These were my test results (blood taken first thing in the morning) from this week. I have a GP appointment tomorrow morning and I'd really like to know what I'm looking at before I go in. I have pretty much every hypothyroid symptom from weird lump in thread feeling, to low pulse, cold all the time, brittle hair and nails, overwhelming exhaustion, weight gain, etc etc etc. If anyone can help I'd be very grateful. Thanks
Report Date: 17 July 2018 16:03:56
ENDOCRINOLOGY TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 69 nmol/L 59 - 154
Hi skara, I think you can see for yourself that you are very low in range and even below the range for your Free Thyroxine usually called FT4. This is what your thyroid is supposed to be producing and yours is not meeting the lowest requirement. It's actually admirable that you are somehow getting FT3 within the range at all. This is the active part which your body actually uses from your thyroid hormone to meet your metabolic needs.
Your TSH doesn't seem to be as high as I would think since it sends out stimulant so that your gland will produce more. This is the pituitary's job so I don't know if that's your main problem or not. All of your symptoms haven't JUST developed, right?, Even though you don't have many antibodies it may still mean you have an autoimmune issue that is causing this. Maybe others here have an idea. You could look at you tube where David Clark has short videos "20 Reasons for Low Thyroid" and see if anything resonates.
There's no history in your profile except your name so I am assuming you have not yet been diagnosed as being hypothyroid nor taking any thyroid hormones such as Levothyroxine?
Doctors have been instructed (in UK) to only prescribe levothyroxine when the TSH reaches 10 and many could be quite unwell by then due to their disabling symptoms.
Your TSH is not high but your FT4 is below range and FT3 at the bottom of the range. Your total T4 is also very low. You cannot feel well at all.
I shall give you a copy from TUK and say you are member of TUK Healthunlocked the NHS choices for information on dysfunctions of the thyroid gland. Give copy to GP.
Let's hope the doctor will read and listen. You can also tick off the following symptoms you may have as we used to be diagnosed and given NDT according to clinical symptoms before the blood tests were introduced.
If he isn't agreeable to starting you on levothyroxine, say you cannot go on with all of the symptoms you have and that we used to be diagnosed on our symptoms alone. You don't want to be forced into self-medicating.
I left a reply below but realise it might not have been seen - to copy and paste, I wrote
"I don't have a diagnosis of hypothyroid, but I do seem to have every symptom going and have had for quite a long time. (I first posted here six months ago, when I was turned away by the GP and told that there was nothing wrong apart from folate deficiency, and my bloods were fine) To be honest, I've felt dreadful for so long that I can't remember how it feels to be my usual energetic self.
The GP took another load of bloods, and is checking my prolactin and FSH and LH. She said we would discuss the results on Friday, and that they might want to do an MRI on my head to check my pituitary. I just want to feel better."
And now (Friday) I've had a call from the GP. Apparently the bloods are normal, and the TSH is normal, and they don't test FT4 or anything else unless the TSH is abnormal. Can I insist on a referral to an endocrinologist?
How strange. When she mentioned the pituitary, I thought 'OH ho! she's on the right track!' But, obviously not. Have you had the MRI? Because it looks to me like Central hypo, which could be a problem with your pituitary. Obviously, she's not as bright as I thought! Have you read up on Central hypo? Might be an idea.
Yes I have, and in fact I thought oh, she's on the right track here (I have a friend with Central hypo) but no, now we're off down the wrong road again. I think I might have to gather some evidence and take it in when I see her and say look, I'm not being a hypochondriac, there is something wrong here.
To update - sorry, I meant to come back to this but it's been a bit of a week. I don't have a diagnosis of hypothyroid, but I do seem to have every symptom going and have had for quite a long time. To be honest, I've felt dreadful for so long that I can't remember how it feels to be my usual energetic self.
The GP took another load of bloods, and is checking my prolactin and FSH and LH. She said we would discuss the results on Friday, and that they might want to do an MRI on my head to check my pituitary. I just want to feel better.
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