Erm, hello. I'm new. I have just found out I have subclinical hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism runs in my family. I was looking for reassurance more than anything that my symptoms were normal. I have terrible heart palpitations. They want to send me for TFT test and echocardiogram? Also my neck has swollen today and feels strange? Feet keep swelling up. Very tired, always cold. My stomach is really itchy. All new symptoms over the past few weeks.
Anyone the same? Xx
Welcome to the forum
Have you been started on levothyroxine yet?
Do you have any thyroid test results you can add
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
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
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)
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
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
See flow chart at top of page 2
Levothyroxine should be started if you have symptoms, TSH over 5 and high thyroid antibodies
There are well over 300 hypothyroid symptoms. We don’t, each get them all
Here’s a list of common symptoms
thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...
TG, a few of them are enough.
As SlowDragon says, you need free T4 (and free T3) testing - rather that Total Free 4.
With any luck, given the family history, they will start to treat you when your TSH is just over-range rather than waiting until it goes waaay over range and you feel really ill - but testing your free T4 and free T3 will confirm that you need help.
Please don't worry - it's VERY common to have an under-active thyroid. The standard medication, levothyroxine, is the third-most prescribed medication in the UK.
When you get the results, if you come back with a new post with the results [and lab ranges afterwards in brackets] the lovely people here will help you understand them. Lab ranges matter because they vary from lab to lab (although a TSH of more than 3 is always bad).
You are legally entitled to your blood results - please don't be fobbed off with someone saying they are "normal" or "in range" - you want the actual numbers, as there is an enormous difference between struggling along at one end of the range and being really happy at the other end.
Good luck x
Thank you. I'm not on anything yet. I'm not sure what my results mean. 5.39 mu/L. It says the normal is from 0.40 to 4.50. I have low vitamin D as well which I'm now taking vitamins for,everything else was okay. My next appointment is on Thursday so I'm not sure what that is for. I think it's for booking my echocardiogram and TFT.
So was this your first abnormal thyroid test?
If so, guidelines are that you have second test in 6-8 weeks before starting on levothyroxine
Ask GP to test thyroid antibodies, B12, folate and ferritin at next test...if not been tested yet
Low Vitamin D is very common when hypothyroid
GP will often only prescribe to bring levels to 50nmol.
Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol
leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...
GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)
mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...
NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required
ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...
But with Hashimoto’s, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/218...
vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...
Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.
Test twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk
Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7
It’s trial and error what dose we need, with hashimoto’s we frequently need higher dose than average
Government recommends everyone supplement October to April
gov.uk/government/news/phe-...
Also read up on importance of magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
livescience.com/61866-magne...
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
Vitamin K2 mk7
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
healthline.com/nutrition/vi...
Importance of vitamin D for fighting Covid
moxafrica.org/post/the-vita...
Come back with new post once you get copies of other vitamin results and thyroid antibodies
Untreated or underrated thyroid can show up as heart problems, so it is important that you get on treatment ASAP. Once you are adequately replaced your symptoms may disappear.
I’m no expert but it may be as well to deal with the hypothyroidism and any low vitamin levels before all the cardiogram stuff.
technically~ 'sub-clinical' hypothyroidism means that some your bloods are out of range (usually TSH over-range and FT4 within range) but you DO NOT have any symptoms.
You DO have symptoms of Hypothyroidism ie cold all time /tired-definately, swollen neck-possibly, palpitations-quite possibly (although i never know exactly what folk mean when they say 'palpitations' )
So i would correct any GP calling you 'SUB-clinical', or refer them to a dictionary 
I agree with penny, get GP to sort your thyroid first, and see if that sorts out your heart.
You may have to do 'calm and assertive' with the receptionists to get your thyroid blood tests. But it's in your interests to keep your own records on thyroid matters, and it's your right to have them. Ask for TSH/FT4/FT3 and any antibodies tests (TPOab or TGab) AND the Lab Reference Ranges [in brackets after the result]
Thank you everyone. I will see what I can do on Monday xx
Also ask for a liver blood check. Itching is a sign of faulty liver function.
Or could be hives or food sensitivity eg gluten or fructose which I have
Hives and Hashimoto’s is common link
Thank you all. Having another test in a few weeks xxx
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