New Here, any advice welcome

[silverfox13]

Hi, I am new here, but been loitering on the side for a while. Having trouble with my Doc over symptoms (tiredness, aches, pains, constipation, weight increase etc) as in he don't believe they are connected. Hopefully, be changing doc's by the end of month.

My last blood test results were:

HbA1c levl - 38mmol/mol

Haemoglobin A1c level - 5.6 % 4.00 - 6.30%

No action required

Thyroid function test - No action required

Serum TSH level 0.94 miu/L 0.27 - 4.20miu/L

Serum free T4 level 13.5 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00pmol/L

Calcium Adjusted 2.33 mmol/L 2.20 - 2.60mmol/L

No action required.

! Serum C reactive protein level - 7 mg/L 0.00 - 5.00mg/L

! Bone profile

Serum calcium 2.39 mmol/L 2.20 -2.60mmol/L

!Serum inorganic phosphate - 0.79 mmol/L 0.80 - 1.50mmol/L

Serum Alkaline Phosphatase - 85 u/L 30.00 - 130.00u/L

Serum total protein - 74 g/L 60.00 - 80.00g/L

Serum albumin - 46 g/L 35.00 - 50.00g/L

Serum globulin - 28 g/L 17.00 - 35.00g/L

Clotting Screening Test - No action required

Prothrombin time 10.7 s 10.00 - 15.00

International normalised ratio - 1

APTT - 33 s 26.00 - 37.00s

APTT ratio - 1

Fibrinogen level - 4.41 g/L 2.00 - 4.50g/L

Unfortunately, this means absolutely nothing to me, so if any one can explain, that would be great.

Thanks

Sharon

[The_will_of_Jill]

They didn't test your free T3? 🙁

[silverfox13 in reply to The_will_of_Jill]

Not once, have been Hypo for 3 years, on 75mg thyroxine.

[The_will_of_Jill in reply to silverfox13]

I'm so sorry... that's a shame. Are you in UK? I know what it's like to deal with doctors that don't listen to you,but is it possible you could show them literature explaining why testing for T3 is important?

[silverfox13 in reply to The_will_of_Jill]

Yep, Harwich, Essex. Not a chance. He is not very interested in updating his knowledge.

[The_will_of_Jill in reply to silverfox13]

Oh ok. Well, you mentioned switching to a new Doctor soon. Is there a difficult process involved with this?

I really hope you can switch to someone more caring and cooperative. (I'm in the USA by the way. And only just learning about NHS since July 17. Medicaid-which is my insurance plan- refused for years to even test me for hypothyroidism! I had to go to a private doctor to get the test done, and pay full price out of pocket) Can you possibly afford to get testing done privately?

Hang in there. Knowledge and support are both here in abundance. That's a very big step in the right direction.

🌷

[silverfox13 in reply to The_will_of_Jill]

Can't afford private at the moment, playing catch up with the rent after having emergency hysterectomy for my dog. That was just under a grand. Luckily I have a great landlady.

[The_will_of_Jill in reply to silverfox13]

Oh I see... sorry to hear that. Hope doggy is ok now. Glad your landlady is being cool.

xx

[silverfox13 in reply to The_will_of_Jill]

Thank you, she made a great recovery, was thinking of signing up with her myself, at least I know they have my health in mind!

[The_will_of_Jill in reply to silverfox13]

Strangely that's the same thoughts I had about the veterinarian for my cat we've been seeing lately for his ear cyst. She's so thorough and caring. It's very refreshing!

[Treepie]

Free T3 is the main active hormone for thyroid health but it seems it was not tested.You may have to get private tests.Your Free T4 is low in the range so it is possible that your Free T3 may be too low.Your TSH is OK and that is what docs go on so you are unlikely to get enlightenment from them.

[silverfox13 in reply to Treepie]

Saw my doc today, presented him with a list of symptoms, aches, pains, numbness in fingers, swelling in joints, losing my eyebrows, ( wish it was my legs ) droopy lids, and tired all the time. He suggested Lupus, then changed his mind, said thyroid was under control, and is sending me for blood tests for chronic fatigue. He is not willing to listen to me.

