1st abnormal blood test result

[Essexlil]

Hi, as a Hashimotos sufferer I have had my suspicions for many years that my husbands symptoms are thyroid related. Two years ago he asked our GP for a thyroid blood test and it came back normal so he continued to suffer (palpitations, tiredness, adrenal rushes, ringing ears, vertigo, anxiety, depression, trembling hands, raynauds in fingers, dizziness). He’s just had a blood test, including thyroid and it’s abnormal. He commutes daily and has been picking up upper respiratory tract infections monthly. Our GP has told him to come back for another blood test in three months, but I think it should be done sooner as he’s suffering so much, plus I’m now worried about him picking up infections, especially Coronavirus as he travels on the tube daily. His cholesterol and prostate gland tests came back raised on the same blood test too. He’s 64.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Because raised TSH can be due to non-thyroidal illness, it's usual to retest a few weeks later. Maybe 3 months is too long, possibly try and get the GP to agree to 2 months, or just book the appointment and feign ignorance if it's mentioned.

Is TSH all they tested or was it a full thyroid panel?

Because of his symptoms it might be worth doing a Medichecks Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT which does the full thyroid panel, antibodies and vitamins. Of course, if the GP has done all these then there's no need.

[Essexlil in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you - I haven’t got his tests and he’s at work, but I remember they were TSH, T4. I had to wait for three months for a re-test when I was diagnosed and the GP did add all of those tests, but I’m not sure if it was because I already had Sjögren Syndrome. Think you’re right though and he should ask for a re-test in two months.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Get his vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested now

If these are low (likely) then improving can help reduce symptoms while waiting for thyroid retest

[Essexlil in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Essexlil]

Presumably you know that high cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid and should improve once on levothyroxine

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.

[Essexlil in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you I knew the thyroid connection, but I didn’t realise that statins probably aren’t a good thing for under active thyroid sufferers - I’m glad I refused them years ago for xanthelasmas, which I had removed and haven’t returned since being medicated on levothyroxine because I didn’t realise your muscles could be affected badly

[shaws Administrator]

Your husband can have a 'Full Thyroid Function Test' privately. This is a postal test (GPs usually wont do all of them) and consists of TSH, T4, T3 and thyroid antibodies. He should be well-hydrated a couple of days before blood draw and it is a home finger blood test.

The most important is that blood draw should be at the earliest, fasting (he can drink water and should also be a fasting test).

He needs a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), Free T4, Free T3, and thyroid antibodies. Post the results on a new question if you wish and members will respond. If antibodies are present, your husband would have an 'Autoimmune Thyroid Disease' but treatment would be the same as for hypothyroidism.

Also ask GP to test Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate. Deficiencies can also cause symptoms.

Always get a print-out and make sure ranges are stated and you can post for comments.

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

[Essexlil in reply to shaws]

Thank you, our GP is good and she did test the lot on me after three months and found the Hashimotos antibodies. I just don’t want my husband to wait for three months when I’m sure he needs treatment - he says his breathlessness is worse lately

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Essexlil]

Breathlessness can be low iron or ferritin

Extremely common when hypothyroid

Have you both had test for H pylori ?

HPylori can cause hashimoto’s

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

HPylori extremely common

medicinenet.com/is_h_pylori...

[shaws Administrator in reply to Essexlil]

Breathlessness is awful to experience (my father had a lung problem). I hope he has an appointment with an expert on lungs soon.

[Essexlil]

Hi, no we haven’t been tested for H pylori but I’ve read your link and it’s very interesting - I have a friend who both her and her husband have hashimotos and now wonder if it’s an infection both people have had in the past triggered it and not just coincidence. Thank you for this information