Hypothyroidism for 16 years and no change. What should I be asking my doctors.

[Psimon]

I have suffered from hypothyroidism since 2002 and never been told by my doctors any figures regarding tests only that my levothyrixine should be put up. It has never helped. What should I be asking my doctor. They leave me in the dark and ignore my symptoms. I have epilepsy, depression, auditory hallucinations, anemia and type 2 diabetes. My monthly prescription is huge over 20 pills per day. All this happened after a serious road accident in 2001. I don't smoke or drink but I am 20kgs overweight but on a low carb diet and now losing weight for first time. Thank you in advance for any advice/help.

[greygoose]

The first thing you should do is get hold of your blood test results. Doctors aren't going to tell you, either because they think you wouldn't understand, or because they'd rather you didn't know! You have to ask. And, if you live in the UK, it is your legal right to have a print-out of your results.

You need to know exactly what they are testing and exactly what the results are. You need to keep your own records. On the back of the print out, make notes of the dose you're on at that time, and how you feel, symptoms, etc. You'd be amazed how much that will help your understanding in a few years time.

Once you get your results, post them on here, with the ranges, and people will explain them to you. Could be you're under-medicated, could be you have a conversion problem, could be your doctor isn't doing the right tests. You need to know.

Doctors usually ignore symptoms, because they don't know what they are. They don't do symptoms in med school!

The depression is more than likely a symptom of your hypothyroidism. Are you taking antidepressants? What is your doctor doing about your anemia?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

In your car accident did you have head injury or whiplash. Both can affect thyroid in different ways.

First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need enhanced access to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up. They can make nominal charge for printing but many will do so for free (£10 max)

How much Levothyroxine are you taking

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4 plus vitamins

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do so as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies if TSH is in range

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's