Newly diagnosed

[Dewa123]

I have just been diagnosed with Sub Clinical Hypothyroidism I have no idea what to expect or how often I should get my bloods taken and what should actually be taken, should it be my T4 and T3 levels or just my TSH for diagnosis my levels were at 7.8 mu/l

[fuchsia-pink]

Welcome to the forum.

Your GP will routinely test TSH - but may need a good prod to test your actual thyroid hormones as well - free T4 and free T3 [always "frees" - not total T4 or total T3]

Next time please arrange as early a blood test as you can get, and also ask the GP to test thyroid antibodies and free T4. With a TSH this high you are probably feeling quite rough, but the UK won't routinely prescribe levo until TSH gets to 10 or more - despite the fact that in some countries you would get prescribed when TSH is more than 3 and your TSH is already nearly double the top of the lab range

Your TSH is highest first thing, so an early blood test gives you a bit of help - and the other tests are important because you may start giving you the meds you need if TSH is over-range (which it is) AND either free T4 is below-range OR antibodies are high [indicating Hashimoto's, by far the biggest cause of hypothyroidism]

If your GP is nice, please also see if s/he will test key nutrients - ferritin, folate, vit D and B12, as for us hypos these are often too low and we need to supplement.

Post the next results, along with the lab ranges (which vary from lab to lab) and the nice people here will help you to understand them

Good luck x

[tattybogle]

have you been prescribed Levothyroxine yet ? if so what dose?

once started on Levo, tsh and preferably ft4 need testing after6 weeks on same dose.

Have blood test taken first thing in morning , don't take that day's dose until after the blood test.

[Marz]

Hi and welcome ! Am wondering why they think you are sub-clinical with a TSH that high ? Did they test the FT4 and FT3 ? Also anti-bodies TPO and Tg should be tested to rule out Hashimotos. Healthy people have a TSH around 2 ...

I see on your Profile that you reduced your dose to 25mcg from 50mcg. Often there can be issues around tolerating Levo if your nutrients are low in range. So testing B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD is important.

Sadly there is a resistance within the NHS to test T4 and T3 along with both antibodies so Private Testing is used by 100's here. Links below ...

thyroiduk.org

Testing 6/8 weeks after starting Levo is suggested.

I have also read somewhere there can be a link between being Hypo and Barretts Oesophagus. When T3 is low it can affect the musculature.

[Dewa123 in reply to Marz]

Hi Marz this is very interesting I am not too sure what they tested I believe it was only my TSH also my B12 folate and iron all ok very interesting T3 low in Barretts thank you so much will see how I get on with Levo and thank you for the link to private testing if GP wont I will definitely do this myself

[Marz in reply to Dewa123]

Do you have the actual results for your OK folate and B12 ? When Docs say normal/OK - they mean 'in range' - but it's where you are in the range that is key to our wellbeing when Hypo.

Having been a member here since 2011 I am able to say with confidence that T3 is very rarely tested at GP level.

You can request copies of all your test results - they are legally yours ! Also worth checking if your surgery has on-line access for patient records. Having your results enables you to monitor your own progress and check what has been missed 😥

Testing the TSH only is inadequate as that is a Pituitary hormone - telling you very little about your thyroid output ...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

A previous thread here about Barretts Oesophagus ...

[Dewa123 in reply to Marz]

I dont actually have the actual results however I will get them and see what they are. Thank you

[Marz in reply to Dewa123]

Did you manage to read the link above ?