Help please

[HypoTrish]

Haven’t been here for a while but would appreciate your input. I have taken 125mcg thyroxine for 21years I have 3 monthly B12 injections daily vit D and the list goes on! I also have generalised granuloma annullare. My question now is has anyone else gone from hypothyroid to having nodules on the thyroid gland that need treatment. I have had a wheeze for a year now and a persistent cough. My go has done a recent chest x ray result normal. However they now want to go down the spirometers for copd etc. I have a feeling they are barking up the wrong tree what do you guys think?

[shaws Administrator]

Before they take any action I would ask for a Full Thyroid Function Test (rarely done).

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

The blood draw should be at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24hours between last dose of hormones and test and take afterwards.

I know doctors will not do all of these, but if you can there are several private labs that provide home blood test kits and I'll give a link. Make sure you are well-hydrated a couple of days before blood draw.

The aim is a TSH of around 1 or lower, Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the ranges.

[HypoTrish in reply to shaws]

Thanks shaws I do have this info however I cannot afford to keep having private testing done.

[shaws Administrator in reply to HypoTrish]

I do understand. You can only do what you can. I think, rather than accessing your results online, that you get a print-out from the surgery and make sure they also state your ranges. That way you will have a record of past results and also up-to-date one.

I have gone to the surgery and asked for a print-out of my results and I get one.

[Marz]

It's two years since your last post so I would post your latest results with ranges to help people advise 🤔

[HypoTrish in reply to Marz]

Unfortunately I cannot access my last Tfunction test results. They were screened at the beginning of this year my online patient record will only allow you to see results within the last sixty days. If my memory serves me well though they were normal who’s aren’t. Close to 1 . Our NHS lab refuses to do a full screen and will only return T4. My gp has ordered a screen on 10th December but as ever it will only be the basic.

[Marz in reply to HypoTrish]

Can you have Private Testing ? Details in next Reply below ...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First step is to get full Thyroid and vitamin testing

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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

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

For thyroid including antibodies and 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

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose 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)

Lactose intolerance is extremely common with Hashimoto's and can cause persistent cough

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...