Under active thyroid

[Shezxxx]

Hi all, this is all new to me but I was diagnosed with under active thyroid about 5 - 6 years ago when I was 42. I was never really told anything about it and just kind of accepted that I have it with no questions asked or explanations offered. Having recently just idly googling symptoms, I've realised that I have many of the symptoms. I only get reminded about a blood test about once a year if I'm lucky but reading some of your posts, I have no idea what you mean when you talk about t3/t4 etc. The one thing I didn't realise was a symptom that bothers me is 2 thirds of my eyebrows have been missing for well over a year, is there anything I can do or take so they will regrow? I can't believe I have only just found out this is linked to it-I could never figure out why I'd lost them until now! Feeling very uneducated and left to get on with it. Any answers would be appreciated. Thanks in advance x

[Nanaedake]

Hello and welcome Shazxxx The first thing to do is to get a copy of your blood test results. If you can get copies of historical results, not just your most recent ones it will be useful for you. You can get copies by asking your GP reception for a copy or

by registering to get blood test results online. You need to ask GP reception to organise the password login for you and you'll need to sign a form.

When you've got your results then post them here on the forum and people can help you to understand them and discover what's going on.

It sounds like you're undermedicated but you'll only know for sure if you get a copy of blood test results. If you've not had a blood test recently then ask your doctor to test TSH, FT4, FT3, thyroid antibodies TPO and TgAb and vitamin levels, B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D for full evaluation.

[Lynntay in reply to Nanaedake]

I don’t think I have ever been tested for anything other than TSH level ! At least that’s the only result I am ever given . When I was first diagnosed it was 129 and took a while to balance out . I wasn’t given any info on how to manage my condition or when to take medication . Also never fasted for a blood test ! X

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and you can learn by asking questions and getting advice from members.

Doctors are poorly trained nowadays and only seem to take notice of the TSH and wrongly believe if it is somewhere in the range (when we've already been diagnosed) when we need it to be around 1 or lower.

When you get a blood test and if you've been having symptoms I'd request a new one. It has to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards.

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

If you've not had the following tested ask for these to be tested at the same time:-

B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

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

[Treepie]

Perhaps you should start by joining Thyroid Uk a charity that needs support and reading the material on its website. I found "Thyroid for Dummies " in the local library and it would give a good overview.

[Shezxxxx in reply to Treepie]

Thanks x

[silverfox7]

Just to add Thyroid Uk run this forum so you can learn a lot by looking at their site and post for help if something you don't understand.

[Shezxxx]

Thank you all for your comments. I think I have a bit of research to do. They also told me about 4 years ago I had Coeliac disease but I have no symptoms so have not gluten free. Drs are now pursuing me but for that I want proof as the cameras said I had it but blood tests show I don't ?!?!?! Does anyone else suffer with both as I read they pretty much go hand in hand. 🤔

[Nanaedake in reply to Shezxxx]

The blood tests for coeliac disease are not reliable but if further investigations showed you have Coeliac disease then your doctors are right to pursue it as you will do yourself damage if you do eat gluten even if you do not currently have symptoms. It is likely that if you have coeliac disease and you don't go gluten free you will have problems absorbing other nutrients and this may include problems in the way you absorb levothyroxine which may be a factor in your loss of eyebrow. If it were me, I would check it out properly.

If you have thyroid antibodies then it's very likely going gluten free will be a help anyway whether you are gluten intollerant or not so it seems like you would do yourself a big favour by going gluten free, at least try it for 6 months and review.

[Shezxxx in reply to Nanaedake]

Hi Nanaedake, thank you for taking time to respond. When I was tested for coeliac I had the cameras (both up and down) not sure if a biopsy was done but I'm guessing it would have been. This must have been about 3-4 years ago. I went to see the the dietician and I asked her if by not doing to gluten free diet could I die, the answer I got was no I couldn't. That was all the details I was given at the time. However, now I have started looking into facts I want to make sure by having another test done or whatever other tests are available and get as much information as possible. I just hope my dr is more forthcoming than the previous one. 🤔

[Nanaedake in reply to Shezxxx]

Good idea to check it out. If you have thyroid antibodies then check out Slowdragon's responses to people about gut function.

[Shezxxxx in reply to Nanaedake]

Will do thank you x