i have just got a print out of my thyroid function test .

[grandnutty]

i dont really understand them but maybe someone can help . my serum tsh level is 0.25 and my serum free t4 level is 19.6 . if my doctor said these were normal . do i take her word for it or try and go further . i am gettin worse by the day and am so afraid for my health at the moment . maybe someone can give me advise or at least some reassurance that it will get better . i have been hypothyroid for 11 years.

[shaws Administrator]

Hi grandnutty

When you give your blood test results we have to have the ranges of them (the figures in brackets as labs differ - why I don't know) and it makes it easier for members to comment.

Have you been prescribed medication, levo I assume, and what is the dose?

Also ensure your GP has done the following blood tests as low doses could affect the way you feel: Vit B12, Vit D, Ferritin, folate and iron. Always get a copy of your blood test results and keep copies so you have them to refer to.

[Leoniebabs in reply to shaws]

Hello, I wonder if you can help

I just received my blood results for thyroid. They say my TSH is normal but my thyroxine level is low and they want to re-check in a month. I am an auto-immune nightmare; have vitiligo, idiopathic anaphylaxis, urticaria, blah blah blah. Mum has hypo thyroid and dad had hyper. I've been looking out for this for ages and knew I always had the anti-bodies.

I've been feeling pretty rubbish for a while now, which is why I requested the test. I don't want them to palm me off with 'come back in a month', letting it just get worse. I think it's probably extremely mild now but I know it's likely to be hypo eventually and would rather act on it now. I've seen how ill my mum and grandma were with it.

I'm so tired all the time and, I don't know if this is a symptom but I am ridiculously thirsty, I am drinking about 3.5 litres of water a day...which feels a little excessive!

This is what my results say, don't know if this makes sense:

(442W) Serum TSH Level 2.99 mlU/L (0.27-4.20)

(442V) ! Serum free T4 level 11.3pmol/L (12.0-22.0)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

Leonie

[shaws Administrator in reply to Leoniebabs]

Hi Leonie

I'm sorry you are not feeling well. You haven't put a profile history but assume you have had an antibodies test? If so can you get a print out of these and post.

Your TSH appears to be on the rise but GP's have been told not to prescribe until it reaches 10 which I think is ridiculous if you have clinical symptoms. You also say it runs in your family.

I am not medically qualified but, as he said, your T4 is low. I don't see why you have to wait another 4 weeks. Also ask your GP for Vitamin B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate if you haven't already had them and post as well.

If your antibodies are high he should prescribe levo.

[Leoniebabs in reply to shaws]

Thanks for your reply.

I haven't had an antibody test, this time, but have had anitbodies for both hypo and hyper since I was 13 (now 30). I've always been tested because of family history and vitiligo and other auto-immune problems. I knew my thyroid was going to go one way or the other but I'm now in this stupid situation of having to wait for it to get worse!

I have already been having B12 injections every 3 months for about 10 years, it's a common side effect of vitiligo but will get the other vitamins checked out. Thank you.

This morning my urticaria has gone bonkers too, I'm doing a masters so it would seem that the stress is all too much for my bizarre immune system

Thanks for your help, I'm going to try to get referred to an endocrinologist.

[Jackie]

Hi, Perfect info from Shaws but also suggest you have a Free T3 test. it is not easy but you do really need to have it. It was routine for thyroid diagnosis and treatment, now stopped because of costs.!If Gp will not do it or cannot, as NHS here, then you can offer to pay for it through GP, very cheap. My GP hysterical when I suggested it, although always had it done and on T3. Now I pay through TUK and Blue Horizon. Well known Lab so well recognised.thyroid.uk.org.uk/tuk/te, I have the intermediate test. £61 if quote TUK 10. all by post and PC. very easy.

Jackie