A little help before my appointment would be greatly appreciated!

[Jazheart]

Hey all, I’m a newbie. My story- i was diagnosed with an under active thyroid at 15. From 17 until now (26) I’ve been on 150mg of teva Levothyroxine. I went up when pregnant but that’s expected. I’ve always felt it wasn’t treated correctly. I’m mentally exhausted, I can’t process things as quick as others, i want to sleep all the time and i never feel refreshed. My hair and eyebrows keep falling out when i get over stressed and the biggest issue- my digestive system. Since last year I’ve been intolerant to.. soy, wheat, dairy, onions, lentils, beans and chickpeas. When I changed my diet i felt so energetic for a while. Then the anxiety came and oh boy did it hit me like a brick! When i go to the doctors they tell me my bloods are fine and try to give me anti depressants, I’ve had postnatal- I’m not depressed. I have another appointment next week to see if we can do something as I’m 99.9% sure this is my thyroid. Any advice would be really appreciated! My levels last year were sitting at Tsh 0.55 over 4.78—T4 10-25 if that makes sense to anyone because i don’t fully understand it.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you have any recent blood test results to add

Sounds like you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

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. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Ask GP for vitamin and antibodies testing

Assuming you are in the U.K. Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

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 .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Come back with new post once you have full results and ranges and members can advise

[Jazheart in reply to SlowDragon]

I have put a request in this morning for my past couple bloods and my b12 results etc. The doctors are a bit funny when i ask for them. The only way i got the above ones was looking at the computer when she left the room! I’ve been down so much about it and I’m actually annoyed they’ve never tested my anti bodies. They spoke about sending me to a thyroid specialist so i have ever intention to push for that. The past few years have made me realise many thyroid sufferers are wrongly medicated, it’s crazy! I asked about Hashimotos last year and they told me it wasn’t a recognised disease... they knew what i was getting at, I cannot believe they didn’t correct me and tell me the ‘uk’ name. Thanks for that, I’ll be bringing all this up to my dr, wish me luck!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jazheart]

The doctors are a bit funny when i ask for them.

No need to ask the doctor, it dents their delicate egos when a patient asks questions or wants to know results. But it is your legal right to have them under the Data Protection Act. Just ask at the reception desk for a print out and if necessary remind them that you are legally entitled to them.

[Jazheart in reply to SeasideSusie]

I done this today so I’ll pop my results on when i get them, I’m unsure how to read the results, is there a page that explains them?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jazheart]

No page to explain them but quite a few members can interpret results, just pop them on here - the result plus the reference range (usually at the side of the result or in brackets), eg TSH: 2.5 (0.27-4.20)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jazheart]

Make sure that the results include the ranges (figures in brackets after each result) as labs all have slightly different ranges

There's a link about blood tests in my first reply

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw.

When adequately treated most patients need

TSH under 1.5

FT4 in top third of range

FT3 at least half way in range (rarely tested on NHS)

Vitamin D at least over 80nmol

B12 at least over 500

Folate at least over half way in range

Ferritin at least over half way in range

[Jazheart in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve just read it thanks!

Ok hopefully my file doesn’t take long, I requested everything you wrote above. I’ll put them on this thread when i get them, before next week ideally!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jazheart]

Best to start a new thread, then more people can see it

You can tag anyone you wish to notify by adding an @ before their name. Then click on drop down option that appears

Eg

Jazheart

[Jazheart in reply to SlowDragon]

Perfect, thanks so much!