I went to my doctors as ever since having my youngest child (nearly 4 years ago) I haven’t ever felt back to normal. I keep going back to GP (see a different one each time unfortunately) and feel slightly fobbed off. Last GP tested thyroid and hormone levels. All other bloods came back normal.
TSH was 4.5
T4 was 13
So just borderline results so they want to retest in 6 months.
But I feel dreadful and have done for years.
- feel so exhausted I could cry
- constant sore throats
- numbness in my hands and forearms
- really heavy and prolonged periods
- weight gain no matter how well I eat and a nice puffy face!
- headaches
- dry itchy skin and eyes
- cold all the time
- generally feel I am about 90 years old when I’m actually 37!
Any advice on if there is anything else I can do rather than just wait? I am so so fed up of feeling awful!
Written by
KRex
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So we can offer better advice, it’s best to have blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for FT3 in addition to TSH and FT4.
Also extremely useful are thyroid antibody tests (to see if your thyroid is struggling from an auto immune condition, eg Hashimotos) and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)
If your GP is unable to complete all the above (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:
TSH should always be under 2, with many members feeling best with this significantly under 1. Your thyroid is certainly struggling; hence your adverse symptoms.
I would definitely look to check your antibodies, key vitamins & FT3. Medichecks have 20% off their advanced thyroid test this month, so may be worth a look.
What time of day was your blood draw? TSH highest early morning, so make sure you get earliest blood draw (ie before 9am) - this is a patient to patient tip (& not one shared by GP practices).
It was about 11ish I had the bloods done. They didn’t check any vitamin levels - just t4, TSH, iron and the other standard things like blood cells.
As my other results are normal and thyroid borderline they have basically said there is nothing wrong, but aren’t prepared to look at other causes if my symptoms either.
To be honest I felt they were trying to suggest it was either all in my head, or I am depressed (which I don’t feel I am - just fed up of feeling rubbish!)
I will look in to private bloods - what do people then do with the results?? I’m worried about getting in to a battle with my GP!
I suggest you complete a private test and then copy results in a new post on the forum so members can offer you better advice. Remember to complete the blood draw before 9am.
I, like many members here, have become an advocate for my own health. I give a copy of my private blood test to my GP and (with thanks to advice from this forum) managed to argue my case for optimal medication.
My private only endocrinologist explained to me that anything above 2.5 for a TSH result and you’ll be having symptoms of under active thyroid. NHS range is too wide.
That’s interesting - GP felt I couldn’t have symptoms due to thyroid at these levels! But they are also not happy to investigate what else could be making me feel so rubbish!
You probably need more levothyroxine. I’d have your T3 checked also. Maybe you might have to chose a private option for that though as lots of GP’s won’t test but it’s worth a try to request it.
What time was your blood draw? It could be that by having one taken before 9am would show that your TSH is high enough to start treatment.... they have a nasty habit of testing in the afternoon when TSH has dropped!
It drops quite rapidly after 9am and with a fT4 of 14 (I'm guessing this is on the 12-22 range) you are showing all the classic signs that your thyroid is struggling and I'm afraid getting the usual fob off that most of us have been through
Get your results up once you've got them and we are all here to guide you 🤗
If you lived elsewhere, you would be diagnosed. The following countries - USA, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Sweden, and Belgium have a upper limit for TSH between 2.5-3. Germany and Switzerland is 3.2 Anything above it is treatable hypothyroidism. We must have different metabolism from the rest of the world!
Many of us have been in the same position as you, and got the "its all in your head, here, have some anti depressants" when we are just sick and tired of being sick and tired. You are not alone.
Do a private test and then come back. This forum is so brilliant for advice and support, so just keep asking. We are here for you. Hug.
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Feeling dreadful
GP said my results were borderline
On Thyroxine - 8 weeks bloods shows TSH has dropped but still feel dreadful.
Understanding blood results 
Blood test results..perfect but still feel dreadful.
