Advice on blood test results, please!

[Ioana_17]

Hello,

I need your advices again please.

I've done some blood test while aboard in holiday, and the results are as below.

TSH - 5.05 (0.4 - 4.2)

FT4 - 17.19 (10.6 - 22.7)

Cholesterol - 216.51 (109 - 202)

Blood glucose - 120.63 (70 -105)

Went to the GP with results and the symptoms of:

Excessive tiredness, weight gain, palpitations, muscle weakness, insomnia, loss of libido, dizziness, heat/cold intolerance, short of breath, hair lost, swollen/scalloped tongue, pain in back/shoulders/neck, numbness in arms/legs/hands/feet, irregular periods, dry skin/eyes, face/back acne, headaches, digestive problems, constipation, bloating, really bad flatulence, gas, mood swings, low grade depression, crying for no reason, nervousness/anxiety, sometimes panic attacks, easily upset, lack of concentration, brain fog.

I have these symptoms for an year now, I have corrected the deficiencies that I had, folate, vid D, B12 (on B12 injections every 12 weeks) and on maintenance dose for folate and vit D, ferritin was 67 (20 - 150)

The GP said that she won't treat me for hypothyroidism yet because TSH is not so high.

She asked me to do another blood test for TSH, FT4 & FT3.

Booked the blood test on 12th September.

My question is with the results above si this hypothyroidism as to me is look like?!

Thank you in advance for all the help.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Ioana_17

TSH - 5.05 (0.4 - 4.2)

FT4 - 17.19 (10.6 - 22.7)

My question is with the results above si this hypothyroidism as to me is look like?!

Simple answer - yes because your TSH is over range. However, here in the UK doctors like to make us suffer and wait until it reaches 10 before diagnosing hypothyroidism.

Have another read through the replies to your post a few months ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Did you do what was suggested about testing thyroid antibodies and doing future thyroid tests first appointment of the morning after an overnight fast, water only, and leaving off Levo for 24 hours?

With your TPO antibodies at the time being "TPO Ab - 28 kiu/L - No reference range", the normal range we see here for TPO antibodies is <34. Your level was so near the limit that I suspect that you do have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) and at some point retesting your antibodies will confirm this by being over the limit.

A decent doctor would start a patient on Levo with an over range TSH and positive antibodies to "nip things in the bud" as suggested by Dr Toft, leading endocrinologist and past president of the British Thyroid Association in an article he wrote for Pulse magazine (the magazine for doctors).

Also, with a TSH between 4 and 10 mU/L and FT4 within the normal range, with symptoms of hypothyroidism, a GP can diagnose Subclinical Hypothyroidism and prescribe Levothyroxine - see cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

Scenario: Subclinical hypothyroidism (non-pregnant)

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.

Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism - thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the... - print, tick off all those that apply, discuss with your GP Subcinical Hypothyroidism.

If GP wont test TPO and TG antibodies, do the private test as previously suggested.

[Ioana_17 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your response SeasideSusie.

No I didn't test for the thyroid antibodies yet.

As I've done my research since all this started I knew that all the symptoms were not in my head nor something that cannot be explain from medical point of view (as the Haematologist told me) or we ar just depressed.

Well I don't think I am old at 34y and I know me and my body well enough to know that something is not right and I am not depressed because I suffer from depression, I am depressed because I am tired of being tired all the time.

I will do the test that the GP asked for and if she will not want to treat me I will consider self medicated with NDT.

I cannot wait years for the TSH reach 10 and to live with these symptoms as I do not want to see my children sad because I am feeling awful and cannot play or do anything for/with them as I am to tired and ill.

I know that people here suffered for years with symptoms before diagnosis and still they don't have the support of their doctors and they are taking the health in their own hands.

I hope that I will find here all the help that I need and I know that I will.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks again.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ioana_17]

Ioana

I will do the test that the GP asked for and if she will not want to treat me I will consider to self medicated with NDT.

If, after presenting the information about Subclinical Hypothyroidism and antibodies, your GP still wont start you on Levo, then I would certainly suggest you tell your GP that you have no choice but to self medicate. That may help, but of course she may say that if you do that she will no longer have anything to do with your thyroid.

[Ioana_17 in reply to SeasideSusie]

SeasideSusie

I certainly will speak with her about Subclinical Hypothyroidism but if she doesn't want to listen what choice do I have?

I will see what she will say after the tests and take it from there.

[carlaFedUP]

Looks hypo but there is no t3 results