privately from Guernsey, any advice would be great!
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