Thanks for the info

[greygoose]

Have you been diagnosed as hypo? Hashi's? Are you taking anything? Because if you are, that would change the interpretation of the results.

[silverfox13 in reply to greygoose]

I am hypo, on 75mg thyroxine. Diagnosed 3 years ago.

[greygoose in reply to silverfox13]

Then you need an increase in your dose. 75 mcg is only a tiny dose. And, whilst your TSH is great - which is all they tend to look at - your FT4 is very low - it should be at least over mid-range. And if your FT4 is low, the odds are your FT3 is going to be low, and it's low T3 that causes symptoms. Nothing to do with the TSH.

Myself, I would take the approach of just telling the doctor I want an increase, because I still don't feel well, I wouldn't bother with a list of symptoms, because they have no idea what hypo symptoms are, anyway. Whatever you say your symptoms are, they're going to say 'nothing to do with your thyroid'. There are over 300 symptoms of low thyroid, all of them non-specific, so not very helpful. I think we have to be more direct and say, 'I'm getting better but not quite there, yet. I think an increase in dose would help me greatly. And, whilst in range, my FT4 is very low, I'm pretty sure I'd feel better if it were higher.'

[silverfox13 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for the advice, I tried that just after the test in August. His reply, no everything is normal. That's why I decided to ask for advice here.

[greygoose in reply to silverfox13]

You just have to keep at it until they give in, just to get rid of you! That often works. lol

[silverfox13 in reply to greygoose]

I did try calling for a month every couple of days, it got to the stage where he wouldn't call back.

[greygoose in reply to silverfox13]

You could always buy your own T4 and self-treat. Doubt you could make a worse job of it than him!

[silverfox13 in reply to greygoose]

I looked at different posts about that, got a bit confused about dosages and grains. Just waiting for a clear headed day to re read it. Then take it from there. I look forward to getting up in the morning not feeling like I spent the night running the marathon, just one morning a month would make me happy.

[greygoose in reply to silverfox13]

NDT is measured in grains.

Levo is measured in mcg.

If you decide to continue taking levo, you just give yourself a 25 mcg increase, and hold for six weeks. Then test. Nothing to it, really. And there are always people here to ask, if you're stuck.

[silverfox13 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you, that certainly simplified things, lol.

Will get the blood test over tomorrow and give it a go from the weekend. Thank you

[greygoose in reply to silverfox13]

You're welcome.

[silverfox7]

The aim of medication is to get both FT4 and FT3 in the top third or even the top quarter in their respective ranges Your FT4 isn't even halfway and so I expect your FT3 would be even lower. You really need a dose increase. When did you get the last one?

[silverfox13 in reply to silverfox7]

A year ago.

I have thought about taking an extra 25 mg , but I would run out quicker and not sure if they would issue another script.

[silverfox7]

You shouldn't have a problem getting extra Levo. Thyroid uk who run this forum have a very good site with loads of info so read that and I'm sure that it will tell you about raising medication till your FT4 and FT3 are in the top third or even top quarter of their respective ranges and if he is cross about you getting advice from the internet point out that Thyroid Uk are recommended by NHS Choices for thyroid dysfunction! If he has a problem with that he should take it up with the NHS and he's not going to look foolish and do that or chastise you either!

[silverfox13 in reply to silverfox7]

Thank you , will check that. Be nice to have the last word with him. Never heard the phrase "raiding medication" before.

[silverfox7 in reply to silverfox13]

Nothing exciting. It was a typo or rather predictive text, should have read raising. Sorry! But if he still ignores you changing docs has to be the plan. If there is another doctor at the surgery you can see you can't get any worse! It's sad in a way that we have to learn all we can but good to be able to understand it better. Knowledge is power!

[silverfox13 in reply to silverfox7]

The plan was to change docs, but there books are closed, so have to wait till they re-open.

It wasn't a typo, it was my eyes, imagining words now, lol