Another blood test

[campy67]

Hi i had a thyroid test 3 months ago it came back as raised cannot remember which one My Doctor said have another which i did this month it came back as borderline and said have another one in 6 months is this normal should i have a another word with my doctor as it seems to be dragging on any advice please thanks .

[Hidden]

Hi, it's impossible to give you any advice without results. If you get a copy of your blood results from the surgery then someone will be able to help you.

For example, thyroid results should contain at least some of the following: TSH

Free T4, Free T3, TPO (or other) antibodies.

The most common reason for having these regular tests with no action taken is that you are what is called "Subclinical", meaning that one of the results - usually the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) - is abnormal, while the others are within range.

Post the results on here, with the reference ranges - Usually in brackets after the result.

For example, two of my results (from last March):

TSH 5.94 mU/L (0.27-4.20)

Free T4 13.5 pmol/L (11.0-25.0)

You can see from this that TSH is above the top of the reference range of 0.27-4.2, but T4 is inside the range at 13.5, although it is at the low end. It is called "Subclinical" hypothyroidism because the actual thyroid hormone level is inside the range but TSH is too high.

The doctors are using a wait and see approach because sometimes things will settle down. For example if you are a pregnant woman or have had a baby fairly recently, the thyroid trouble can often correct itself. But most doctors don't seem to understand thyroid conditions very well (apparently very little is taught about it in medical school). The usual policy is to wait until the TSH is over 10 - unless you as the patient take action.

If you feel very unwell the best thing is to ask the doctor for a clinical trial. A written bullet list of your main symptoms and how they are affecting your life is a good idea. You can either give it to the doctor or take it with you to help remember.

What are your symptoms? That should also give us some idea of what is going on. Do you have any antibody results for example. Are any of your other blood results abnormal (Usually the lab puts a * by that result and maybe "High" or "Low" next to it).

[Hidden]

Please obtain a copy of you full blood test results with the ranges and post them on here for answers. Did you take the test first thing and fasting? You can request these from your GP surgery it's now law.

It was one of the few things I liked about living in France the Health Care. If I went for a blood test one day the next day my results were in the post for me to read, and a copy to my GP, great. Come on NHS why not do the same.

[campy67 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks i will going to talk to my Doctor .