First appointment with a Gp face 2 face today after being diagnosed with Hypothyroidism in March this year!
My TSH normal!
My T4 normal!
Basically everything looks good! What my hair falling out! My lack of sleep! Wanting to go to sleep in the daytime! My feet feel like their burning but my legs are cold… just feel terrible Dr! (Are you going to up my thyroxine then?) Well ok 25mcg more… know boots computers down 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
I give up 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
When a doctor says 'normal', s/he doesn't actually mean 'normal', s/he just means 'in-range'. But, the ranges are far too wide. So, if your result is at the bottom of the range, you aren't going to feel as good as if it's at the top of the range. The doctors has absolutely no idea what is 'normal' for you, nor what is optimal.
Always, always get a print out of your results after every blood test - it is your legal right to have one. You need to know exactly what was tested and exactly what the results were. Post the results and ranges on here, and someone will help you understand them.
Did you have your blood draw early morning - before 9 am - after fasting over-night, and leaving a 24 hour gap between your last dose of levo and that blood draw? That is how we recommend doing bloods on here, in order to get the highest TSH, which is basically all doctors look at. 
Thank you I managed to download them to a pdf but I don’t know how to attach a copy 😟 and no I didn’t stop thyroxine for 24hrs before as I didn’t know 😟 and I had no choice in time! It was 15.45! And then they didn’t go until the next day many thanks
So all in all hopeless test
TSH is highest early morning before eating or drinking
Ft4 lowest when leave 24 hours between last dose levothyroxine and test
Do you take levothyroxine in mornings?
If so just leave morning dose until after test
Yep first thing about an hr before breakfast or cuppa 😁
So book next blood test in well ahead so you can get early morning slot
Test minimum 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Thank you will do
So book early morning test for 6-8 weeks after starting on 75mcg
Request the GP also test thyroid antibodies, B12, folate, ferritin, vitamin D and iron and ferritin
Hairloss is linked to low iron and Ferritin, extremely common hypothyroid symptom
When hypothyroid we frequently have low stomach acid, this leads to poor nutrient absorption and low vitamin levels as direct result
Hi Doris11, can you share your latest blood results with ranges in brackets? If you don’t have them, do ask your GP practice for a copy. When Medics say ‘normal’ that just means within range, so bloods can be far from optimal. I’m glad you got a 25mcg increase but sorry pharmacy is closed. Do you have more of your 50mcg tablets that you could halve meanwhile to start on 75mcg this weekend?
Thank you have got now with paper prescription 😁
Is paper prescription for 25mcg tablets?
Ask for Mercury Pharma or Wockhart brand (avoid Teva)
Thankfully have Wockhardt uk 😁
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
First step is to get hold of ALL your recent results
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
Link re access
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet
Far too often only TSH is tested
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
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
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
So you were on Accord 50mcg levothyroxine
Rather than change brand (Accord don’t make 25mcg tablets)….you want a higher number of 50mcg tablets per month and cut 50mcg tablets in half to give 25mcg
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 all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then 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...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Thriva also offer just vitamin testing
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...
Come back with new post once you get results from receptionist
Meanwhile perhaps get vitamin D tested now
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
Thank you
So glad I went to nutritionist
Well, well
well and truly fed up :(
I went doctor shopping and couldn't find one and
Still not feeling well
