Am i going mad? (I'm new here!)

[CJG1993]

Hello all,

I'm a 27 year old mum (DD is 2.5yrs) who is constantly tired, headachey, anxious and just overall not good!

I've struggled with depression, anxiety, low (no!) sex drive, weight gain, tiredness, long & heavy periods (30 days on end) and serious brain fog for the best part of my adult life. I thought it was just normal life, and have had investigations around the periods to no real prevail. I chalked it up to a bad time and got on with it.

That was until somebody i knew was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism - i had never heard of it and gave it a quick google, and it was like the penny finally dropped - the symptoms were like an autobiography of my life!

I spoke to the doctor and got some tests - they came back normal, and they discharged me. I was convinced that there was something wrong, so after more research i managed to get a full thyroid profile done to check for Hashimotos also. I was sure that they would find something, but again, they came back "fine"

I requested a copy of my results, just so that i could be sure (thats the anxiety kicking in!) and whilst they are all "in range" my Free T4 levels are only 13.5 in a range of 12-22. I've convinced myself that this could be it - and that its a "low-normal" reading that could still be giving me symptoms.

My question is - has anyone else had this? Test results are a doctors best tool in assessing illness, i get that, but i can't help but to feel that we're missing something here and i can't keep ignoring my symptoms.

Edit --

Heres my results for reference

They were collected on 3rd August @ 13:29 - i fasted beforehand and am only on antidepressant medication that i took as normal

Serum TSH level | 2.0mu/l (Range 0.27-4.20)

Serum Free T4 level | 13.5 pmo/l (Range 12.0-22.0)

Serum Free Triiodothyronine level | 5.2 pmo/l (Range 3.1-6.8)

[Joant24]

Hi, you aren’t going mad, I’m going through much the same problem with my T4 at 12.7 and can’t get any help. The symptoms are so miserable especially when you are dismissed at every turn. This site will keep you sane and help you so much. I’m not the one to give you all the medical stuff but you’ll learn lots from the others. Good luck on your journey. x

[CJG1993 in reply to Joant24]

Thank you for replying! Glad to hear that i'm not alone, but sorry to hear that you're also struggling.

I really wish that i had a good GP that i trusted - i never see the same GP twice and they're always so short and as you say, dismissive.

[tattybogle]

Hi .. if you can post the GP and private results for TSH / fT4 (fT3) with lab ranges and time of day of test people will be able to give better answers

fT4 at that level may or may not be OK. it's easier to tell if you see the whole panel of TFT's together.

[CJG1993 in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you Tatty!

I've added my results so hopefully that will help

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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 can cause similar symptoms of fatigue , especially low iron/ferritin

What’s your diet like

Are you vegetarian or vegan

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

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 all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

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.co/tests/thyroid-test

[humanbean]

Since you have a TSH any GP will say is absolutely fine I think you would find it hard to persuade an NHS doctor you need treating.

In your shoes I would suggest getting an iron panel done, and getting tested for vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin D.

Low iron and ferritin (iron stores) can cause a lot of symptoms similar to hypothyroidism.

Low B12 and/or folate can also make people feel very ill.

And low levels of iron/ferritin and B12/folate can all cause anaemia.

Improving/optimising your nutrients will make a huge difference to your energy levels if they are currently too low for good health.