appointment

[Meanies]

Hi all I’m new to this group and was looking some advice my thyroid level is 0.01 and no one is following this up I have requested tablets from my gp etc but they said I need to be diagnosed first. What does this mean and how going forward will this affect me? Due to other health matters I have been getting my bloods done on a regular basis for several years and this is just being mentioned now.

[greygoose]

Hi Meanies, welcome to the forum.

Well, first of all, that level of 0.01 is the TSH level. And TSH is not your thyroid. It is a pituitary hormone that is supposed to indicate thyroid status. But, when it gets as low as that, it can't indicate it very well. Just testing the TSH is worse than useless because it can give a false idea of what is going on.

What you need is full thyroid testing:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

Tg antibodies

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin.

Then you will have a clearer idea of what is going on with your thyroid. And, frankly, you should be glad that your doctor is not giving you 'tablets' just based on the TSH. He could give you the wrong treatment.

What does it mean? Not a lot. In fact, impossible to tell what it means without the other results. TSH results should always be interpreted in conjunction with the other result.

The best thing you can do now - apart from getting private testing so that you have all the necessary results - is get copies of your past blood test results for as long back as you've been having thyroid blood tests. You need to see if your TSH has always been suppressed, or if it varies, and if any other thyroid tests have been done. It is your legal right to have these results, if you live in the UK, but doctors don't always like you having them. So, ask at reception either for print-outs, or access to your results on-line.

[Meanies in reply to greygoose]

You see ( clueless) I had no idea about any of this but at least I have something to go on now. 😍

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Meanies]

You’re not clueless - you just haven’t discovered this wonderful group and ThyroidUK yet. TUK have their own website as well as this site on Healthunlocked and it’s well worth paying and becoming a member thyroiduk.org

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at your other posts you have other health issues going on as well

Are you on any medication

As greygoose says

First thing is to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing done. Just TSH doesn’t tell you much

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once for autoimmune hypothyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s. Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms before becoming increasingly hypothyroid

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common with any thyroid disease - hypo or hyper

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG 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.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

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, only drink water between waking and 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

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

[Meanies in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow thank you for reply you see absolutely had no idea about any of this.