I have been have symptoms of Hypothyroidism for almost a decade. Extreme fatigue, weight gain, puffy face, hair very fine and dry etc etc. I have had my thyroid tested at the GPS a few times since 2015 but keep telling me normal results.
The last test I saw the actual numbers after research it appears its possible that it might still be Hypothyroidism although GP telling me no
My TSH was 1.88 mu/L (lab range 0.35 to 4.4)
My serum free t4 was 10.6 pmol/l lab range said (9 to 19 normal range)
Is it worth going private? On line range seems to be 12 to 22 for t4? So mine appears low. I've asked gp what if mine should normally be 18 and I've dropped. Reply won't do anything as in normal range.
Exhaustion and Weight gain really getting me down but gp insists nothing is wrong.
I have been low in D2 and B2 but these are now supplemented an levels now ok.
New to this but know I am not right
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Aogg12
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Aogg welcome. Lots of friendly advice here.Ranges vary between testing labs due to the equipment used so we need to use the ranges that come with our results
You are correct in asking your GP if your ft4 should be higher as you still have symptoms. And the answer is yes not the one they gave you! Would you wear a normal size 3 shoe if your feet were normal size 7?
Others will come along and share their experiences.
So we can offer better advice, we really need to see results for FT3 as well as TSH and FT4. Its also good to share all antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)
It’s important to always share ranges(in brackets after test results) as these can vary between laboratories.
If your GP is unable to complete all the above tests (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:
Hi Aogg12 i have no good advice to offer but I wanted to reach out and say I hope everything gets sorted soon because the symptoms are no fun. I am a new diagnosis of the opposite to you but can relate especially the dry thin hair.
Hello Aogg12 . I don’t have any advice for you. However I wanted to tell you that your experience sounds like mine. A decade, if not more, of failing health but not being taken seriously and told everything okay. I did go private in the end and my endocrinologist finally diagnosed hypothyroidism. That sadly wasn’t the end of the story as I don’t think I’ve ever been on the right meds or received the right treatment for me. But at least it was a starting point and hopefully I’m getting there now. My point is: trust yourself on this. Don’t take your doctor’s “no” for an answer.
Hello Aogg12. My experience was very similar to yours for about fifteen years but I kept on pressing. My GP was very keen to rely on TSH only but the differential between that and my T4 finally persuaded them I had a problem. Turns out after several years of titrating on Levothyroxine that my problem is more T3 (and conversion of T4 to same) than T4, so I would definitely do as the others recommend and make sure you get the T3 tested. Privately if needs be. Because they don't want to give out T3 on the NHS in my area, they REALLY didn't want to test for that. But I got it done myself with the help of this forum and it has made a very great deal of difference.
Also, take all the advice on the vitamins. I struggle with B12, low folate and ferritin. So no wonder my thyroid wasn't working effectively. I was taking good multivitamins but not absorbing them properly in my gut. Genetic problem I think. So now I take pre-methylated vits and that has really helped also. Just in case they still tell you it's not thyroid, you can always help yourself that way, too.
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