I did a first post a few days ago stating that I had lots of out of range blood tests with both private doctors and NHS consistently above 5 TSH and with T4 around 10 pmol.
NHS refuse to treat. Private practice will treat with Armour-thyroid but at an unaffordable cost to me.
On the advise of this forum I took a Medichecks anti-bodies test this week.
Results:
TSH 9.94. Miu/L. Range .27 - 4.2
T4. 11.3. Pmol. Range 12 - 22
T3. 5.88. Pmol. Range 3.1 - 6.8
Antibodies 1. <10
Antibodies 2 13.7 IU/ml
So antibodies are fine. I am still deciding if I should try one more time with NHS or just self-treat?
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hankpym
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Your high TSH and below range T4 certainly indicate hypothyroidism. Could you arrange to see another GP at your practice?
Others, more qualified than I, should be along soon to give you advice but I think your current GP is refusing to treat you until your TSH is 10 or above, which is ridiculous.
I should try another GP. You are entitled to be treated on the NHS.
Just looking again at your results and am surprised that your T3 looks quite good. I have no explanation for that but perhaps one of the other members might be able to comment.
Since presumably you are symptomatic, I would take your Medichecks results to another GP. He might not accept them but should at least be motivated to order new tests.
Thanks for the replies. Yes I am symptomatic with brain fog and many other symptoms. This last week I have also been measuring my oral temperature upon waking and it averages around 35.8 degrees Celsius - this is another indication I believe?
You may struggle to get your GP/Endo to start you on Levothyroxine until your TSH reaches 10 via the NHS.
Yes, shocking I know that we are left to suffer, unless, you come across a GP that listen to you regarding your symptoms.
My experience was I was seeing a private Endo, he diagnosed me with Hashimoto's I got all my vitamins levels up, went gluten free etc and still felt no better. Shortly after this I started to research and joined this forum, it was evident I need medication (Levo T4) he refused to help, I had to wait until I get worse and my TSH went to 12.2 then the NHS (my GP) started me on Levo. I didn't know about the TSH 10 guidelines, until someone I think on here told me.
There are a few options
1: Go back to your GP or another GP in that practice and ask to be started on Levo (start on 50mcg not 25 mcg) unless you are elderly or have a heart condition.
2: Wait and then once your TSH reaches 10 they will treat you (not ideal I know).
3: Self medicate - Many do on here, but, you must make sure all your vitamin levels are correct and cortisol levels ok, as if they are to shot, then thyroid medication will not help.
Yes, low temperature is a common symptom of low thyroid function I use to be so cold, it was like ice cold water running through my veins.
You are so close to the magical 10 that if you can bear it you should wait for it to be reached if you can. If you do reach that level then you will have a diagnosis of overt hypothyroidism on your records. And once that happens you are entitled to free prescriptions for everything. (You have to get a form signed by a doctor, but I don't know what the form is - someone else will know.)
One thing that will help you to feel better is if you start optimising your vitamins and minerals (vitamin B12, folate, ferritin and iron, vitamin D) and improving your gut health if necessary.
Edit : I agree with the others who said you should try and see a different GP in your practice. The one you have is not likely to be helpful to you on the subject of the thyroid, now or in the future.
I am not sure how accurate they are to be honest. As I have previously stated my local GP results were TSH at 6.1 while the Medichecks were over 9.
Before I started looking at Thyroid I had a test for Testosterone as I thought that my symptoms might be related to a low level of that. Medichecks 13 nmol/L while local GP was 21 nmol/L - with such disparate results taken at similar times of the day it is difficult to make any kind of judgement.
is there any way you can take the test earlier in the morning when tsh is highest. even 30-60 minutes could make all the difference. Possibly go to a different location that opens earlier?
This was taken at around 6:15 am at home via finger prick test. I am not sure it matters as my last gp blood test was at 7:30 am and had me at 6.1 so it is unlikely the GP practice will open earlier than that.
It is totally wrong that in other countries they treat for hypothyroidism at TSH 3 and over but here in the great uk we are left to reach over the magical 10!!! I would love to know on what research this magical number was decided upon. Anyone out there know? Or is it an arbitory number?
In your shoes I would definately try another GP. Its outrageous you are having to consider self medicating with those results.
If this gets you no joy write to them enclosing a copy of your test results and ask the, to be placed on your record. This may spur them on to act with the next blood test if not before. Personally if you can bear it I would wait for that next blood check.
Am so sorry you are suffering because of this ridiculous obsession with numbers!
Hi all, I had the appointment with another GP at the practice this morning and showed the medichecks results showing TSH at 9.94 and T4 below range. She agreed to put me in a trial of 25mg of Levothyroxine for 2 months. She will retest bloods at that time.
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