Ongoing thyroid and hormone problems

[Coop20]

I am a 30 yr old usually healthy female, you may see in my previous posts that I’ve had an ongoing problem with my thyroid for probably a good 10 years now with my levels going up and then back to normal or borderline over the years, never warranting further investigation by my doctors.

Around a month ago i was tested and my TSH was slightly high at just over the normal range at 4.4 if i remember correctly. I was tested again on 18th August and it was high at 5.93 had another blood test the day after due to breathing problems and it had gone up to 8.77 in 24 hours!!!

Can this happen to thyroid, it seems to go up and down with it fluctuating regularly. But after my ongoing battle of literally years i finally today have been given levothyroxene!

You don’t know how much of a relief that is that they’re listening.

[shaws Administrator]

In other countries we'd be diagnosed if TSH goes above 5. In the UK, for some unknown reason to me, we have to wait until it reaches 10 before being prescribed levothyroxine and modern-day doctors are unaware of any clinical symptoms - we used to be diagnosed upon symptoms alone and given a trial of NDT before blood tests were introduced.

In the UK, the fact that the TSH has to reach 10 before being diagnosed. It shows that the whole of the medical professionals have no knowledge of clinical symptoms. Before blood tests were introduced doctors used to diagnose upon symptoms alone and we were given a trial of NDT (natural dessicated thyroid hormones).

The TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) varies throughout the day and that's why this forum advises the earliest possible appointment, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take it afterwards.