Results thyroid?

[SamanthaJay]

Hi further to first post what do results mean please?

TSH 28.7 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 10.3 (12 - 22)

Free T3 3.0 (3.1 - 6.8)

TPO antibody 810.5 (<34)

TG antibody (Blue Horizon) >1000 (<115)

Symptoms are

Constiption

Weight gain

Pins and needles

Hair loss

Dry skin

Puffy eyes

Swollen throat/neck

Depression

Anxiety

Cold intolerance

Clumsiness

Dizziness

Fatigue

Insomnia

Heavy periods

Pale skin

Thank you

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum,

You have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease and should be prescribed 50mcg levothyroxine to begin with and a blood test and increase of 25mcg every six weeks until you feel much better and TSH is 1 or lower.

You will be prescribed levothyroxine also known as T4, and due to having thyroid antibodies which attack your thyroid gland, they wax and wane until you are hypothyroid.

Antibodies can be reduced by going gluten-free. The above condition is commonly called Hashimoto's - the name of the scientist who discovered the antibodies. The treatment is the same as for hypothyroidism. Due to the antibodies sometimes you will feel hyper (too many when antibodies attack) and at other times hypo.

The usual dose is 50mcg to start with 25mcg increments of levo every six weeks until TSH is 1 or lower and Free T4 and Free T3 towards the upper part of the range.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

All blood tests have to be at the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24hours between levo and test and take it afterwards. Levothyroxine is taken first thing with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating. Food interferes with the uptake of levo.

At next blood test ask GP to test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as everything has to be optimal.

You have to read, learn and ask questions if you've to recover your health although you will always have Hashimoto's.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges and post for comments if you wish.

If you wish you can take dose at bedtime as long as you've last eaten about 3 hours before. However if having a blood test next a.m. miss this dose and take after test and at bedtime as usual.

[SamanthaJay in reply to shaws]

Hi I have the results of these too, I haven't been prescribed anything for thyroid yet

[shaws Administrator in reply to shaws]

Why has your GP not prescribed? Has he not yet seen your results?

[SamanthaJay in reply to shaws]

I don't know why GP hasn't prescribed yet. I picked up results from reception because I hadn't heard about them and the comments on the printout say abnormal contact patient.

[shaws Administrator in reply to SamanthaJay]

Your doctor was lax in not ringing you at home and leaving a prescription for you. A TSH of 28 is high and you must feel awful.

Phone Monday and insist on a prescription being left for you at reception. It should be 50mcg to begin with. Take with one full Glass of water first thing on an empty stomach. If you've already eaten allow about 3 hours between food and levo as food interferes with the uptake and then start the following day when you awake and wait an hour before eating.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Has you GP seen you since these results?

If so why no prescription

Insist on an emergency appointment on Monday, with another GP if necessary

[SamanthaJay in reply to SlowDragon]

I don't know why GP hasn't prescribed yet. I picked up results from reception because I hadn't heard about them and the comments on the printout say abnormal contact patient.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to SamanthaJay]

Make an urgent appointment for Monday ideally

Ask that GP also tests vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

You can say you have taken advice from the NHS recommended thyroid support group.

These vitamins are very often too low as a result of being hypothyroid and may need supplementing to help thyroid hormones to work

How long have you been feeling unwell? How much of a battle was it to get thyroid tested at all?

[SamanthaJay in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks I have been experiencing symptoms of tiredness, anxiety, hard stool and sweats and heavy periods since 2011. I first had thyroid tested in 2011 with a TSH of 7.2 (0.2 - 4.2) and free T4 of 15.6 (12 - 22) then a retest 8 weeks later which showed TSH 2.4 (0.2 - 4.2) then I was seen as normal and all my symptoms were psychological. It took me 6 years to have thyroid retested.