Second set of test results any advice on what to do next please 😔

[Loonyloon]

Hi, ive had another load of blood tests. The Gp was only willing to test TSH and FT4 level and serum thyroid peroxidase Antibody concentration☹

TSH IS 5.2 (0.27-4.2) previously 4.3 (date 4/3)

FT4 is 12.5 (no ranges were given for this, asked but no one knew 🙄) previously-13.4 (date 4/3)

SERUM TPA 17.5U/mL (<34.0)

My symptoms have got worse and my confidence has taken a nose dive. The Gp is still claiming that its not that bad, but I feel that bad, it's just so frustrating.

I've managed to get an appointment to actually see the GP this time so I'm hoping that being able to speak face to face and air my concerns that I can actually get somewhere 🤞.

Is there any advice that you can give that would help in regards to my appointment?

Private testing atm is a no go, due to covid and partner being self employed money is tight.

Just sick of feeling like this. Every symptom I have points to hypothyroidism, I really can't see what else it can be. I would have thought that my Tsh levels being higher this time that I would have been offered medication 😔

[Josephineinamachine]

Hi I’m new to this so probably can’t help much except to say your TSH is over range so no wonder you feel poorly 🙁 Free T4 is falling… Can you get a private test for T3? What is the GP suggesting? That you wait until you’re really, really poorly before treatment?!

[Loonyloon in reply to Josephineinamachine]

Gp suggests trying other tests now, I'm gathering in a completely different direction😔. I'm literally going round in circles. I feel miserable. X

[greygoose]

How did you get these results? Over the phone? What you need is a print-out of your results because the ranges would have to be on that. All your details would be on it, so you would know they haven't mixed your results up with someone else's, or something like that. It's even possible that your FT4 has now gone below range, and they're trying to hide it from you! Doctors don't really like patients having access to results because it under-mines their authority.

[Loonyloon in reply to greygoose]

I manged to get a print out of my previous results, but no ranges were given. I had to ask the nurse taking my blood what they were, and she could only give me the TSH range, not the FT4 range. It's making me feel like they see me as some kind of hypochondriac. All I want is help to get bk on track. I haven't felt like myself in so long, I've almost forgotten who I was before. Xx

[greygoose in reply to Loonyloon]

Ask that nurse how they manage to interpret results without a range. It isn't possible. Or, can you find out which lab they use, and ring them? There has to be a range.

[Loonyloon in reply to greygoose]

I think on the print out it has the lab they used, so I will try to call them on Monday and hope I can get through. I hoping I can persuade the gp to give me meds on a trial. X

[greygoose in reply to Loonyloon]

That is tricky. Because it takes time, usually to feel better. And, if he starts you on 25 mcg for three months or something, that's just not going to work. You need to start on 50 mcg and increase by 25 mcg every six weeks for at least a year. But, doctors just don't understand that. And, even if that doesn't work, it doesn't mean that you aren't hypo because you are. You're technically hypo when your TSH gets to 3.

[Loonyloon in reply to greygoose]

I understand what you mean. I mean I could go down the route of doing all the private tests, but if my gp doesn't take note of the results, then I would have wasted money for nothing. I'm seriously stuck in a rut at the moment, and I'm unsure on what my next steps are. X

[greygoose in reply to Loonyloon]

It's not really money wasted, because you would know. And knowledge is power. You would be better able to argue your case. But, I would wait a while, if I were you, to see if things get worse. It would certainly be a good idea to know your FT3 level and your Tg antibodies.

[Loonyloon in reply to greygoose]

I just don't understand why they are so unwilling to help, surely its more hassle to them to constantly run blood tests. I'll look into the costs now of running private tests. Thanks for your advice. Hopefully I can get a solution soon.

[greygoose in reply to Loonyloon]

I hope so too.