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[Notgivinin]

Hi

I have been back and forth to the doctors, with symptoms of an underactive thyroid for the last 8 + years. i have been misdiagnosed with polymyalgia and also i am being told i have mild chronic fatigue syndrome. although the specialist advised me verbally that i didn't have the condition. My last doctors appointment the doctor advised my TSH range was fine at 3.5 and also said the last two were 4.00 and 4.50. and in her words no doctor in the country will prescribe any medication for the levels i have.

i have requested a copy of all recent blood tests from the doctor and i can see that T4 has not been tested at all.

My question is can i have a normal TSH blood test and still have an under active thyroid?

My symptoms are :-

Weight gain (with a healthy diet)

Tiredness

Muscel aches

brain fog and confusion

[SAUK]

Hi Notgivinin

I am sorry to hear of your situation, but you are not along in this.

Can you add your blood levels along with the normal ranges to this feed, as each lab will have different ''normals''? This will help other comment on your ranges and associated symptoms. If anything they should be testing T4 and T3, along with TSH, as these provide a more accurate idea of what your thyroid hormones are actually doing.

Also have you had any other blood tests? I.e Vit D; Iron; B12; Ferritin; Antibodies?

What medication/ management have you been given in the last few months/ years?

[Notgivinin in reply to SAUK]

i have the results at home, i can take a pic and post on here, i have been given no medication ever.

[Axleg]

Hi there, I've got exactly the same symptoms and was getting nowhere with my GP. I had a private blood test with Blue Horizon who thyroid UK have on their site, they are very good. These results showed my levels were in "the normal range" for TSH according to the NHS however my T3 was very low which indicates I am not converting correctly.

I took this blood result to my GP and now have an appointment with a specialist which I am hoping will open some doors as I no longer want to be on Levo Thyroxine as I've convinced it's to blame for a lot.

You need as much info as you can get and they make sure you get to see who you want to see, don't give up.

[greygoose]

Short answer is : yes. Of course you can. The TSH is a very bad indicator of thyroid status. And a TSH result of 3.5 is hypo, anyway - you're hypo as soon as you hit 3, but doctors don't understand that. And, there's no such thing as 'normal'. The so-called 'normal' range is mostly very un-normal - i.e. much too high. Plus, you've had three tests with all the results over 3, so you are hypo.

However, your doctor is right in that no doctor - almost no doctor - in the UK will diagnose with that result. But, some of them will go on to do more tests and diagnose you that way. But, in other countries, you would have been diagnosed by now. It's just that the NHS is a bunch of money-grabbing sadists who like to see people suffer.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Essential to test FT3 as well as FT4

Plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies

If you can't get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw or

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting, this gives highest TSH, which is all most GP's look at

[jezebel69]

It took me 9 years of visits with symptoms before I was diagnosed. Don't give up!