Thyroid Check

[rubyroo23]

Hi! I’m new to the group today, as I have a few questions about thyroid / vitamin levels.

I visited the doctors 2 weeks ago, as I had severe feelings of tiredness, slowness and my body not matching how I was feeling in my head ( I do suffer with anxiety and other MH conditions for background knowledge ), but thought it was worth a chance going to the doctors as the onset was very gradual, to see if they could catch anything.

I have a family history of under active thyroidism in my family, so asked the doctor to do bloods for those. She also tested vitamins etc and anything that would result in the symptoms I described. So, I ate before getting my bloods taken that day, which I’m not sure if this would have an effect. However, my bloods came back and the doctor wants to see me again in 3 months as one of my levels was an 11. They also wanted to start me on 5mg Folic Acid for 3 months as my B12 and folate were low. Should I get rechecked before 3 months? At the minute I’m really struggling mentally with tiredness, feeling out of it and a lot of general confusion in life. Just wanting to know if anyone else has had the same experience or would recommend getting checked again before 3 months?

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

yep get rechecked in 6-8 weeks not 12 and ask them to do your antibodies.

I bet you feel rubbish. These vitamins results are common when we get diagnosed at long last. It’s related to gut health, we can have super healthy diets and absorb very little of the vitamins we need.

If your TSH is 11 now and above 4.6 (depending on the range your lab uses eg mine at the upper end is 4.6) then you should be started on thyroid hormone replacement. For reference I had a 4.8 and a 5.5. This is a slow and long process going up in stages every 8 weeks.

Many of us don’t absorb Folic acid too well, I’ve had real success with a methylated folate supplement 400ug from Health leads. Plus I also rate Thorne Basic B Complex which contains biotin and B12 as well as the methylated versions.

Did they check your vitamin D? That’s probably low too.

Good news for you… by addressing your vitamin situation you will absorb thyroid hormones better when they get prescribed 🌱

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

You really need to get hold of copies of actual results and ranges

See EXACTLY what thyroid and vitamin results were

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

patients-association.org.uk...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after first abnormal tests

 

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested 

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once 

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

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

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.

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

Has GP also tested vitamin D, iron and ferritin levels

what was B12 result

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

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 just 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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins 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/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here 

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Anxiety and depression extremely common when hypothyroid

Starting levothyroxine - flow chart 

You need two separate test results with TSH over 5 or Ft4 or Ft3 below range normally before starting on levothyroxine

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg

gps.northcentrallondonccg.n...

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum rubyroo23,

I would definitely ask your GP practice for a print out of your blood test results and share the levels and ranges with us. I would do this in a new post, to alert more members. You are legally entitled to copies of blood tests. I’m presuming the 11 refers to TSH, which ideally should be under 2 (with many on this forum only feeling well with levels significantly under 1).

So we can offer better advice in addition to TSH it is good to know:

FT3

FT4

Plus Thyroid antibody levels (to see if your thyroid issue is autoimmune)

Plus key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)

If your GP is unable to complete all the above tests you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health: 

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Increased anxiety for me was a major thyroid symptom and this only alleviated when both thyroid medication and key vitamins were optimal. It’s highly likely that your mental health has been affected by having a struggling thyroid.

Keep posting if you need further advice or support rubyroo23; we are here to help! 🦋