Is it even worth me taking these results to my GP?

[vlc2]

I've had classic hypothyroidism symptoms since 2012. Always cold, low BP, fatigue, etc. Hair thinning in particular has recently ramped up a notch.

I have thyroid blood tests with an endocrinologist once a year because of early menopause. These are never quite out of range. The last one, in December 2018, gave TSH 4.03 (0.55 - 4.78) and FT4 14.6 (10 - 22).

I also take private tests. And I wait patiently for my TSH to rise enough to credit attention. The private tests ARE usually out of range, (possibly because I take them consistently in the early morning) but, I suspect, not high enough for a GP to care.

I've been pretty patient for 7 years.

I won't list all my various results over the years but my last results, Feb 2019, were these:

FT3: 4.85pmol/L (3.1- 6.8)

FT4: 13.8pmol/L (12 -23)

T4 Total: 86.9nmol/L (66 -181)

TGAB: **155 kU/L (0 -115)

TPOAB: 28.7kIU/L (0- 34)

TSH: **5.22 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.3)

I've never had antibodies out of range before. This seemed significant, although I appreciate they're not wildly elevated.

And although I've had several results with a TSH of >4, this is the first time its topped 5.

Is it worth me taking these results to my GP, do you think? Along with the NICE guidelines about therapeutic trial of thyroxine in sub-clinical cases?

Or will I just get 'the sigh and eye roll'?

I'm so tired of waiting.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

vlc2

I've never had antibodies out of range before. This seemed significant, although I appreciate they're not wildly elevated.

Out of range is out of range, therefore positive.

Is it worth me taking these results to my GP, do you think? Along with the NICE guidelines about therapeutic trial of thyroxine in sub-clinical cases?

Absolutely.

Also take Dr Toft's article (he is past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist) which he wrote in Pulse magazine (the magazine for doctors) which states that if antibodies present then patients should be prescribed levothyroxine to nip things in the bud. Email Dionne at

[e-mail]

and ask for a copy which you can then show to your doctor. The information is in answer to question 2

Ask your GP to refer you to an endocrinologist if he wont do anything. If all else fails, simply state that you have no alternative but to self medicate.

[vlc2 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you - I've emailed.

[SilverAvocado]

In general I think it's worth hassling doctors. Often they are doing what they do just to avoid the bother, so if you keep bothering them you might make it easier for them to just treat you.

Also there's a big out of sight, out of mind thing with doctors. As long as you're not in their office they assume you're feeling completely well!