Hi . Ive just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism following a blood test and I pick up medication tomorrow. I just have the feeling that I should be referred to an endocrinologist though. My health history includes several late effects from radiotherapy to head and neck, previous hyperparathyroidism, and ME. I was meant to have annual blood test to include thyroid function, but these have slipped. The latest blood test was following my request as Ive been having medication resistant high blood pressure for months and I discovered a link to thyroid. I feel that this was over looked.
Is there anyone else in Wales or Borders. I live in Mid-Wales.
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Hela
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Welcome to our forum Hela and am sorry you have health issues other than the thyroid gland.
Usually, when first diagnosed with hypothyroidism we are prescribed levothyroxine. Few of us have a consultation with an Endocrinologist as it is thought that GPs can deal with prescribing and keeping an eye on our thyroid hormones. However due to your history other members will also respond.
These are hints that we, the patient, follows and to get the best results i.e. TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is high early a.m. and drops throughout the day.
Always make your appointment for the earliest possible time (even if you have to make it weeks ahead). It should be a fasting test (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levothyroxine and the test and take it afterwards. This helps to keep our TSH at its highest as it drops throughout the day and could mean we wont get the increase we may need.
I take my thyroid hormones when I awake and leave an hour before I have breakfast.
Request B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be checked too.
Always get a print-out of your results, with the ranges. Ranges are important as labs differ and they enable members to respond.
Thank you Shaws for the useful information. I had a "full blood count" and was told everything is fine except thyroid. I will ask for a printout of my results though just to make sure the vitamins/minerals you mentioned were included and what the actual results were.Interesting about the time of day - I think this was the first time I had bloods taken so early in the morning - in the past it has always been early afternoon.
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.
Very 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) or if been hypothyroid a while
Low vitamin levels common as we get older too
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)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
I pick up the medication tomorrow so will know the dose then. It was a telephone consult, which I need to keep as brief as possible due to me having a hearing impairment and finding the phone very tiring.
I will ask for a printout of blood results when I collect the prescription.
I was told that I would need another blood test in 3 months. I will make the appointment earlier!
I will certainly look at private options for testing. I know in the past at least only TSH has been tested.
Thank you for all the links - I’ve lots of homework to do.
You could test folate, B12, ferritin and vitamin D now
Or just test vitamin D now and include rest at full thyroid testing via Medichecks or Blue horizon in 6-8 weeks time
Always test thyroid levels as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Accord is usually well tolerated
Also available boxed as Almus via Boots or Northstar via Lloyds
Accord don’t make 25mcg tablets
So when need next dose increase to 75mcg per day, best get increased number of 50mcg tablets and cut in half
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Hi Hela, I am in the same position, thyroid damaged from radiation for Hodgkins in 1985, took several years to get a diagnosis as was classed borderline. I was started on 50mcg, but this was doubled to 100mcg within a couple of months, it does take a bit of time to get the right dose.
Everyone is very helpful and knowledgable on here and despite being hypo for around 25 years I am only just starting to understand about the importance of vitamins d, b12, folate and ferritin and not to let your doctor medicate by TSH levels alone.
Thank you Gymbuni. I had TSH and T4 level. I thought I was having a full blood test but they just did the thyroid, calcium (due to previous hyperparathyroidism) and a blood count. Apparently there is a shortage of blood containers so they are limiting blood tests - so I have little chance of getting my Gp to do more blood tests. I'll look at private for the other things. 🙂
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