Your thoughts? Currently undergoing neurological testing for symptoms which I think could be telated to thyroid issues. Swallowing problems, pins and needles, muscle twitches, pain in arms and hands. Eczema. Anxiety. Heavy periods.
Mum has thyroid issues. Gran had to have hers removed. All docs say I’m in a normal range. (Also peri menopausal apparently).
Thank you.
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alwaysnormal
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Thanks SeasideSusie, I am very new to all of this and reading through some other posts I can see the level of expertise on here is incredible!
Tsh range 0.2-5.0
Ft4 9-24.
I don’t have results for the rest you mentioned but pretty sure they’ve been done and were ‘fine’. Having bloods for autoimmune conditions next week and will ask for other results.
Your TSH is rising and your FT4 is falling. You are hypothyroid when TSH reaches 3 in another country but here we have to wait until it reaches 10.
If your TSH goes over range, and you are symptomatic, an enlightened doctor might diagnose subclinical hypothyroidism and prescribe Levo, particularly if thyroid antibodies are present.
What tests for autoimmune conditions are being carried out? It would be very helpful to have Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin antibodies tested.
If you have thyroid tests repeated (TSH/FT4) then make sure you have the first appointment of the morning, no later than 9am, and fast overnight - have evening meal/supper the night before then water only until after the blood draw. Delay breakfast and any other drinks but water until after the test. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day, and you need the highest possible TSH for a diagnosis. Eating might lower TSH and coffee also affects it.
As for other results being "fine", that just means they are in range somewhere, but it doesn't mean they are at optimal levels, so it's important to check those.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
All thyroid blood 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, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins
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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
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 .
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