Newly diagnosed

[Missjaney68]

hi im.jane Recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism after suffering with high blood pressure . my diagnosis went unnoticed due to only being tested for tsh levels not t3 or t4

[Bearo]

Welcome to the forum . Can you post your blood test results (TSH, FT4 if tested, any antibody tests, any vitamins) with the result plus the range (numbers in brackets) .

Are you now on Levothyroxine? What dose?

How are you feeling?

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum Missjaney68. We are a very friendly & supportive group & are here to help! 🦋

As Bearo has outlined, do share your blood results with us (asking your GP practice for a copy if you don’t have them to hand).

[Missjaney68 in reply to Buddy195]

I haven't got a copy but will ask .. I ave no idea about the condition .

[shaws Administrator in reply to Missjaney68]

When you are having a blood test for thyroid hormones, the following is the recommendation so that we have an optimum test as few GPs are knowledgeable:

Blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the very earliest time, fasting (you can drink water) and don't take thyroid hormones before test - take them afterwards.

Always get a print-out of your results for your own records as few doctors are aware of how best to treat us and the aim is a TSH of around 1 and Free T3 and Free T4 should be towards the upper part of the ranges. Not all GPs request the 'frees'.

[andyjs2 in reply to shaws]

Just curious why no one seems to want to know what everyone’s Reverse T3 is on this forum? I’ve read that RT3 can take up FT3 slots on thyroid receptors and prevent people from responding well to thyroid treatment, which can explain why someone with good FT4 and FT3 levels may still feel hypo. Thanks!

[tattybogle in reply to andyjs2]

Because that is an old idea which has since been shown to be incorrect ( it still hangs around on the internet because many sites have not kept their knowledge up to date)

ReverseT3 can't attach to T3 receptors . it's the wrong 'shape'

it's all explained in this post :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu.... /pooling-an-outdated-concept-list-of-useful-posts-which-explain-why-reverse-t3-'blocking'-t3-receptors-is-not-a-thing-.

[andyjs2 in reply to tattybogle]

Thanks! But from the info provided it says this:

“This pic courtesy of Tania Smith shows RT3 (empty pink circles) inside the cell with T3 (solid pink circles). RT3’s main aim is to stop T3 from entering the nucleus to become active, by converting it to another hormone before it gets there (not blocking or plugging the receptor as RT3 lacks an iodine atom at a key position on the molecule disabling it from binding to the nuclear receptors.). The more active D3 is in making RT3, the more T3 gets crowded out. Only T3 can enter the actual nucleus and there is also thought that when the receptor is left unoccupied for a long duration it can desensitise.”

So, RT3 may not take up a receptor slot, but it may prevent T3 from getting into the cells in the first place, which ends up with the same result: higher RT3 can keep you hypo, no?

[tattybogle in reply to andyjs2]

Reverse T3 is the result of the problem, not the cause.

a high proportion of T4 leads to high Reverse T3 ( because when T4 is too high, more of it is turned into Reverse T3 , rather than into T3 )

but importantly ReverseT3 doesn't stop the T3 that is there (in the blood) from getting to the receptors. .. it's basically just de-activating the excess of T4.

if there is T3 in the blood , it can still get to the receptors .

ONE cause of high Reverse T3 is fT4 being (relatively) too high .. but you can tell if this is likely to be a problem from looking at fT4 /f T3 results ,so no need to pay for an expensive ReverseT3 test.

There are a multitude of other causes for high Reverse T3 ... rT3 test can tell you if its high, but not why .

but the only thyroid reason for high RT3 is (relatively) too much T4

[andyjs2 in reply to andyjs2]

Thanks for your response. Makes sense!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to tattybogle]

tattybogle,

Unfortunately, STTM starts out on the wrong foot in trying to discuss "pooling"and subsequently causes repeated confusion.

Years ago, we as hypothyroid patients due to any cause, noticed a phenomena we call pooling. It means T3 going high in the blood and not making it to the cells. We noticed this when, in trying to raise T3 in our treatment, it was causing heart palps, or a higher heartrate, or any hyper-like symptoms.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/p...

What she completely fails to explain is how T3 in the blood (whether low, medium or high) causes heart palps, or a higher heartrate, or any hyper-like symptoms without making it into cells.

[HealthStarDust]

Feel for you. I am also newly diagnosed and similar to you, I believe it was missed in part due to poor GPs and in part due to the guidelines they have. Thanks to this group I am already on the road to mend.

Hang in there!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Has GP prescribed levothyroxine for you yet?

If yes…..How much and which brand

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 each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

 

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)

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 that all 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...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 and includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies -£29 

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

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

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...