Can anyone help with thyroid results?

[MCR77]

Hello,

I have been unwell for some time. Constantly tired and depressed. It feels like my B12 is low but I'm self injecting enough at the moment. Normally I would be full of beans on this frequency of injections so am looking into other causes. Hypothyroidism runs in my family. Because of my symptoms my doctor is really unwilling to look outside of depression, citalopram is the only antidepressant that doesn't knock me out but it gives me other horrible symptoms and 30lb weight gain which I just can't shift. Never been this weight except after pregnancy but I could shift that weight easily. I was tested for TSH in January and was within range. I would post these results but don't know the units or reference range for comparison. I just got my medichecks results back and they are:

TSH: 5.14 mlU/L (0.27-0.42)

FT4: 14.00 pmol/L (12-22)

FT3: 4.35 pmol/L (3.1-6.8)

Can't afford any other testing myself. My antibodies were checked around 5 years ago by an endocrinologist which were slightly raised at that time but I don't know what ones. Trying to get a copy of these results from the hospital but will not be quick in coming.

My other vitams etc are fine. I keep on top of these myself.

My problem is that I don't want another fight with my GP because she doesn't listen. She wants to put me back on citalopram but the side effects of antidepressants aren't worth it as they don't help with the depression. My depression comes from them not listening mixed with the antidepressant side effects. Add in the actual symptoms of constant fatigue and inability to work because my brain just doesn't work, the extra weight I just can't lose. It took 6 years to get my Pernicious Anaemia diagnoses, years to get correct treatment, just gave up in end and do my own. In the last 20 years I have been well for all of 6 months maximum in total. I'm 37 now, I've had enough. I just want to do normal stuff like running (used to love running), working and being able to do the housework without being bed ridden for weeks.

Rant over. Any help would be appreciated.

[greygoose]

Well, with those results, you are hypo. You are hypo when your TSH reaches 3. And, your FT4/3 are too low. But, in the UK, doctors like your TSH to get over 10 before they will diagnose - yes, I know that's crazy, but that's the way it is. Or, FT4/3 under-range. Or, TSH over-range with high antibodies. What were your other results for TSH? You don't need a range with TSH.

You say your antibodies, in the past, were 'slightly raised' 5 years ago. You should have been diagnosed then. They don't have to be massively over-range to signify Hashi's - assuming they were TPO antibodies, that is, but that's all the NHS tests, anyway. So, I think we can take it that you do have Hashi's.

Of course your doctor wants to put you back on antidepressants. They get financial incentives for prescribing those. They get nothing for thyroid hormones - thyroid hormones cost them money, which is why they don't want to diagnose and treat hypo. So, you're probably going to have quite a fight on your hands to get your diagnosis. I wish I could tell you what to say to make them listen. But, I'm afraid I don't. I'm sorry.

[MCR77 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much for the reply, greygoose. I was hoping you would confirm what I thought. I have been reading your other replies to other posts and you know your stuff.

My Tsh at same time as antibodies 5 years ago was 2.

December 2017 2.5

Jan 2019 was 3

Jan 2020 was 3.65

Now 5.14

As you can see there is an uphill trend.

[greygoose in reply to MCR77]

Yes, there is. And, with time, I would expect it to get higher. Until then, there's not much you can do - unless you can perhaps change your doctor?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Get hold of past antibodies test

PA and Hashimoto’s strongly linked

Insist GP tests TPO and TG antibodies

Your clearly hypo with TSH that high

Median TSH graph

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Do you always get thyroid test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water ...this gives highest TSH

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Remember to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before any blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

You can get just thyroid antibodies tested quite cheaply

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

[MCR77 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, last two tests were taken around 8am on empty stomach. I inject 1000 Intramuscular B12 depot twice a week, plus my 1 injection every 3 months from practice nurse. I have spray vitamin D which I take daily as become deficient easily (pale skin, lots of suncream) was tested Jan don't remember figure but was up nicely in range. Magnesium twice a week to help with vit D absorbtion which gives me backache during the night if I get low. Methylfolate up until recently as folate was under 3 in January (slightly low said doctor! Although this is the same doctor that told me B12 deficiency doesn't cause low mood, oh boy did I have fun telling her that depression is a symptom on the NHS website, and every other website) I don't take biotin in anything. I know folate is fine now as I feel like I'm back in my body. Thanks for the reply!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MCR77]

Can you see different GP at the practice...ask for thyroid antibodies testing for autoimmune thyroid disease (if you call it Hashimoto’s they won’t know what you’re talking about! )

[MCR77 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, will do. I'll phone up next week and see/telephone someone else.