to be disappointed with normal blood test results?

[Cambam2010]

Underactive thyroid runs in my family. I show many of the symptoms of having an underactive thyroid - always cold, always tired, foggy head, carpal tunnel, weight gain, constipation, aches and pains throughout my body.

Whenever I have a thyroid function test the results come back normal and my GP will not carry out a thyroid antibody test because everything else is normal (despite a previous test many years ago showing I had thyroid antibodies). I feel so down about this so I paid for a private blood test that included antibody testing. The results have all come back within the 'normal' range.

I'm now disappointed because although I don't want to be ill, I was hoping for a diagnosis and treatment to make me feel human again and now I have no more ideas as to why I feel so bad.

I had exactly this! Luckily I don't live in the UK so Dr was happy to test regularly. All was normal for about 18 months (3 monthly checks) but the tsh was rising gradually. Antibodies wildly abnormal once tsh hit 5 and he did 1 month 25mcg then 2 months 50mcg and the tsh was still about 3 so he was happy to treat me for Hashimotos. I am like a completely different person and feel I lost several years of my life, exhausted and walking trough treacle. Fight for it and see an endocrinologist privately is my advice. I can't believe how shit my life was before thyroxine.

I hope you get answers. I asked about b12 because I have similar symptoms and have finally discovered my b12 blood test is 130. Also my b9 (folic acid) is low and yes, I was relieved to have an answer so I can understand what you mean.

Do you have the ranges to go with the actual results? The lab where I am has 12-22 for free T4 and 3.1-6.8 for free T3. If your lab uses the same ranges then your results are right at the bottom of the "normal' (but maybe not normal for you) range. I don't think TSH is the best indicator, but unfortunately most doctors don't.

I would second fm going over to the Health unlocked thyroid uk forum. There are some very, very knowledgeable people there who are very helpful. I wax in a similar situation to you 5 years ago and thanks to the superb advice/support I got there I am now feeling very well on natural dedicated thyroid (Armour).

Thyroxine is the cheap go to drug for Dr's.
I had all the symptoms of an under active thyroid on thyroxine. I eventually saw an endocrinologist and now I take liothyronine. I also had the option of natural dedicated thyroid but I'd have to buy it myself. Thyroxine doesn't work for everyone. If the T4 doesn't convert into the T3 you are missing vital hormones.
Take someone trusted with you to the Dr.

Trust how you feel. I spent 8 YEARS in and out with chest infections, tonsillitis, infections that wouldn't clear. I have neutropenia and nobody spotted it until a locum last year who did bloods and a chart plotting my neutrophils levels which were at 0.3