Feel like I am going round in circles

[Kimko]

Hi, I am new. I have TPO antibodies of 845.3 (<34) and I have symptoms of throat feeling swollen, dry skin, losing hair, fingers and knees and hips aching, tiredness, constipation, low blood sugar (not diabetic), feeling cold, pins and needles in feet, weight gain, loss of appetite. Do I need thyroid medication? Thanks

[Anthea55]

Welcome to the forum Kimko

Going by your symptoms and high antibodies I would suggest that you do need thyroid medication.

Can you give us more information please. Have you had other blood tests for your thyroid? I'm guessing that other things were tested when you were told about the antibodies.

Can you get printouts of previous blood tests from your surgery? You are entitled to them if you are in the UK. Then post them on here for people to help you.

When you are told your results don't accept comments like 'normal' or 'in range'; you need to know the figures. You need to have results that are 'optimal' which is different.

Have you been on thyroid medication before?

Have you had any vitamins and minerals tested? You need these to be good for thyroid medication to work and some of your symptoms may be related to deficiencies or food intolerances.

Thanks for posting. I'm sure you can get helpful advice here.

[Kimko in reply to Anthea55]

TSH 8.3 (0.2 - 4.2)

FT4 13.3 (12 - 22)

Not been on thyroid medication and I have low B12, low vit D, low ferritin and low folate thanks

[Anthea55 in reply to Kimko]

Are those deficiencies being treated? It's really important that you improve those low results.

Go back to your doctor as soon as you can and insist that you are treated, both for the deficiencies and for your thyroid. That TSH is far too high. I guess that a test for free T3 would show up as low.

Look at the Thyroid UK website for more info.

This page shows possible signs and symptoms. You can print it out, tick boxes that apply and show it to your doctor.

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

This page takes you through getting a diagnosis and treat

ment

thyroiduk.org/tuk/diagnosis...

If you get nowhere with your doctor try to see another doctor.

Best wishes and keep fighting.

[Music1]

Hi, in my opinion yes you do need to be treated. I had all the same symptoms as you and yet I was told "I looked fine" until the TFT results came back. With high antibodies I've found it helps being gluten free. It totally sucks - not being able to go out and get a subway, snack, go to McDonalds or just do simple things. To be fair there is a lot more choice out there in the shops than there used to be, but you have to make it yourself. It has helped with going to the bathroom. I still have issues with my blood sugar I think which haven't been addressed. I think I personally have hypoglycemic episodes. Quite simply, I had exactly the same symptoms. I'm not feeling fixed but slightly better. I've been on 25mg of Levothyroxine for maybe 4 months until it was increased to 50mg which I've been on for maybe 5 weeks. Only just starting to feel a bit better but still poss under medicated. Make sure you get a referral to an Endo at the hospital or at least get Levo for your blood results. Insure they test your TSH levels. Best wishes xx

[klr31]

You need thyroxine.

Karen