Anyone know about thyroid stuff?

[crashdoll]

GP felt my throat, agreed he felt something and is sending me for a thyroid ultrasound. I have copies of blood tests results - TSH is 1.56 and free t4 is 7.9 which he said was borderline low. There is no range on the results. Does this sound like an underactive thyroid?

[vitaminC]

Hmm, the FT4 is low, but your TSH is still well within normal range. I'm not sure what he expects to find in the ultrasound, I would be doing a repeat blood test and looking at prolactin levels etc, to check out pituitary function!

Are you having symptoms, or did this just come up during a full blood panel?

[crashdoll]

I'm having symptoms - lump in the throat, excessive fatigue and dizziness. It's a bit hard to tell because I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sjogren's Syndrome too, so I assumed feelings of general unwellness were due to existing conditions and the medication I'm on - of which there are many!

[vitaminC]

OK, well you're a prime candidate for Hashimoto's hypothyroiditis, unfortunately (auto-immune) , which is probably why your Dr tested you.

In that case, the logical next step would be to test for anti-thyroid antibodies... Still not sure what more they're expecting to find out from an ultrasound scan

[crashdoll]

Do you think it's worth seeing someone privately? I have full cover, might as well make the most of it. I do have an excess to pay though and money is tight. I've heard GPs aren't the greatest at dealing with thyroid stuff, although I have to say my GP is pretty on the ball.

[vitaminC]

I don't know enough about the UK health service to advise you on that, I'm afraid!

It's not life-threatening, so while the symptoms can be very annoying, it's probaly OK to go through your GP for now, knowing you have the option to go privately if they fob you off or whatever...

[crashdoll]

Thank you for all your help. :) It does seem easier to stick with my GP.

[vitaminC]

You're welcome! I hope you get some answers!

I've been undergoing hormone tests for weeks for similar symptoms to you, but still with no clear answer or diagnosis... and that's in the darn hospital I work/study in! The guy in charge of my care is actually my professor of endocrinology!