Been told underactive thyroid but to come back in 3 months

[Clare9997]

Hello had a blood test recently due to cramp and muscle aches, doctor said repeat in 3 months. Went back yesterday due to consistent heavy periods, was told blood test showed high cholesterols and under active thyroid, again repeat test in 3 months. Once home, I realised the cramps and heavy periods are a symptom of the thyroid, along with fatigue and high cholesterol. Should I really wait another 3 months?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Clare9997

Hello had a blood test recently due to cramp and muscle aches, doctor said repeat in 3 months.

What was tested that time?

Went back yesterday due to consistent heavy periods, was told blood test showed high cholesterols and under active thyroid, again repeat test in 3 months

If that was your first thyroid test then it's normal to repeat in 2-3 months' time because if the TSH was raised it can be raised due to non-thyroidal illness, and your GP wants to see if it is still raised next time, if so that would confirm hypothyroidism.

Do you have the results of all these tests? If so please post them on the forum, along with their reference ranges, for members to comment. If you don't have them then pop along to your surgery and ask at the reception desk for a print out of your results. Don't accept verbal or written results, make sure you get a print out. We are legally entitled to our test results here in the UK and your surgery cannot charge for them.

[Marz]

Raised cholesterol can be a symptom of LOW Thyroid. Cramps can be due to LOW magnesium.

Inportant to also test B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD to have the bigger picture.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies.

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.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn't been tested yet

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Ask GP to test vitamins and thyroid antibodies if not been done

Yes heavy periods are classic sign of being hypothyroid

Obviously heavy blood loss can lead to low iron and low ferritin

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)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all 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 primary 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 .

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid and GP should NOT prescribe statins

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[Clare9997]

Just checked online my Serum TSH level was 5.68 (abnormal) T4 was 10.5 (normal) serum creatinine 91 (abnormal) serum cholesterol 5.1 (abnormal) and trigrycylides 1.97 (abnormal)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Clare9997]

We need reference ranges with results please as they vary from lab to lab. We especially need to see where in range your FT4 lies.

Also can you please clarify:

Hello had a blood test recently due to cramp and muscle aches, doctor said repeat in 3 months.

What was tested that time?

Went back yesterday due to consistent heavy periods, was told blood test showed high cholesterols and under active thyroid, again repeat test in 3 months

So presumably the results of those are what you've just posted. Was this your first or second thyroid test?

[crabapple]

Hi Clare. SeasideSusie Marz & SlowDragon wont have seen this. I've tagged them for you.

[CapnM]

Did you see the doctor to be told come back in 3 months? On my first test I was informed 'come back in 6 months' despite a whole list of symptoms. When I probed with reception I found out the test result had been reviewed by a different doctor who had likely not read my notes. I ended up writing a letter to my Doctor and leaving with reception. Was called back in within 24 hours and put on initial levo dose. good luck.