Thyroid Results
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi, I am after some advice! I went to see my GP in October after feeling generally unwell and he did some blood tests, they revealed that my thyroid was on the low side. The results are as follows:
1st bloods = tsh 4.8 T4 10.8
2nd bloods = tsh 4.6 T4 11.8
3rd bloods = tsh 4.0 T4 11.9
Also tested positive for the anti bodies.
Question is do I have hypothyroidism and should I by on medication?? My next appt with GP is January!
Any comments very welcome!
0 likes, 10 replies
MtViewCatherine kelly86232
Posted
Hi Kelly, do some research on diet and supplements. In the early stages of thyroid disease, you may be able to greatly curb the problem with a gluten free paleo style diet, good quality vitamin and mineral supplements, along with essential amino acid supplements.
Maintaining and troubleshooting thyroid meds is a nightmare that worsens over time. Best to avoid if you can.
Read the many posts people have written about thyroid disease to get a sense of the progression of the disease.
Levo kelly86232
Posted
Hi , do you happen to have the ranges for your blood results? if you do then can you print them on the forum. I would say your T4 is low in range and we don't have any T3 result? Unfortunately GP's seem to think the only blood test that matters is TSH/T4 but even if T3 is written on your blood form the Labs ignore it? What are your symptoms? Many GP's won't diagnose you as hypothyroid until your TSH reaches 10 ( it's 3 in other countries). If you don't have the blood ranges, you can call your surgery and ask for them. TSH is normally something like 0.5 - 5 and T4 possibly 11 - 21.
kelly86232 Levo
Posted
Thanks so much for your reply. I have contacted my Gp surgery this morning and the ranges are:
TSH = 0.27 -4.5
T4 = 11-23
My antibody result was 270
No T3 has been reproted on!
Feel crap though x
Levo kelly86232
Posted
ok so TSH near top of range and T4 at the bottom and antibodies too - these point to problem with your thyroid - Hashimotos?. The trouble with the blood tests are that as long as you fit in the range everything is fine when in fact it's not for you. Obviously your GP is waiting to see if your next bloods are even worse and then hopefully will do something to help you. You will maybe be referred to an Endocronologist - make sure it's a thyroid specialist and not a diabetic one as so many of them are. Starting dose for Levothyroxine is 50mg unless you are 60+ and then it's 25mg. Trust me, it's difficult to get someone to treat you by your symptoms and not just your blood tests. If you need medication, the longer you are left without it the longer it takes to start recovering. Hashimotos is more difficult as people with this tend to have flare ups and do better having a gluten free diet. I had post partem thyroiditis , had thyroid mostly removed so am now hypothyroid and not gluten free. It is usual when people have thyroid trouble that they also have low vitamin levels and these should also be looked at. B12/Folate/Ferritin and Vitamin C. Even though they may be in range, it is better if they are in the top third of the range. My TSH is 0.11 and my T4 is 18.5. I take 100mg Levothyroxine daily. I get private thyroid tests TSH/T4/T3 done. It is T4 and T3 that are the most important numbers. The T4 is converted into T3 and this goes to every cell in your body . When.in January are you due back to see GP?
kelly86232 Levo
Posted
Thanks so much for taking the time to be so good with your response! I see my GP on the 3rd of Jan.
My Symtoms are as follows:
Eyes stinging
feel tired all the time
No energy or enthusiasm
Tongue feels rough and sore
constant dull headache
palpitations on and off
mood very low
Generally just feel really crap!
I'm average height and weight and 40 years old, feel more like I'm 80!
I fear my GP won't prescribe, but I'm truly fed up!
Merry Xmas by the way x
Levo kelly86232
Posted
Not too long to wait then till 3rd January. just tell the GP that your not prepared to put up with the symptoms and you feel awful. How about a trial of Levothyroxine-;normally 3 months. Please don't be fobbed off by the GP or them telling you it's all to do with only TSH. The TSH is great for being diagnosed but after that and once on meds is useless. It sounds to me as if you are having trouble with your thyroid - it needs sorting out. keep in touch once you've seen your GP and let us know what they say. Good luck.
kelly86232 Levo
Posted
I will let you know how I get on with the GP! thanks again x
Levo kelly86232
Posted
your welcome - look forward to your next instalment. speak soon.
Tutu123 kelly86232
Posted
Your t4 is low and tsh is high so suggests you have hypothyroidism. I think with the antibodies as well could also mean hashimotos disease. Check out the thyroid UK website for more info.
I never feel good unless my t4 is around 20 and tsh is less than 1.
Cutting gluten out of your diet is a good idea as this can often trigger thyroid issues particularly in hashimotos patients.
I think someone else has suggested but check out stuff you can do with your diet(I wish I had done this around my original time of diagnosis rather than getting put on huge doses of thyroid meds which killed my thyroid completely). However, you may not be able to sort it with diet alone and you may need medication for it.
Good luck x
Tutu123 kelly86232
Posted
Also forgot to mention if they won't diagnose you, make them test your free t3 levels. This is the amount of usable thyroid hormone in the body and is a very important test which most docs in UK don't do but they CAN do