New member today - tsh 19.3, free T4 11.9 Dr says no action!

[Aemdiate]

Basically the above says it all. My mother has hypothyroidism, I have 2 autoimmune skin disorders (psoriasis, granular annulare), I am 41 and I feel like death. Tired, foggy head, thinning hair, heavy legs, only 8 stone but thicker around the middle, tingly hands, had the heating on last week and wearing jim jams..... I am taking my reading to a private GP tomorrow as my GP's response, via a receptionist after 3 days of them having my results, was test again in 3 months. Any advice or clues very much appreciated. Thank you for reading.

[greygoose]

Hi Aemdiate, welcome to the forum.

Is this your first thyroid test? Or your first with a high TSH? The thing is, there are other things that can cause a TSH to rise, apart from low thyroid - although, admittedly, yours is rather high - but it could be an infection, or something. Therefore, it is the protocol to retest the thyroid three months later, to see if the TSH is still high, or if it was something else causing it. The idea is to avoid giving you thyroid hormone replacement if you don't really need it.

[Aemdiate in reply to greygoose]

Many thanks for your swift response GreyGoose. It is my first test and I am a little jumpy! I am also keen to avoid medication, but keen to get it if required. I am trying to understand other causes of high TSH and also if 3 months is reasonable. Thank you again.

[greygoose in reply to Aemdiate]

Any form of illness can cause your TSH to rise. But, possibly not as much as yours. Still, better safe than sorry. I think 3 months is reasonable, because although your TSH is quite high, it's not high enough to make it an emergency.

And, if you're found to be hypo at the end of 3 months, what you will be given is thyroid hormone replacement - usually levo, which is T4 - which isn't medication in the normal sense of that word. It's not a drug, it's a hormone. And, you can't live without it.

[Aemdiate in reply to greygoose]

Thank you again. I wish the GP was interested to see what the other causes could be, rather than just sending me away. I really appreciate your having taken time to respond.

[greygoose in reply to Aemdiate]

Not much point if it's going to be something transient. Which it would be.

[diogenes Remembering]

In my experience (over quite a long time) high TSH from a nonthyroidal illness doesn't usually get as high as yours. Also subclinical resolving hypothyroidism TSH usually doesn't get above 12 or so. You're just above lower range limit for FT4 and high TSH is suspicious. In your case, if it was nonthyroidal illness, your FT4 has to be naturally low in range whether in health or illness (FT4 doesn't change much unless at death's door). So on probability I'd say you could be entering hypothyroidism and you need much more information ( antibodies, FT3 etc) to get a better picture.

[Aemdiate in reply to diogenes]

Many thanks Diogenes. I think likewise and am not happy to wait three months and see how much more tired I can become, how much more hair can fall out and how many more days I miss off work before I go into this deeper. I am off to see a diff doctor tonight with a view to getting a full blood count, inc iron etc, antibodies and T3. The forum has been most helpful and I appreciate your response very much.

[janveron1 in reply to Aemdiate]

I would suggest that you try to see an endocrinologist privately if you can afford it. If you do, have a look at the staff lists in your local large hospital. Take a look at the endo lists and find one who specialises in thyroid problems and AVOID diabetic specialists. Good luck!

janveron1

[Aemdiate]

Just a quick update after 3 weeks - my full blood count showed everything as within range, T3 and T4 were in range but at the lower end. However, my TPO antibodies were 2400, so I have been put on 25 mgs of levothyroxine and referred to an endocrinologist. I am happy with that, and am glad I ignored my GP and went to a private GP. I feel a lot better already, moving towards human. Thank you everyone for your advice.