Being told Thyroid is ok but all symptoms say diff...

[Dermal]

I'm post menapause and feel so unwell started on HRT and had it tweaked few times to try and get it to make me feel better..any advice on thyroid greatly appreciated as my doc says they are within range..

[tattybogle]

Hi Dermal . the first step is to get hold of the actual thyroid blood test results then we can see if 'ok' is really ok, or 'only just ok ' and potentially indicating a struggling thyroid that is not yet considered bad enough for any diagnosis.

simplest way to get them is just to ask at GP reception for "a printout of my thyroid blood test results from 'date' " ( the actual results and lab ranges , not just the comment normal / ok etc )

Patients have a legal right to see them in UK, as long as a GP has previously seen them . Receptionist may wish to confirm it's ok for you to have them , if so, say you'll come back in a day or so to pick them up .

They shouldn't really be asking you what you want them for , but sometimes they do.. if so the best answer is simply "for my own records"

You are asking for:

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) result and [ref range] ~ this will have been done .

fT4 (free T4/thyroxine) result and [ref range] ~ this may/ may not have been done .

fT3 (free T3 /triiodothyronine ) result and [ref range ] ~ unlikely to have been done but useful if it has.

TPOab ( Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies) ~ may not have ben done unless your TSH has been over range a couple of times already .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They will look like this eg 3.5 [0.4 -4.5]

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you currently diagnosed as hypothyroid and on levothyroxine

If yes, starting HRT frequently results in needing an increase in levothyroxine

ALWAYS test thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

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...

Just Thyroid includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies -£49

randoxhealth.com/at-home/Th...

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...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.