Do I have a Thyroid problem?

[Poppy_cat]

Firstly, both my late parents had thyroid problems and I was diagnosed with a small benign growth on my thyroid a few years ago (which hasn't been checked since). My eyebrows have hair missing on the outer edges, I have a permanently croaky voice, can't lose weight and feel like I have a lump in my throat however I had a blood test last week and my GP has dismissed the results and says no action necessary. The results were as follows: Serum free T4 level 17.0 pmol/L, Serum TSH level 3.45 mU/L. Do the results confirm that there is no problem with my thyroid?

[J972]

Hi Poppy_cat, can you please add the ranges to those results?

Ideally you’d also have your FT3 and antibodies tested, plus vitamin B12, ferritin, vit D and folate. Do you have recent results for any of those?

[Poppy_cat in reply to J972]

Hi, test done on 26.03.24 - Serum free T4 level 17.0 pmol/L (11.0-26.0) Serum TSH level 3.45 mU/L (0.27-4.2). None of the other tests you mentioned were carried out.

[Poppy_cat in reply to J972]

I had a ferritin test a couple of days, results serum ferritin level 7 ug/L (12.0 - 233.0). They have given me iron tablets.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Always test thyroid early morning, ideally before 9am and only water to drink between waking and test …..for highest TSH

ESSENTIAL to test thyroid antibodies at least once

Test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

if GP unhelpful

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Poppy_cat in reply to SlowDragon]

My test was done at 8.30am but was not told about only drinking water before it (I've had a few done over the years and they've never ever said that. Also have not been tested for any of the others you mentioned.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Poppy_cat]

Low vitamin levels can cause symptoms and low vitamin levels very common when thyroid is struggling

[HealthStarDust]

It took pregnancy (after getting the all clear) before my TSH got higher than 4. So, no, that TSH is within normal range, but doesn’t tell the whole picture. With that said, your ft4 is decent (assuming the ranges is the standard 10-20, 12-22). It’s worth testing antibodies and FT3.

It is also said anything above 1 or 2 TSH shows the thyroid is struggling. In other countries they start treating know the TSH is above 2/2.5. However, this needs to be balanced against the many people that do just fine with a higher TSH. And. The TSH does vary throughout the day as well as due to illness, stress, etc.

[Poppy_cat in reply to HealthStarDust]

Thanks for your reply.

[Musicmonkey]

It's true that your FT4 looks ok, but your TSH should be between 1-2, so that is higher than ideal but not enough on its own to cause a GP any concern.

What we don't know, is your T3 level and that is the active hormone that's needed in every cell in the body. It's possible that your adequate T4 is not converting to T3. You do seem to display some hypothyroid symptoms (losing the outer third of eyebrows is meant to indicate severe hypothyroidism). You could get a private test that includes T3. If it proves to be low, the difficulty then will be arguing that you need to see an Endocrinologist.

In your shoes, given your family history and your own, I would start with a private test of TSH, FT4 and FT3 and get the GP to test the others mentioned above.

[annnsandell]

Hi , You say you were diagnosed with a small benign growth, do you think this has grown? Were you referred to a specialist, perhaps time to have another look as it is obviously uncomfortable. You can have a growth and still be in range. Good luck.

[Poppy_cat in reply to annnsandell]

I was seen by a specialist at the time but they decided that, due to the size of the growth, it would probably be slow to grow and discharged me. However, my voice is very croaky at the moment and I do feel like there's pressure at the front of my neck.

[annnsandell]

Back to specialist?

[Poppy_cat in reply to annnsandell]

My GP wouldn't refer me back to the specialist but begrudgingly agreed to arrange for me to have a scan on my neck, am still awaiting an appointment! Am having another blood test tomorrow but that's to check my blood sugar (am type 2 diabetic).....looked on my NHS app and it mentions the T3 and ferritin test but then says in brackets 'cancelled '!