Pain achy tired . No motivation

[Sleepyachy]

Feeling rubbish , tired , back ache. Pain in lower back and shoulders . Use to blame back pain on coil. Fed up of this achy no energy carry on. Use spray on back and shoulders think it's time for painkillers , wana break from this constant pain . But not keen on taking painkillers often .

[Sleepyachy]

Hi yeh under active thyroid. On 100 levothyroxine.

[Sleepyachy]

Yeh all in range , so doctor didnt want to up dose. Antibodies mildly elevated.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sleepyachy]

You just might find the article below (and the full paper which you can access) interesting and/or useful.

The normal range: it is not normal and it is not a range

1. Martin Brunel Whyte

2. Philip Kelly

Abstract

The NHS ‘Choose Wisely’ campaign places greater emphasis on the clinician-patient dialogue. Patients are often in receipt of their laboratory data and want to know whether they are normal. But what is meant by normal? Comparator data, to a measured value, are colloquially known as the ‘normal range’. It is often assumed that a result outside this limit signals disease and a result within health. However, this range is correctly termed the ‘reference interval’. The clinical risk from a measured value is continuous, not binary. The reference interval provides a point of reference against which to interpret an individual’s results—rather than defining normality itself. This article discusses the theory of normality—and describes that it is relative and situational. The concept of normality being not an absolute state influenced the development of the reference interval. We conclude with suggestions to optimise the use and interpretation of the reference interval, thereby facilitating greater patient understanding.

dx.doi.org/10.1136/postgrad...

[Sleepyachy]

Nope . Doctor didnt feel comfortable upping dose. Said see how I am in couple of months.

[Sleepyachy]

That's only results I got. I wasnt sure if it was my thyroid or because due on that I was feeling rubbish . But to be honest feel rubbish way more days than would if it was just to do with hormones. Start feeling like pestering doctors . Then last time came back in range . Yeh I feel it cant be right because most on here say feel normal on right meds. I dont feel right . I told doctor I feel like in 90.

[Sleepyachy in reply to Sleepyachy]

Does everyone feel normal on right thyroid meds,?

[Sleepyachy]

Thank you for your advice . I will make note about the ft3. I mention that to doctor . Yeh I was thinking everything was thyroid, which it still could be? Or even fibromyalgia? Vicious cycle. Get down then about feeling rubbish .

[Sleepyachy in reply to Sleepyachy]

Yeh physical well being effects ya mental well being .

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate

Essential to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

TSH likely too high for someone on levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially as you have Hashimoto’s

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 .

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)

Is this how you do your tests?

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 antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins

cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[Sleepyachy in reply to SlowDragon]

If I decided to buy a test for thyroid and vitamins. Will the doctor even listen to any results they state?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sleepyachy]

Knowledge is power

If vitamins are deficient, GP should prescribe

If vitamins are low, but within range, you will need to self supplement to improve

First step is to get full testing. Improving low vitamin levels.....this often improves symptoms and conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

If Ft4 is low, suggests under medicated

If Ft4 is high and Ft3 is low this shows poor conversion.

Examples of other members results

Medichecks

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Blue horizon

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Thriva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Monitor my health

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[tattybogle in reply to Sleepyachy]

Will the doctor even listen to any results they state?

Some do acknowledge private results , some don't.

But if they dispute their accuracy it gives you a 'lever' to push for them to do their own test to disprove your private one.

Most important benefit of a private tsh /ft4/ft3 result , is that if YOU know your fT4 /3 are comfortably with range or near the lower end.. then this gives you confidence to push Gp harder to try an increase in your dose of Levo despite them saying "your TSH is in range"

ie. "i would like to try an increased dose Levo to see if it improves my symptoms, my fT4 /3 are well within range according to my private test, and my TSH is well within range so there is no concern about overmedication at this point, please could we try an increase to try and get my ft4/3 higher in range ? "

If your not happy that my private test is valid , you are welcome to do your own "