So I wanted a full blood count done last year as I was feeling so weak and tired all the time I was concerned I may be anemic or have hypothyroidism or something ?
my doctor said tests were very expensive and I should wait and see how I felt in 3 months 🙄
I felt very frustrated but accepted the situation and struggled on telling myself I must keep trying to get strong and do more exercise and loose more weight etc so time went on and I guess I normalised all my symptoms and didn’t go back to the doctors for a test until last week prompted by a new symptom of feeling dizzy and unbalanced
I didn’t actually see a doctor I just spoke to the receptionist who spoke to the doctor who authorised the test so I just saw the nurse who took my blood
Fast forward to yesteday so get a letter from the doctor saying my test results show I have hypothyroidism
She suggests I contact the surgery again 6 months for a repeat blood test and we can take it from there 🤔
So I have to put up with this for another 6 months !
Is this normal to have to wait 6 months ? Why ?
Anyone’s thoughts and replies very welcome please !
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BEE2019
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Yep I will be phoning on Tuesday as I definitely would like a copy of the results and also an appointment to discuss them etc and yes hopefully with a different doctor !
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Come back with new post once you get results and ranges and members can advise on your next steps.....probably to see a different GP,possibly more tests required first
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
Recommended on here that 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)
Ask GP to test thyroid antibodies and vitamin levels if not been done yet
If antibodies are high then you add more likely to get started on Levothyroxine
It is standard practice to repeat an a blood test 2-3 months after first abnormal result. Levothyroxine is usually Treatment for life, so retesting again is the guidelines
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all 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 .
She was so lovely and has started me on a trial of levothyroxine 25 micro grams for 6 weeks to be followed up by more blood tests including antibodies etc
She is also writing to the Endocrine dept of the hospital to inform them of this trial
My TSH was 8.23
I think she also felt as I had family history of hypothyroidism (my mum) a treatment trial was merited
In addition to me feeling so rubbish obviously
Everything else was normal including B12 /Ferritin etc
( no antibody test was done this time )
She has also said I can do the 12 week fitness programme at our local gym which is linked to our surgery (not free but much subsidised )
I am so happy today as I really felt listened to and am hopeful that things will move forward now at last 😊👍🤞🏻
Just to add a bit of background to the comprehensive responses you've already had, the basic trio of tests required, as mentioned, is TSH, FT3 and FT4. The first is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, and the second and third are produced by the thyroid gland. What generally happens when the thyroid is starting to struggle is that the level of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone rises in an attempt to stimulate the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones. Initially the thyroid gland can compensate for not working optimally, and so will respond to this, and it's hormone levels remain within the reference range. At this point it might be reasonable, if the TSH is only mildly elevated, and there aren't any symptoms, to retest say 6 weeks later. But if the TSH is elevated and the FT4 and FT3 are low in range, and/or there are accompanying symptoms of hypothyroidism, treatment is required and it is not appropriate to wait and see, and certainly not for 6 months! You might remind your GP that they should at least be guided by the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary (CKS) pertaining to the treatment of either overt or sub-clinical hypothyroidism, depending on your blood test results, and be treating you accordingly.
In the letter she has stated that tests showed the thyroid hormone levels from the gland in the neck are normal so I guess that’s the t3and t4? However she said the level to achieve that from the brain hormone was raised so this is the TSH ?
So I guess from what you’ve said and what I’ve been reading this is perhaps why she wants to wait before repeating the test
But yes 6 months is too long ! 6 weeks is more doable I guess
Anyhow now that I have read a bit more i think I am slowly getting a bit more familiar with the terms etc
Have got quite a few other symptoms that seem to be related / or perhaps could be coincidental etc
Anyhow at least I know that there is a reason that I’m so tired and weak the whole time (those being my most debilitating and annoying symptoms really )
Be sure to look at the following website that has a very nice list of symptoms-you may have some that you don’t realize are thyroid. Tick them off and take to doc, but keep a copy of your list for yourself.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Borderline results!!!
Adolescence and Hypothyroidism 
Blood results
Good result at the doctors
I wonder if anyone can help me with these results and brief overview - not sure where to go next.
