Feeling tired, cold, achey - results back today TSH 3.07 Normal?

[Jocat]

Hello, I'm new here! I have been reading the comments on this forum to get some indication of my results. I'll be honest, I haven't got a clue what I am doing! I am feeling tired and cold all the time and have family history of thyroid issues. I asked the GP for a blood test. The results back today say 'normal' no action. It just says, TSH 3.07. I was wondering if I should find a private practitioner whom specialises in thyroid?? Can anyone help me with any advice please? Many thanks, Joanne

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Was this test done early morning?

This gives highest TSH

Just testing TSH is inadequate

Most people with healthy thyroid function will have TSH below 2

See chart here

Median TSH graph

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

So definitely worth further testing as next step

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 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels tend to lower

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am. 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

List of private testing options and money off codes

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...

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...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to autoimmune thyroid disease

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...

[Jocat in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow! SlowDragon, you are amazing. Thank you so so much for the information. Yes, it was first thing, I had only had a black coffee - does that make any difference? I just spent the last 2 years fighting for HRT. Thought that would help...but still feeling tired, lethargic, massive weight gain,

[Jocat in reply to Jocat]

sorry, must have hit the send key! are these all typical symptoms? I defiantly feel I want to pursue this. Thank you again so much.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jocat]

With family history of autoimmune thyroid disease you obviously need BOTH thyroid antibodies tested

NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO antibodies test is positive and has over range result

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies and therefore struggle to get correct antibodies tested via NHS

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies

If both thyroid antibodies are low on private test…..worth considering getting thyroid ultrasound

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Come back with new post once you get results

Members can advise on next steps

[SarahJane1471]

Hello and welcome SlowDragon has given you loads of information. Trust me if you follow the fantastic advice on here and become your own advocate you will get better. It’s so confusing at first because of all the information overload but keep reading and asking questions and you will get there 🙏

[greygoose]

Hi Jocat, welcome to the forum.

With a TSH over 3, you are technically hypo. But, the NHS will not diagnose you until it rises to over 10, I'm afraid.

But, you really do need full testing to get the full picture. Because the TSH - a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone - is not 100% reliable. What you need are:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

Tg antibodies

But, you will probably have to get them done privately because the NHS won't do them all.

As to a private practitioner whom specialises in thyroid, I really don't know where you'd find one of those. It's very, very rare to find any sort of doctor that is interested in, or knows anything about thyroid.

[klr31]

Quite high.