Thyroid

[Nikkijlr]

Hi ive had bloods taken friday 12th jan 2018 for routine and to test my tsh levels i have been looking up symptoms for underactive thyroid and i have a good few of them the only one thats getting me down is my breathing its fluctuates between fast, normal and weak. I have woken up gasping for air and my heart pounding also ive developed sleep apnoea from it im wondering does anyone else have these problems thanks

[shaws Administrator]

I'd phone your GP today as he should have had the results back. Did he only test your TSH level?

Breathlessness can be a clinical symptom. If you are hypothyroid that means you haven't sufficient thyroid hormones in your body and that's why you have clinical symptoms.

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

Our heart and brain need the most T3 (which should convert from T4 to T3). T4 is also called levothyroxine which GP prescribes and you should phone him today as he should have results back.

[Nikkijlr in reply to shaws]

Hi yes he only tested my tsh level im going to ask for my t3 and t4 to be done because ive had these breathing problems for the past 3 months just want to breath normal again

[shaws Administrator in reply to Nikkijlr]

I believe doctors have been told that TSH and T4 is sufficient. It definitely is NOT. The problem is that they are very unknowledgeable about anything to do with hypothyroidism and patients suffer unnecessarily.

We have to do the reading, learning and asking questions to recover.

You can ask - but I don't know what his response is but I will give you a link which clearly states about breathlessness. Your GP will probably put it down to another reason: maybe check your chest and say your fine.

Being breathless is not fine, or o.k. and he should refer you to an Endocrinologist as he seems to be making you worse instead of better.

A Full Thyroid Function Test is:

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

He should definitely test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate too as all need to be optimum.

If he wont do all of them you can get those not tested privately.

All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

You can tell him you've taken advice from the NHS Choices for help/Advice - Healthunlocked thyroiduk.org.uk.

[Nikkijlr in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your help il be making an appointment with him today and go from there il definitely be mentioning this site as well

[shaws Administrator in reply to Nikkijlr]

Many doctors don't like us mentioning the internet and believe we may get wrong info for doing so.

I hope your next appointment goes well as breathlessness is very unpleasant. I am not medically qualified but think your T3 will be low,

[Nikkijlr in reply to shaws]

I have got more help off here than i have with my doctor so thank you 😊

[Nikkijlr]

Im going to ask to get my t3 and t4 levels done cause my breathing problem is really getting me down

[Hidden in reply to Nikkijlr]

Even if your Dr requests a T3 test you may find that if your TSH is within reference range the laboratory won't carry it out, and sometimes won't even if the TSH is out of range. You may need to be prepared to have a full range of tests carried out privately: thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[Nikkijlr in reply to Hidden]

Just looked at the link that is a lot of tests lol thank you for your info im going to make an appointment an hopefully get this sorted 😊

[shaws Administrator in reply to Nikkijlr]

Bear in mind that just by reading a couple of comments on this forum, you will probably now know more than your GP.

[Nikkijlr in reply to shaws]

My very own personal doctors haha ive rang the doctor's my results are in ive an appointment tomorrow at 2:30 pm so hopefully il get an answer from them if not il be demanding more tests for my thyroid 😊 i will update when i come back from doctors 😊

[shaws Administrator in reply to Nikkijlr]

That's good that he's rang you and he's taken notice.

I look forward to know that he is knowledgeable and will get you well.