Thyroid test results : Hi could someone please... - Thyroid UK

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Thyroid test results

Kel0902 profile image
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Hi could someone please help or give me some advise I’ve bad lots of niggly problems that the drs have dismissed such as anxiety, achy joints, and other stuff after telling her I felt exhausted sent me for blood tests I rang for them and told my I was borderline thyroid and to get tested again in 6 months I asked for some more info and was told my level was 6.4 and that’s all she knew and would know if needed treatment when re tested in still so tierd have no energy when I get home and just wnt to sleep the whole night away .

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Kel0902
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shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I am assuming your doctor's 6.4 was your TSH result. What you have to do is go to the surgery each time you have a blood test, and request a print-out of your most recent results. That way, you will have a record and post on here if it is regarding your thyroid hormones. Get a print-out of your most recent one and put it on a new question. Always quote the result and the ranges. Ranges are in brackets after the results and labs differ and that's why they're important.

If we were abroad, if our TSH was 3+ we'd be given levothyroxine. I have no idea what Committee, if in their right minds, could possibly state that our TSH has to reach 10 (in Uk) before we're diagnosed. If they cannot diagnose a person who has a TSH of 100 and had to diagnose themself - doctors cannot be trusted at all. All doctors used to know clinical symptoms and treated the patients accordingly, that's before the blood tests were introduced and dotors now know little.

These are clinical symptoms and tick off the ones you have, and also print-out the following and show to your GP. You should be treated for disabling clinical symptoms and given 50mcg of levo to start with a blood test every six weeks with a 25mcg increase.

All blood tests have to be at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levothyroxine and the test and take afterwards.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Ask GP to test TSH, T4 T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. Antibodies are important because if you have them, regardless of our TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) you should be prescribed.

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

We come to realise that doctors and endocrinologists know little about anything to do with the thyroid gland so we have to read, learn and ask questions especially if we don't feel well.

If you didn't have your blood test at the very earliest time (they appear not to know that the TSH is highest early a.m. and drops throughout the day, ask for another or you can get one privately, they are home pin-prick tests but will be for all the hormones the NHS wont do. i.e. TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

GP should test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

Scazzoh profile image
Scazzoh

NICE guidelines state that if you have symptoms of an underactive thyroid and your TSH is over 4, doctors can prescribe a trial of Levothyroxine (LT4). I would go back to your GP and show her this extract from the NICE guidelines:

'If TSH is between 4 and 10 mU/L and FT4 is within the normal range

In people aged less than 65 years with symptoms suggestive of hypothyroidism, consider a trial of LT4 and assess response to treatment 3–4 months after TSH stabilises within the reference range — see the section on Prescribing information for further information on initiation and titration of LT4. If there is no improvement in symptoms, stop LT4.'

Don't be fobbed off. Lots of doctors know very little about the proper treatment of an underactive thyroid.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

It's standard practice to not start treatment on basis of just one high test result, incase you have temporary blip in blood tests. Usually bloods are rerun in 2-3 months to reassess, if first test is high

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Hamble profile image
Hamble

You're right, most health professionals are unaware. I told the nurse that I hadn't fasted before I had a thyroid blood test and she said "it doesn't matter".

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