Have hair Loss (alopecia areata) , weight gain, suffer from the cold alot. Tsh normal at 1.75, FT4 was 9pmol but they classed it as normal at the lab was 7pmol. On this site it says 10pmol. My T3 was also normal at 5.1 pmol. My GP isn't great at picking up on abnormal tests at the best of times (I constantly have abnormally high RBC but they ignore it). They wouldn't teat my antibodies as none of my other results showed as abnormal. My nan had her thyroid removed due to illness so it runs in the family to some degree.
I already have a couple of autoimmune illnesses but they appear to be in check.
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Kittykate288a
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Ask for a trial of Levothyroxine. Lay out your symptoms. You have clear proof that your T4 levels have been steadily decreasing. I had to do the same with my lab results and the Doctor. Being on the low end of the reference range when it comes to thyroid is not "normal." Don't waste time waiting for them to notice because they won't until you end up with a goiter or in the emergency.
Oh, and lab ranges are peculiar to the testing assay—there’s not a standard range. So you can’t read anything into what this site might say is a typical lab ref range. The only range that counts is the one your lab uses.
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
Have you had thyroid antibodies or vitamins tested
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
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
This is great. Thank you. I don't think it was a morning appt but it was back in March now. They (the lab) refused to test my antibodies as they said my other levels would be out of whack if I had any issues there. The doctor did request it but they point blank wouldn't do it.
I might look into having full bloods done for everything given my history. I just don't feel like the doctors take me seriously.
Ok so the lab range is not normal healthy range it’s the range the lab has tested over so results can be compared across different labs. Any doctor confusing that is an arse. Normal modal healthy range is very narrow in comparison and whatever is right for you is likely to be very specific and somewhere near the most common for your peer group e.g 14-16. If your lab tests between 7-20 instead of another lab range of 11-22 your level may be in range in that lab too but it still won’t be healthy for you! You could get a test from another lab to investigate that aspect. But no one should diagnose on t4 alone irrespective of symptoms and free t3 and tsh, which should all be taken together. If you feel cold and have slow metabolism you almost certainly need more t4 and probably a little t3. Ask for this on a trial basis then after 6-8 weeks check ALL thyroid blood levels keep a symptom diary and you will have the evidence you need. The doctors are there to empower not disenfranchise you. Perhaps they need reminding of that. If they deny you complain to PALS.
That was my experience for a few years. Then I had a recent blood test to check my iron levels and was found with significantly high TSH levels, diagnosed with hypothyroidism and now on levothyroxine. Twice I'd asked for thyroid checks and was told all fine. Had asked for ts3 but they wouldn't. I wish I'd persisted now so hope you can. I hope you get some clarity and help soon.
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