Thyroid results

[Elsa1509]

I have recently done an early am fasting thyroid test (finger prick) and these are my results:

TSH: 1.57 (0.27 - 4.2)

FT4: 13.3. (12 - 22)

FT3: 3.8. (3.1 - 6.8)

I have been advised these are completely normal. My symptoms are very dry skin, fatigue. My ferritin was down again at 12 recently but I am working on that. All other vitamins are good in range and Vit D over 100.

My question is should I pursue getting thyroxine with my GP ?

I have confirmed multinodular thyroid gland and euthyroid autoimmune disease (high TPO and Tgab antibodies). I also have complex narrow tachycardia and Supraventricular tachycardia and just have a pill in the pocket approach.

I would be very grateful for any advice and if it is worth me pursuing thyroid medication.

Many thanks !

[shaws Administrator]

Elsa - on your 'personal page' (click on your name) there's no 'history or background of how you were finally diagnosed as being hypothyroid.

If your latest bloods were tested in the surgery, your GP definitely has no knowledge of how to treat patients who have dysfunctional thyroid glands or how to relieve clinical symptoms.

Once we are diagnosed as being hypothyroid, the aim of levothyroxine is to bring TSH to around 1 or below and Free T4 and Free T3 should be towards the upper part of the ranges, not the bottom of the ranges.

If GP hasn't checked B12 ,Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate, please request these too.

I am not medically qualified but I would guess that your tachycardia could be due to being undermedicated.

[Elsa1509 in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaws. Thanks so much for your reply. I will try that personal page but I am not very good on the technical side of things so it may not work!

I did this recent test through Monitor My Health and had almost identical results back in Nov (but TSH 2.02). I have been under an endocrinologist a few years ago who nearly prescribed Levo based on below range FT3 but then it came just back into range so I was refused medication! . I am very sure no GP would prescribe me Levo based on these results (from experience) or refer me again! I’ve never been diagnosed hypothyroid or been offered any medical help or advice about my autoimmune disease. One ENT said my thyroid was dying and it would take some years and I was waved out the door with no other advice! I have 4 nodules and a cyst which he wasn’t worried about at all.

Do you think I should push to be seen by an endo or prescribed Levo ?

Thanks so much and I really appreciate your help. (My folate and B12 are all fine and top of range). I am gluten free. Tg antibodies have been 1,207 iu/ml and TPO 248 iu/ml.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Elsa1509]

Don't worry, I'm sure you will do fine and there's always "click on the 'More' down arrow and select 'edit' word" and you can make changes.

Or just click on your name and it will take you to your 'page' which will give several options, i.e. edit, delete etc.

If you decide to get a blood test for thyroid hormones, always get the earliest blood draw even if you've to make the appointment well before - and it is a fasting test (you can drink water) but do not take thyroid hormones before blood draw but afterwards.

[Elsa1509 in reply to shaws]

Many thanks Shaws. I will try and speak to my GP about my results and hopefully make some progress ! Many thanks for your input.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Elsa1509]

Due to T3 being so expensive in the UK (it didn't used to be) they are reluctant to prescribe.

Don't be surprised if your GP cannot be helpful and it would be due to their poor training when learning about illnesses.

One of my GPs phoned to tell me my TSH was too low, T3 too high and T4 too low.

I said I know doctor, "my TSH is low because I take T3 only. T4 is low because I take none so my TSH will be low".

GP responded : but T3 converts to T4! No doctor it is the other way around!

[Elsa1509 in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaws and that is very concerning about the lack of knowledge about the thyroid by so many medical practitioners. It is compromising so many people’s health and I have researched that low FT3 is not good for cardiac health and I’m already compromised with that (have leaky heart valve). And so the battle continues …… thank you so much for your knowledge and just for helping to motivate me to fight my battle and continue to fight to at least have a trial of thyroxine (hopefully 🤞)!