I have been having my thyroid checked for years regularly because my TSH levels always come back slightly high. For years they have continued to say come back every 6 months to test them.
I recently had a test result with showed my TSH level was 7.5 so they did further tests a week later. This had dropped to 6.8 but my T4 had also dropped. The GP has said he is going to speak to the consultant at the hospital whether to do anything or test again in another 6 months. It has always been over the normal range but no one has ever done anything about it.
Should I continue to have it checked or should I go further and request action be taken?
I have a number of symptoms of an underactive thyroid but feel like I am just being passed from pillar to post.
Thanks.
Written by
77Debbie77
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Can you post your results, with reference ranges, let's see what's happening and see if we can help. Ideally, for a full picture of thyroid status, we need results/ranges for
TSH
FT4
FT3
Thyroid antibodies
It will also help if you can tell us if you always do your tests under exactly the same conditions every time. We always advice
* Book the first appointment of the morning.
* Fast overnight from evening meal/supper the night before
* Drink water only before the test, no tea, coffee, etc.
Hi 77Debbie77, I am sorry you are having problems. The main problem in this country is that we will not be diagnosed until our TSH is 10! In other countries if TSH is above 3+ we will be prescribed.
Diagnosing if our TSH is above 3 I think should be used and I don't know where the plucked 10 from as some can be quite symptomatic even at a lower number. In other countries people are diagnosed if TSH goes above 3+ with symptoms.
All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards. A TSH can be variable and what your doctor should have tested is the Free T4 and Free T3 but I suppose they don't realise that to test these is useful.
If you wish you can have a private blood test and get a Full Thyroid Function Test which is:-
TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.
Blood draw should always be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose (if prescribed) and the test and take dose afterwards.
If GP wont do all of the above, you can get a private test which is a home finger pin-prick one and make sure you are well-hydrated a couple of days before blood draw.
Serum parathyroid 4.5 pmol/L Normal range1.6 - 6.9
Serum adjusted calcium conc
Result2.18 mmol/L normal range2.20 - 2.60
This is a copy of my latest blood tests.
I had both tests done at roughly the same time around 9am and as far as I can remember i didnt have anything to drink eat prior to have the tests done.
The GP has stated that he thinks it's high but was unsure how and why it had dropped within a two week period. On the results it shows TSH normal range is below 5 so I dont understand why they seem reluctant to do something when clearly higher than normal range.
You would be diagnosed as hypothyroid if you lived in another country but in the UK, for some unknown reason they have picked a number which is 10 before we are diagnosed.
The do not go by clinical symptoms as they used to do before the introduction of blood tests and levothyroxine. We used to be prescribed a 'natural dessicated thyroid hormone' which is made from pigs thyroid glands and many do well on this. They've stopped prescribing it in the UK through lies and misinformation and it makes one wonder how something which has been in use, safely, since 1892 was removed. People have had to purchase their own. Big Pharma is also making sure they make profits. The more symptomatic we are, the more prescriptions will be given instead of a decent dose of thyroid hormones.
Tick off your clinical symptoms and take to the GP (he wont pay attention but do it anyway).
You haven't put any thyroid history into your profile, i.e. when diagnosed? - with what? how long? and it means that members may have to ask you the same questions instead of a short history background.
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