Hey all, first time I’ve used this forum but after years of being able to sleep for Scotland, been offered anti depressants, been told I have adrenal fatigue...I’m just absolutely at my wits end of what do and why I always feel so rubbish.
I’ll put my results below and hope that some one can maybe shed some light....or advice. I have a hypo in my family. 3 aunties and my grandad all dads side. I’m an active bunny, lift weights, part of cycle group so I really shouldn’t have a slow metabolism but I do, I have to work hard to stay same weight, feel cold, insomnia, hair falling out, could sleep all weekend, the hypo symptoms are endless....
August 2017
Tsh 1.44 (0.55-4.78)
Ft4 14 (10-25)
Ft3 4.6 (4-7)
May 2018
Thyroid peroxidase antibody - 2 (under 60 normal)
Tsh 2.28 (0.55-4.78)
Ft4 16 (10-25)
Ft3 4.5 (4-7)
I got another test this time for b12
B12 234 (200-700)
Ferritin 34 (7-150)
Folate 6.8 (3-20)
September 2018
Tsh 2.48 (0.55-4.78)
Ft4 14 (10-25)
Ft3 5 (4-7)
There’s so much to digest on these forums that I don’t quite understand it all enough to know what I should be looking for. Seems my t3 is always the lowest end of range. But I know there is also optimal ranges for diff people....
I’m so on the fence of going private but I just don’t want to waste money, or am I kidding myself that this is what life feels like and never feeling energised or refreshed after sleep?!?!
Any insight or experience would be an amazing help to me
Thanks
Kristy
Written by
Kk3105
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Please don't allow yourself to be pushed onto the antidepressant bandwagon too quickly. No one wants to waste money but I believe finding a doctor who will give you a complete thyroid and adrenal workup might be the best money you ever spent. If you browse posts here you will find many stories from members who have been dismissed with a diagnosis of depression and prescribed antidepressants without having our thyroids properly evaluated first. There are many members and administrators here who will give you the specifics you need to get an effective evaluation. Being dismissed with a diagnosis of depression and an antidepressant prescription has caused too many of us to feel unwell for too long before getting a correct diagnosis. It may be that you need antidepressants but for me this would not be the first line of treatment. Mental and emotional symptoms are very common with thyroid problems and unfortunately are too frequently treated like garden-variety depression and medicated for years with meds that won't help if your symptoms are thyroid-related. Take care. irina
Good for you. You have an important quality for managing your own health; you're not a "Yes, doctor" lady.
PS There is a lot of info to absorb but just stick with us and you will be possibly more knowledgeable about taking control of your thyroid health than some doctors you might encounter. There are many knowledgeable people here who will evaluate your posted labs and steer you in the right direction. Soon you'll have many helpful replies-just keep checking back as we are all on such different time tables and don't always see a new post right away. 😊
You are under-medicated. Your TSH is too high - should be about 1 or under. Your FT4 is well below mid-range - should at least be over mid-range. And, your FT3 is not quite mid-range - most hypos need it near the top of the range to feel well. What's more, your nutrients are dire - B12 should be at least over 550; folate at least mid-range; ferritin up around 100. They all need supplementing, and you need your vit D tested, because that's probably low, too.
Really not surprising you feel bad! So, no, you're not kidding yourself, and life really shouldn't be like that. Your doctor should be ashamed of himself, offering you antidepressants with results like that! Unfortunately, there's not guarantee that a private doctor would treat you any better. They're mostly NHS educated/trained, and tow the NHS line. If you're going to follow that route, chose your doctor very carefully, make enquiries on here before committing yourself.
Don’t underestimate the power of these vitamins. After years of assuming my problems were thyroid related bringing vitamin levels up has changed my life
Mine too. Finally having my Vit D checked and treated has resolved years of chronic muscle aches and pains. Not important to many of my past doctors but a very big deal for me.
If they won't offer B12 injections, then a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid, may benefit
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
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.
So you need to test vitamin D. Come back with results on new post
Meanwhile self supplement with a good vitamin B complex to improve vitamin B12 and folate and then retest full Thyroid and vitamins privately via Medichecks or Blue Horizon in 2-3 months
Read as much as possible on here to learn how low vitamins are often key
Plus getting TG antibodies tested would be good idea
Your free t4 and free T3 have been very low in range (last free T3 is better as thyroid is probably making a last ditch attempt to convert as much t4 as possible) and low compared to TSH - you'd expect a top of range TSH with bottom of range frees - so you might have central hypothyroidism where the TSH never rises because the problem is with the hypothalamus or pituitary. GPs don't recognize it and needs an endo to diagnose. Your B12, folate and ferritin are far too low, which will cause many hypo-type symptoms. There is no such thing as a lack of anti-depressants - very unlikely to make you feel better. No one really knows how they work and they can be very dangerous, especially if you are young (read davidhealy.org/blog/ - a UK shrink).
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