Should I mess with what works?

[McMurtagh]

Hi

I like to check in on here most days and am struck by the focus on blood test results.

I pay not attention to these at all and go solely on how I feel.

I’m starting to worry that I may be missing something or should I just be happy that I’m feeling fine?

I think there is an element of ‘keeping my head down’ ie not wanting to rock the boat. I know the misery of being hyper and hypo and wouldn’t want my doctor or anyone else to mess with what works for me.

I’ve been on T3 only for nearly 20 years.

[Peanut31]

Hi

When you say you feel fine, do you mean you feel well?

If you do feel well then leave your medication well alone don’t be obsessed with blood results.

We often rely on blood results to give us an indication of what might be happening if we don’t feel well.

I am waiting for the day when I feel well.

Best wishes

Peanut31

[McMurtagh in reply to Peanut31]

Thanks for that Peanuts!

I do feel well - I’m working too hard and not eating as well as I should but those are lifestyle factors I need to address.

I hope you feel well soon.

[MaisieGray]

I recently had an issue with my old car and thought I'd call out the RAC. The engineer was able to tell me that based on my description, the cause could possibly be due to at least X, Y,or Z problem, and that with my make of car it might more likely be X than Y or Z. However, before putting his head into the gubbins of the engine he set a full computerised diagnostic testing running in order to rule out or in, as many of the variables as possible .......... I think that's a metaphor for diagnosing health problems - get a full understanding of the symptoms (which with many conditions, but especially with thyroid disease, may be vague, low level, common to a number of conditions) and then use scientific testing to rule those conditions in or out, or make connections between them. So symptoms and blood serum levels together, help in diagnosing the problem, and generally, if both are available, why go without one in favour of the other. But in a forum, which can't take the place of detailed diagnostics, blood test results help those reading a post to very directly zone in on key indicators. As for feeling fine, I was feeling brilliant when tested for hypothyroidism yet my blood tests showed I was very ill indeed, when diagnosed.

[McMurtagh in reply to MaisieGray]

I was yellow and could hardly walk when I was disnosed - the doctor said he’d never seen such low levels and was surprised I could stand up.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to MaisieGray]

Good post MaisieGray

[pauluk60 in reply to MaisieGray]

well put together masie

[Aurealis]

I think you’re saying that you’re well. Be happy about it would be my advice. Adjusting using tests is the way that madness lies!

Your levels will be out of range if you test them, of course, because the blood tests measure concentration of TSH, and T3, and T4 in the blood, but when you adjust according to how you feel you adjust according to concentrations of T3 and T4 in your cells.

It’s not you that’s missing something, it’s most of the medical profession.

When they develop the right tests, indulge yourself with a test. Until then, perhaps there are better things you could treat yourself with ?

Keep feeling well xxx

[McMurtagh in reply to Aurealis]

Whenever I have been tested they have indeed been out of sync.

Luckily I have a letter from an endocrinologist advising the GP on reading my results.

[Marz]

When people post here asking for advice - they often describe their symptoms in detail - which is helpful - but possibly not to those of us who may reply. We are not medics so asking for blood test results is merely a starting point to further the discussion and offer some suggestions of help.

If you are feeling well - then stick with your protocol - we are all so individual If only Doctors realised that with their one size fits all approach ...