Why do Doctors dwell mostly on exact ranges for thyroid results and not symptoms ?
My TSH is often raised but not enough for the G.P. I feel the cold, always tired, cholesterol of 8 despite excellent diet, low ferritin and family history of hypothyroid..
I had persistent headaches with low dose Thyroxin (the Magnesium stearate filler) after a few weeks about 10 years ago. Herbal medicine seemed to help. I have not bothered the G.P for years except for an annual TSH. It is only 4.75 now but some of the reference ranges show this as marginal, and it has been 7.5.
I was prescribed Statins without having seen the G.P and without a current TSH.
Apparently Statins are not well tolerated with Hypothyroidism and due to multiple allergies I declined them.
I have been given oral iron as the ferritin was 22.
I feel no one is really listening , the GP was unaware of a link between Thyroid disease and Ferritin levels and uninterested in my diet or symptoms.
Written by
muddledme
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Lack of education. The medical 'industry' in just not interested in thyroid problems, so there is little training on it in med school. All they know is to keep the TSH somewhere in range. Anything more complicated completely stumps them.
They also have no training at all in nutrition, so your doctor really wouldn't know about the thyroid/iron connection. Nor, come to that, the cholesterol/thyroid connection.
I don't suppose he's ever tested your FT3, but if he did, it would probably be rather low. And that would be why your cholesterol is high. Cholesterol levels have next to nothing to do with diet. It is made in the liver. And the more you consume, the less the liver makes. And, the less you consume, the more the liver makes. However, when T3 is low, the body cannot process cholesterol well, and it builds up in the blood. If the T3 rises, the cholesterol levels will decrease. It's not just that statins aren't well tolerated when hypo, it's more that you just don't need them! Nor do you need all the side-effects! Cholesterol does not cause heart attacks or strokes.
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease
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
Low vitamin levels are EXTREMELY common when hypothyroid
Why were you only on low dose Levothyroxine 10 years ago. Low dose is frequently counterproductive. It just shuts your own production down but doesn't give enough replacement
Majority of patients need slow steady increase in dose, typically to some where between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine
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)
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Thank you for your helpful comments, explains why the G.P not interested in symptoms.
He was also uninterested in family history of hypothyroidism, I know this disease is often inherited as I was a practice nurse for years. Also was often shocked by the lack of interest and sometimes dangerous actions of a few G.Ps. This was 21yrs ago and I was also lucky to work with some excellent Doctors.
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TSH Reference Ranges in the USA
on 50mg levo and blood \"in range\"
What is the NHS FT4 reference range?
TSH below low reference level
Reference ranges
