Am I over or under?

[Kelwhite]

Please can someone help? Over 3 years ago I had symptoms of under active thyroid. I went to the go who diagnosed over active with blood tests which suprised everyone and I was referred to a consultant. I was put on a block and replace for 6 months (carbinazole and Levothyroxine) which they left me on for 18 months with symptoms and levels not getting any better and actually getting much worse (severe anxiety, excessive weight gain, severe confusion) after 18 months a saw another consultant who said she thought I had been over medicated with the levels being given and asked me to stop all medication to see if my thyroid kick started and it did, I felt “normal” again so I stopped going to the consultant. After how badly I had felt and being told I was over medicated I lost faith. 6 months later the symptoms returned and I asked my gp for a blood test which confirmed it had returned , I rang the consultants who agreed to see me and advised that my levels fluctuate between under and over and are usually within normal range with only t3 elevated. I restarted carbimazole Alone and again felt worse with increased fatigue worse than before and confusion. I’m return to the consultant (I have now gained over 5 stone in 3 years) I explained how carbimazole made me feel and she agreed to a radioactive iodine uptake scan . I would need to come off medication until after the scan and we would try alternative medication propylthiouracil after unptake scan. 3 months went by and they’d forgot to book the scan I rang and they rushed it through and I had the follow up consultant appointment a week later (not enough time for the new medication to work) a saw another consultant who told me my weight gain is due to being stressed and eating too much but that my scan did show a blockage in my thyroid. He said they would order an ultrasound and just give time for new tablet to work. I’ve been on the new tables over a month and again feel worse,

A few days ago, I got an ultra sound appointment. The consultant radiographer has advised me that I have the thyroid of someone with under active thyroid and that the radioactive uptake test indicates the same but that he would refer the findings to the consultant. He said I have multiple nodules and I’m not a candidate for thyroidectomy and if I was to have treatment to get rid of my thyroid it would have to be radioactive Table.

Please can anyone explain to me what’s happening as none of it makes sense am I under or over and am I taking medication that makes my symptoms worse or am I just not tolerable to the tablets?

[Kelwhite]

My next consultant appointment is not for another 3 month

[Angel_of_the_North]

What are your results for TSH, free t3 and free T4, and TPO and TG antibodies with ranges?

I suspect you have Hashimotos (aka autoimmune thyroiditis) which makes you swing between hyper and hypo, but you will eventually become totally underactive as it destroys your thyroid. But you can't be sure about what is causing your symptoms without seeing those lab results with ranges.

[shaws Administrator]

It comes as no surprise to have a post such as yours as it is clear to many on this forum that doctors or endocrinologists seem to be poorly educated in the function of the thyroid gland, especially when it has become dysfunctional.

What you have to do is get a new blood test. It has to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and if you were taking thyroid hormone replacements you'd allow a gap of 24 hours between dose and test and take afterwards.

You need TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. If you have thyroid antibodies you would have the commonest form of hypothyroidism and it is an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease - called Hashimoto's. I shall give you a couple of links.

Your GP (if in UK) may not be able to request all of the above, but FT4 and FT3 and antibodies are very important as all of them give a more accurate diagnosis. We have two private labs which will do those the GP doesn't or you can have them all tested. They are home pin-prick tests. You should be well-hydrated a couple of days before blood drawn and also warm your hands.

I and many others on this forum remain undiagnosed because doctors either don't ever take a blood test and/or are ignorant of clinical symptoms.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges. Ranges are important as labs differ and it makes it easier to comment.

You should also ask GP to test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Everything has to be optimal.

Get a print-out of your results with the ranges and put them on a new post for comment.

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

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

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

Medichecks and Blue Horizon are the private companies. They will answer any questions you have re testing.