I have had an underactive thyroid now for 10 years, in the beginning I was on a really high dose as it was off the scales, but over the years it started to settle down and so they reduced and continued to reduce my levothyroxine. Now I am suffering where symptoms again, weight gain, sluggishness, fatigue, inflamed joints, foggy head. I went back to my gps and they ran some tests and they said that my Thyroid results were normal. I am currently on 50mg one day and 75mg the next. I asked for a print out recently to see exactly what my results showed, I am not too sure whether they show anything that could really account for my problems I am currently suffering from, however I did notice that it said I had a Red Blood Cell count alert, which I wasn't told about that was at 4.99. Does anyone have any suggestions on what my next steps are.
Thanks
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donella2018
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I think your next step should be to post your thyroid results on here - with the ranges. Then we can better see what's going on. You're more than likely under-medicated, don't convert well, haven't had the right tests, etc. But we won't know till we see the results and ranges.
Thank god for that! And now I look more closely, there's something wrong with your potassium result/range, as well. One has to be very, very accurate when giving blood test results, because we're dealing with such tiny numbers/ranges.
Well, your TSH is slightly too high, so I imagine that, as your FT4 is good, your FT3 must be a little low. So, as SlowDragon says, you really, really need to get your FT3 tested to get the full picture.
It may be 4.3, but what's the range. We've only got half a range, there, and if that is the lower part of the range, you're really in trouble. I think you do need it retested.
I see, that is all it says on my print out. I will ask at the drs what the ned range was. I will try and get a gp appointment tomorrow and see if they can do some more tests. Thank-you.
Can you add most recent results and ranges for TSH, FT3 and FT4, plus have you also had thyroid antibodies tested
Also helpful if had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested. Add results and ranges if you have them
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results (and ranges)
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 no longer charge for printing out, (EU rules changed after May 25th 2018)
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies.
Do you know if you have ever had thyroid antibodies tested? If they were tested in past and high then cause of why you are hypothyroid is autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto's. If never been tested ask GP to do so
Very important to test FT3, but many NHS labs refuse this, and antibodies too
very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12, these are very often too low. Ask GP to test.
Or Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
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. If on Levothyroxine, don't take 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)
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Thank-you. I will go back to the gp and get all the tests that they will provide. Then if necessary I will go and purchase the rests through the website link you kindly provided. May I ask, why apart from obvious excuses such as funding do GPs not carry out these other tests? Surely it should be important to carry out necessary tests to prevent anything further from happening, rather than paying for ongoing treatment for other conditions that may result from the underdiagnosis.
Plus they just don't understand that a thyroid condition and poor gut function, low vitamins and food intolerances are all linked. Hashimoto's is as much about the gut as it is the thyroid
Currently, if your lucky you might get to see an endocrinologist, or a gastroenterologist, or a dietitian. But not a functional medic, someone who looks at the whole picture and can see it's all connected.
The number of patients on here sent to numerous different specialists and given countless extra prescriptions for each different issue, instead of addressing the underlying cause....inadequately treated thyroid, leading to low vitamin levels and poor gut function and gluten intolerance
My own case I had MRI for possible brain tumour, MS testing, pituitary and adrenal testing, degenerative muscle disease testing, pheochromocytoma testing, numerous blood tests, including coeliac, yet never tested FT3 or Vitamin D, B12, folate or ferritin
When FT3 was finally tested, it was below range and ignored.
Discovered recently on gaining online access to my medical record, historic Vitamin D test results showed I was severely deficient. I was never told or treated.
Only made progress after coming here to this forum, realising the essential need for vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 to be at good levels and not just "within range".
Also, like most with Hashimoto's, my necessity to be absolutely strictly gluten free, subsequently confirmed by endoscopy.
Starting with full private testing is the first step, if you can't get GP to test everything. These days even if GP requests FT3 it's often refused by lab due to budget issues.
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Thanks you have been very informative. I have read several articles over the years and I made a few changes to my life, but not any you have mentioned, I do have a habit of getting gastritis, although fine at the moment.
One thing I came across was the importance of not spraying perfume, aftershave, etc in the throat area as it goes into the blood stream and can affect the thyroid function and another was trying to be more careful of the types of products used in the shower as again, shampoos enter into the blood stream through the head, so I tend to try and buy slightly dearer products that don't come in a see-through bottle as light can affect the product before it has enter my bloodstream. Sorry to hear about all your problems in going forward, this does sound like something that needs to be raised with parliament especially with the increase of people with this medical condition. It was once thought it was not hereditary, but clearly it is, I have 3 aunts with the problem, a half sister and my mother, mine only came about after I had my first child though.
Well that's good that this is coming up, however typical pharmaceutical companies charging over the odds for the medicine. If its an essential life long medicine then it should be funded and available where needed. Some people are sympathetic towards others, whereas others whom do not have the condition or know someone who has it, do not understand or want to know, but then this is a problem with some of our society unfortunately. Life is for living, and I as most other people want to live it well, so no one should deny a person of their basic needs and rights.
The four Slowdragon mentioned are the most important ones for the thyroid. They help the Thyroid to work better, can help conversion rates and also improved our general help so you need to get these tested and add if you have recent ones or start another thread when you have the results. The ranges as in any maxi all results are also needed as they. An differ from lab to lab.
These all need to be optimal, not just in range and as thyroid patients we are often low in at least one so many of us supplement as once we know we are low we also realise levels can fall again rapidly if we stop supplementing. If you search SeasideSusie's posts you will see what is classed as optimal and how to improve our levels. Doctors think if we are in range then we are fine but it's where in the range that is important.
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