Help required

[Jive15]

Hoping for some help as GP isn't being that great.

My TSH level is 5.15 , suffering extreme tiredness, weight gain , low heart rate...

Family history of underactive thyroid and still no help - any advice??

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Is this your first thyroid test where TSH is over 5

GP should arrange a second test for 6-8 weeks time

Always book test early morning, ideally before 9am

Important to get thyroid antibodies, vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested too

If second test shows TSH over 5, especially if you have high thyroid antibodies…….and symptoms you should be started on levothyroxine

Starting levothyroxine - flow chart

gps.northcentrallondonccg.n...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

If you have close family members with thyroid disease your GP should have tested thyroid antibodies at first test

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

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

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

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)

Are you in the U.K.?

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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

[kiefer]

It sounds like you're asking for how to convince your GP that your symptoms matter, even though your TSH blood test result is the only thing that matters to him. How important is this GP? Would you be unable to find another doctor if he 'fired' you?

You could ask him, "Why don't we rule out hypothyroidism?" What harm would there be in giving me a trial dose, starting with 50 mcg? Is there something you're afraid might happen? Would this increase your liability somehow?"

From my personal experience, doctors are remarkably stubborn when it comes to thyroid treatment, more than what is reasonable. Doctors routinely give antidepressants to people with insomnia (Trazodone) and don't seem the least bit concerned about side effects. But they seem to be frightened to give even a trial dose of levothyroxine. They have the medical authority to rule out an illness using medication but they refuse if it's got anything to do with low thyroid function. They belong to the church of Sythroidology, where the ideology stands firm on the TSH result.

Unless you wish to become extraordinarily skilled in negotiating, then you're best off searching for another doctor, and another, until you find one who isn't so ideologically opposed to experimenting with thyroid medication therapy. And, as others here have mentioned, get tested for nutritional deficiencies to rule that out as being the cause of your fatigue, weight gain, etc.