Can anyone please shed some light on this....

[Victoria]

Hello anyone who's reading this.. it's my first time posting so here goes...

I recently had some blood tests done for an unrelated reason but my GP decided to test my levels at the same time.

When i called to get my results she explained she wasn't happy with my THS and T4 levels. It also turns out that another Dr had run the same tests 8 months ago and she said my levels where now worse... as with most GP's at the moment I'm unable to get in to see her to discuss what all this means until the end of Jan but she wont look at trying to rectifying this until I'm checked again in another 3 - 6 months! she said she ran the tests because of how I've been feeling over the past 2 years.

I have done the usual thing of trawling the internet but just found myself going round in circles...Can anyone shed some light on what THS 4.44 and T4 12 really means.

Oh and My GP would not give me the figures I had to be a bit sneaky and call back telling the receptionist I'd misplaced them....

Hope someone can help x

Wishing you all a wonderful Christ

Victoria x

[Poppy03]

Have they run an antibody test? This is important as without it your numbers are unfortunately within the range. If you have the antibodies then it means you are more likely to get treated. On my tests the range for TSH is 0.25-5 and the T4 is 9-23.

Really bad of the Dr to not tell you the numbers, you have every right to them.

There is some information I read somewhere (have read too much) that talks about times to have the test done which could mean a just on the boarder figure will get pushed over to actually mean treatment.

Most important though is to get the antibody test. I would call the surgery and check to see if it has been done and if not leave a message requesting this blood test and not wait for 3-6 months. Mine was tested and I was greater than 1,000 (seems the highest the test goes) and it meant I needed to be treated.

[Victoria]

Thanks so much for replying.. I'll call on Monday and check I only asked for the TSH and T4 so maybe it has been done. Thank you again x

[Hidden]

Hi Victoria

Well a TSH of more than 4 puts you at greater risk of heart problems according to the press release in March this year by the Society of Endocrinology. A normal TSH is 1 and in many countries you would be treated as hypothyroid with a tsh of 2.5.

The T4 result of 12 shows you have some thyroid hormones being produced, but your thyroid is having to be driven very hard to produce these, hence the raised Thyroid Stimulating Hormone.

I would google the press release, or you can find it by going to the thyroid uk website, that's where I found it and take a copy to your doctor who is obviously not keeping up to date with his facts.

List any signs or symptoms you have ( there is a check list available) and ask for a 'trial' of thyroid hormones.

Nel.

<b>Updated on Dec 19 2010 1:42AM:</b> Oh yes, don't accept any of this nonsense about not letting you have test results. They are legally yours and unless there is a very good reason, your doctor is breaking the law by not letting you have them. The relevant law is the freedom of information act (2001), just write a not and say that under the terms of the act you require details of all of your test results......

[Victoria]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, I have checked out the PR and surprisingly Hypothyroidism is also causes fertility problems which is what the blood test was actually for! I'm going to go in and see a GP as soon as i can after Xmas.

Thanks once again

x

[Poppy03]

I had two miscarriages and then carried my daughter to full term (and a bit) and it was only when she was 8 months old that I was diagnoised. I had asked my GP after the 2nd miscarriage for a blood test because of having vitiligo so an autoimmune but nothing came back but he didn't test for thyroid at that time. I had a friend who just couldn't conceived and she was only about 25 at the time, they discovered she had thyroid issues and he told her it would be about 6 months before she was able to conceive and he was exactly right. She has never had a problem once treated.

Did you know that pregnancy is one of the triggers for thyroid conditions too! What our poor bodies go through.

[Victoria]

I have a son who's 2 and a half now and have never really felt well since so perhaps it was the pregnancy that started it all off.

V

[Poppy03]

I believe it was the second pregancy/miscarriage the triggered the worst of my symptoms. As I look back simple things like not having any breast changes before my period or when pregnant and a very hard time getting and maintaining a milk supply. My periods have always been heavy but became very heavy and very prolonged too. I just put them down to the miscarriages etc but they have definately improved since being on the meds. Also, once I actually felt better I now get the breast tenderness that I used to have. Have you chased to see if they have done the antibody test? and if not to order it for you?

[Victoria]

It's really sad you had to go through so much before getting things sorted. I have just spoken to the surgery and no antibody tests where done.. why would they do one test and not the other?? It would be so nice to feel 'normal' again and not so tired and heavy all the time. I have found my periods have got a lot lighter and shorter I'm still ovulating so it's not EM (I'm 31) I'm not complaining either! I'm assuming your on medication now ? how long did you have to wait before they prescribed?

[Poppy03]

Do you have any other auto immune conditions like, vitaligo, eczeme (sp), phsorius, arthritus, etc? (sorry about those spellings)

Are they going to do the antibody test? If not I would really push it and make sure it is for the thyroid. It is really crazy to run that test and not do the antibody one if they think your thyroid is an issue. I despair really.

Tired and heavy is exactly how I feel. Unfortunately for me, they did start the medication but I am one of those that doesn't respond positively to it and long story short have had an awful time at the endo which I am now in the complaint process and my GP has referred me privately to another endo.

Is there a GP in your practise with an interest in diabetes etc? I looked my GP's on their webpage now and if they have a special interest they are good ones to see (generally). I cannot stress enough that you need this antibody test as, although it is wrong, they are not going to treat you because you fall in 'the range'. If you have the antibodies there is plenty of evidence to suggest that treating you so that your thyroid doesn't get worse is a very postive thing.