New here do I need thyroid medication - Thyroid UK

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New here do I need thyroid medication

Alanasaunders profile image
20 Replies

Not yet diagnosed thanks in advance

TSH 98.01 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 10.8 (12 - 22)

TPO antibodies 820.5 (<34)

TG antibodies 276 (<115)

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Alanasaunders profile image
Alanasaunders
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20 Replies
Emyloulou profile image
Emyloulou

Do you have an appointment to see your Gp regarding these results? You need to make 1 ASAP if you haven’t.

I can tell you that yes you will need medication however as I’m very new to all this myself(diagnosed Feb 2017) I’ll wait for someone else to come along and give you the help you need x

Alanasaunders profile image
Alanasaunders in reply toEmyloulou

Hi thanks no I have no appointment about these results

Emyloulou profile image
Emyloulou in reply toAlanasaunders

Did you gp do these bloods or where they private tests?

Either way you need to ring today and get an urgent appointment with a GOOD gp in the practice x

Alanasaunders profile image
Alanasaunders in reply toEmyloulou

Hi they were done by GP

lynmynott profile image
lynmynottPartnerThyroid UK

Hi Alana,

Looking at your test results, you definitely need treatment. Your TSH is way too high and your FT4 is below the reference range. Along with that, you have high thyroid antibodies which means you probably have Hashimoto's disease.

If your doctor gave you these results, you should have been contacted and asked to make an appointment as soon as possible.

It's possible, though, that your doctor didn't read them properly so you should definitely make an appointment to see him to discuss treatment.

Levothyroxine is the usual treatment and it will be lifelong so perhaps your doctor will wait for a second test result to confirm diagnosis. If you have symptoms of an underactive thyroid, though, you need to push either for a second test or treatment.

Alanasaunders profile image
Alanasaunders in reply tolynmynott

Hi thanks I picked up printout that says abnormal contact patient and I was due a phone call today from GP to discuss results and hypothyroid symptoms and I haven't been contacted so no prescription given.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toAlanasaunders

Ring the surgery and get an emergency appointment tonight.

You should be started on Levothyroxine ASAP.

50mcgs is standard starter dose. But if young, you may be started on higher

Bloods retested in 6-8 weeks and dose increased in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range.

Ask that they test you Vitamin D, Folate, ferritin and B12 too

Likely too low

The high antibodies mean you have Hashimoto's

crimple profile image
crimple

Another glaring example of how the NHS does NOT treat patients who so clearly need treatment! We are seeing way too many of these instances on here? What happened about the petition?What do we have to do to get noticed?

marigold22 profile image
marigold22

All of your blood results are way way out. You must be feeling so so ill. When did you have these blood tests done? Your GP is negligent to not have contacted you. I'm surprised the lab supervisor didn't urgently contact your GP to alert him/her.

Alanasaunders profile image
Alanasaunders in reply tomarigold22

I had them done 3 weeks ago and I have listed symptoms

Constipation

Feeling cold

Aches and pains

Hair loss

Tiredness

Rumbling in head

Breathlessness

Recurring infections like pneumonia, cystitis

Dry eyes

Dry skin

Flaky nails

Cold feet and hands

Weight gain

Emyloulou profile image
Emyloulou in reply toAlanasaunders

Did you manage to get an appointment with the gp?

I hope when you do you ask what the bloody hell they are playing at leaving it 3 weeks 😡

I had my bloods done at 8pm and had a call at 9 the next morning tell me to go in then!

I hope you get sorted x

Alanasaunders profile image
Alanasaunders in reply toEmyloulou

No they were all booked up so have to try again tomorrow

Emyloulou profile image
Emyloulou in reply toAlanasaunders

You need to insist they give you 1 tomorrow. It’s appalling patient care to leave you for 3 weeks with those results x

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toEmyloulou

This case should be treated as an emergency - not quite A&E but if the GP won't see you, then you might have to consider that.

Spareribs profile image
Spareribs in reply toAlanasaunders

If you tell them you're going to A&E - they should find you an emergency appointment

marigold22 profile image
marigold22 in reply toAlanasaunders

I have found that when I phone for a GP appointment and it is genuinely urgent, I talk very kindly to the receptionist on the phone and explain why I need an urgent appointment. If they know it truly is urgent, I find that they suddenly find a spare appointment. I think they have to keep a certain number of emergency appointments free in the diary. You need to tell her (it's usually a her) that you have seen your recent blood test results and that all of them are off the scale, and you are obviously very ill. If they still rebuke you, say you have chest pains :-) Good luck

marigold22 profile image
marigold22

Your GP should be shot. Negligent in fact. You are very ill. The TSH blood test results need to be at the lowest (not the highest)- mine is now well under 1 and that's where it needs to be. Most on this forum have found our GPs to be ignorant, mentally challenged, some even admit they don't know the first thing about the thyroid gland and hypothyroidism or Hashimotos's Thyroiditis. Many of us here have even found the thyroid specialists - Endocrinologists - to not know as much as the army of mainly women on here (it's mainly a women's illness). I will warn you that there is much ignorance about our illness and you will do best to keep posting questions on this forum. You will get good sound advice. I had been ill for 30+ years and it was lovely people on here who got me better.

This culture of neglect is driven by the endos. In my experiance of being a nurse it is quite dangerous to argue with doctors. They often have an absolute almost delusional blind faith in them selves and would rather let someone die than admit wrongness. We now have 100,00 patients argueing with the endos and putting egg on thier faces over this. Thye are driving a culture of hostility and neglect. Gps trust the endos and so are following suit.

marigold22 profile image
marigold22 in reply to

I have always found endos and in fact any consultant to be very arrogant and self important, except one who did help me

in reply tomarigold22

yes I think they feel the need to be superior.

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