Thyroid Results

[confusedkm]

This is a continue on from my other post.

Thank you again everyone 😊

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

confusedkm

If it was just raised TSH then I can understand repeating the test to rule out non-thyroidal illness. However, with a below range FT4 I would have hoped for a diagnosis. Unfortunately most doctors want to wait until TSH reaches 10 before giving a diagnosis of Primary Hypothyroidism. In some countries hypothyroidism is diagnosed when TSH reaches 3.

Make sure you get your repeat test in about 8 weeks, try not to leave it any later, and follow this guidance for thyroid tests which we always advise:

When doing thyroid tests, we advise:

* Book the first appointment of the morning, or with private tests at home no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.

* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, coffee affects TSH so it's possible that other caffeine containing drinks may also affect TSH.

* When taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.

* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use Biotin in the assay).

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.

[confusedkm in reply to SeasideSusie]

yes- now I have a copy of the results and having spoken to you guys (who have been a great help so thank you again), it seems like there is in fact an issue and I do have hypothyroidism? would you agree with me on that one? 😬 oh really? my mum and gran both have it and having spoken to my mum she said she doesn’t fully understand and was never explained to her properly by the doctor and it took them a while to actually diagnose and put her on tablets. Very frustrating.

Ok- thank you so much for that advice and for again taking the time to reply! So happy I found this app 🥰

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to confusedkm]

confusedkm

Yes, I agree that you have hypothyroidism but am not surprised that your GP wants to repeat the test, they have very little training in thyroid matters and are quite ignorant, they really only go by their guidelines.

You can always take a list of your symptoms, print this out from ThyroidUK, tick all that apply, this hopefully will be more evidence for you to negotiate a trial of Levo if your GP is reluctant:

thyroiduk.org/signs-symptom...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies NOW...rather than waiting 3 months

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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 .

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 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...

[confusedkm in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you to you too for all of your help! you’ve been amazing! like I’ve just said to SeasideSusie, I am very surprised that they have chosen to do nothing about this at the moment. I have been feeling awful for a very long time and knew there was something going on, just unsure what and they put it down to depression so I have been on antidepressants for a long time now. I think I need to be more stern with the GP.

thank you for the advice and for the links! will definitely look into getting tested privately, then I may get the right answers and a better explanation.

Thank you so much 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to confusedkm]

As your Mum and Gran have hypothyroidism too, it’s almost definite they will have autoimmune thyroid disease....it is very genetic

See GP to get thyroid antibodies tested and vitamins.......or test privately

Depression is extremely common symptom

Symptom list

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...