Newbie with Hypo Symptoms. Tests norm. Please help :(

[Lianne_e]

Good evening all,

A few months after having my second daughter in 2007, a family member noticed my throat looked swollen. I went to the doc, who referred to ENT...fast forward a few months and tests, I had a goitre on left thyroid gland. After a few months of scans and an inconclusive biopsy, the consultant decided that removing the left gland and goitre was the best move. Had the op in April 2008 and following investigation of the removed gland, I was given the all clear.

The few years following the op I had thyroid function tests every now and then and I've always been told that results were normal. I felt fine and so just saw the tests as a box ticking exercise and after a few years of normal results stopped thinking of regular tests as important.

The past 3 years or so, I've found these symptoms creeping in little by little and now I've got quite the list! I've been feeling like my body is ageing before it's time, aches, stiff joints, pins and needles, cold hands and feet, thinning hair, brain fog, poor memory, tiredness, dry skin and hair, heavy cycles, to name a few. I stopped more intense exercise because I was feeling faint and exhausted after 20 mins of aerobics. It was like a sudden energy crash. I feel like I'm falling apart and have been worrying about there being an underlying serious issue that's going undetected. I've been back and forth to the doctors and had the usual bloods, that all came back clear. I was beginning to feel like a hypochondriac!

Then last week I came across something online that brought up Hashimoto. Spoke to my doctor and he sent me for bloods. I think he originally requested full thyroid tests, but only T4, TSH and TPO were done, all have come back normal. When I asked the doc, he said T3 tests weren't warranted because T4 and TPO were normal, so no further investigation was needed.

This is all he could give me: -

TPO - less than 9. Dr said so low they couldn't detect any.

TSH - 2.9 - Dr's range .27 - 4.2

T4 - 14.8 - Dr's range 11 - 25

B12 - 347 - Dr said over 190 is fine

Haemoglobin - 139 - Sorry, Dr didn't provide range

Iron - 59 - Dr didn't provide range

Triglycerides - 1 - Dr didn't provide range

As far as I can see, everything is normal, but as I'm totally clueless I thought I'd ask if this makes sense to anyone?

The doc also told me that I had my last tests back in 2014. Then my TSH was 4 and T4 was 15.5. I felt much healthier then than I do now that's for sure. Should these small changes affect how I'm feeling?

Do you think that it worth looking into getting more tests done (T3's etc.), or am I misguided in thinking my symptoms are thyroid related?

Many thanks everyone. I just feel lost!

[Inaquandary]

It might be worth getting bloods done through a private site ie Medichecks... GPs very rarely if ever test for antibodies, in fact anything other than TSH they aren't interested. Medichecks do offers on a Thursday.... ☺

[Lianne_e in reply to Inaquandary]

That's great. Thank you very much for the suggestion. It's difficult to know if you are using a good company and knowing my luck I'd pick the wrong one! So the recommendation is appreciated

[Inaquandary in reply to Lianne_e]

No problem. Let me know how you get on x

[Marz]

Are you taking any medication ? Normal is an opinion and not a result

[Lianne_e in reply to Marz]

Hiya, thank you for responding. No, I'm not taking any medication. Also, I've just been reading up on B12 testing and I've seen that it's not recommended to eat or drink before the test and I had a coffee about an hour before mine 🙄. I did ask my doc and he said I didn't have to fast :(. Could this have affected my results?

[Marz in reply to Lianne_e]

Where did you read about fasting and the B12 test ? I think fasting for all tests is possibly good to avoid any confusion.

I would go for full testing Privately with Medichecks or Blue Horizon. Check out Lyn Mynots post earlier today where she flagged up the Special Offer for Thyroid Testing with Medichecks .....

It would help if you could Edit your post and include ranges to help people commenting

[Lianne_e in reply to Marz]

Thank you. I'll look into the private tests. I just googled B12 blood tests and clicked on the first few results. All of the sites I read recommended fasting, but when I asked my doctor if I needed to fast, he said no.

Sorry for not adding the ranges. I don't know what they should be, so didn't know what to write. My doctor did give me a few numbers to give me clarification as to what he sees as within range. Are they any use?

[Marz in reply to Lianne_e]

Yes add the ranges the Doc gave you. Click onto the arrow below the Reply button - then click Edit.

As you continue reading this Forum you will see that many Docs give out incorrect informaton. Always check here when in doubt. 😊

When you look at Medichecks on Lyn's post yesterday - go for the first test on the link as it covers the FULL testing you need - to include TSH - FT4 - FT3 and Thyroid anti-bodies TPO & Tg. Also the Vits and Minerals ....

[Lianne_e in reply to Marz]

Okies, thank you, I'll update my post now.

I looked at Medicheck last night, but the big £169 kit wasn't included in their offers. I'll definitely keep an eye on it and look into getting the tests done. It's crazy that the doctors won't just test for everything first as last. He's put my symptoms down to everyday life getting busier and things like social media getting us down, and suggested yoga! I'm always too tired to do anything and my legs ache walking up my stairs. I'm only 37 and not overweight, I shouldn't feel like an 80 year old it's so disappointing to be fobbed off at the first hurdle, before even doing all of the tests. Both myself and husband work so pay plenty of tax and NI into the pot. It's awful that people should have to pay for tests because GP's won't listen! 😬 Sorry, that's my rant over 😊

[Marz in reply to Lianne_e]

Did you click onto the link from Lyn yesterday - the test was 77 pounds for the full works ....

I agree with you feeling upset when you pay so much. I live in Crete - some tests are covered by the NHS and I pay for the rest. All on the same form 😊