I’ve been feeling awful for sometime, weight gain, dry skin, hair loss, and extreme fatigue. I struggle to think clearly, gp kept saying menopause even though my bloods do not suggest this yet. I feel so low, I researched my last few blood results and went armed with print outs from reputable sites to the GP. Left broken, feeling like I’m making it all up.
I queried secondary/central hypothyroidism but was firmly told I do not have anything wrong with thyroid because my TSH is normal and I must be entering menopause.
blood results:
2021 TSH 2.3, T4 11.9
2022 TSH 1.8, T4 11.2
2023 TSH 1.5, T4 10.9
Any advice would be welcomed, even if it’s to agree with the Gp. For info, I’m 43.
Thank you
Written by
Montson
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Do you happen to have the ranges for these results ?
Most ranges for T4 generally are around 12.00 -22.00 -
so it does look as though your T4 level is low, and falling, year on year - and likely something is going on.
To be able to help you better we do need a full thyroid panel which will include a Free T3 reading as well as T3 is the active hormone that runs the body and it is low T3 that causes the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
You can arrange a finger prick private blood test for a TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 yourself and then start a new post on here with the outcome and you will receive considered opinion.
If you go into Thyroid UK - the charity who support this forum - there is a whole page of Private Blood companies who offer a variety of options and Monitor My Health is a NHS laboratory so your doctor is obliged to recognise any result that is forth coming :
thank you, I’ve just checked and the Gp has never monitored the T3 so just ordered the test myself, the full one with antibody profile as that’s not been done either.
OK then - follow the instructions, read around on Thyroid uk and this forum, ask any questions you may have, and I look forward to reading your results in a week or two.
I'm afraid many of us are forced to take matters into our own hands but we can read explain any results and suggests options as to your next best step back to better health.
Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH and having low thyroid levels frequently causes low vitamin levels due to developing low stomach and poor nutrient absorption
Frankly your GP sounds clueless....most of them are re thyroid disease. They are wrongly taught to focus on TSH and seem satisfied if the result just sits in range...which is rubbish, and science proves thisthyroidpatients.ca/2022/07/...
The word "Normal" is misleading!
Even without FT4 reference ranges I can see FT4 is low.
Please can you edit post and add ranges... click the "More" arrow, then click on " edit", then change text as required then click "post" to complete.
As part of diagnosis doctors are supposed to consider symptoms but many clearly missed that lecture!
First, I'd try to see another GP in the practice, write a list of all the points and questions you wish to raise using the links above...and say you have spoken.to ThyroidUK for advice!
State your case firmly and calmly and ask exactly why he is rejecting hypothyroidism when all the evidence points to it.
I found having a list helped to keep me focused. Not easy when you have brain fog but you can summon the strength long enough to do this.....been there!
You would need a starter dose of 50mcg levothyroxine followed by a further test in.6/8 weeks with an increase of 25mcg...repeat test and increase until you are symptom free.
If he remains " cloth eared" then consider a private test to obtain more evidence
hi, I have similar results but TSH 0.35-0.80 and T4 11-1-11-7 was referred to a specialist for secondary and they found nothing else and said my low levels were ‘normal’ for me despite the symptoms. It’s very frustrating. Hope you get a more positive outcome. I don’t feel I can do anything now as I have been seen by a private specialist (recommended by thyroid uk) who has done all manor of tests and the dr will not listen now to anything else.
I'm glad you are getting your own test done. But don't discount menopause. At 43 you are probably in peri menopause. That can last for 10 years before menopause itself and it's the most disruptive and horrible part of the process. You still have periods, you feel too young and you can't catch clues on blood tests but your hormones are all over the place. Falling and rising in the wrong places. So the GP might be partially right and you should read up on peri menopause. I suggest the balance-menopause.com web site. It's full of great information and very up to date. You can download the app to your phone too and track symptoms etc which helps you to build up a picture of what's going on and in turn helps you decide what you want to do about it.
I did not have thyroid problems before peri menopause but it brought them with it. It is often the case that we suffer with both together. And they interact with each other too.
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