Blood test results help needed

[Juggernought]

I had bloods done a few days ago and the GP has asked to see me regarding my thyroid results. Phone appointment booked for a week today as it’s ’non-urgent’. Being the worrier that I am, I wondered if anyone was able to interpret these for me please. Many thanks

You're hypothyroid. He may put you on medication now or wait and retest in say 3 months, but if you stress how bad you feel that may help.

you have hypothyroidism a.k.a underactive thyroid. The doctor will discuss medication and will start you on a low dose (your results aren't alarming). They will probably ask you to come back for another blood test in 3 months to see how you are responding to that dose. It wont be a case of life or death wether you start meds now or in a few weeks time but dont worry - your life is about to improve :-)

I agree those levels indicate hypothyroidism. You should be prescribed levothyroxine. Don't be fobbed off about testing again in three months to see how it goes.

The British Thyroid Foundation are excellent and have lots of resources.

I have taken Levothyroxine for 34 years and it works and renders my results normal.

It may also be advisable to take a vitD supplement because it helps with the Levo uptake.

Good luck and better diagnosed and treated than not.

What are the symptoms of that?

Nevermind. I just googled! Well, blow me, I have all of those symptoms. Who knew!

They vary from person to person but most often: feeling chilly, tired, sluggish and with a slowed metabolism. Some people people have brain fog.

I have been on Levothyroxine for about 20 years now. No side effects, all good.

As an aside, having this condition means you're entited to free prescriptions now, for everything, not just the Levo!

Really? Why is that?

really?? I thought just levo was free? I always pay for my other ones - this is good to know!

Nope all prescriptions free

I really don't know! My doctor didn't seem to know either, just lucky!

I think you need to apply for a medical exemption certificate from your GP - and yes exemption is all medication, not just thyroid treatment.

Get 25mcg levothyroxine. Even if it sounds tempting to be higher, you need to start low and build up, so don't have an anxious GP start at a higher dose, though they may increase it after a few months. Once prescribed, apply through GP for medical exemption certificate.

Vitamin C and D are useful for absorbing thyroxine, you may want to supplement.

I think it’s because you can have other health conditions as a result of having an underactive thyroid or any chronic condition so then those medication's would be free and then it’s too complicated to figure out what prescription would be free and what wouldn’t.

interestingly I don’t think being hyperthyroid gets you the exemption only hypo.

also look into what you cant take with the medication for example, avoid walnuts. Dont have caffeine at the same time. Iron and other supplements must be taken at least 4 hours either side and so on.

I think hypothyroid medication is free because it's a long term condition that significantly impacts wellbeing and may shorten life if it is left untreated. The treatment for hyperthyroidism is usually short term and renders the person hypothyroid and in need of levothyroxine for life thereafter. When the hyper become hypo prescriptions become free.

The recommendation around free prescriptions is based on very old criteria and there are some stark anomalies. For example, asthma medications are not free yet asthma is a life long condition that can and does shorten life.

If one has an auto-immune disease, another is more likely. But not all auto-immune diseases are exempt from prescription charges. Addison's is; rheumatoid arthritis isn't.

It's unlikely that conditions will be added to the free prescription list but probably too unpopular to take them away and as hypothyroidism predominately affects women there could be a sex discrimination challenge.

At the end of the day, I found it bizarre that all my prescriptions were free. I find it even more bizarre that the UK has increased state pension age to 68 but prescriptions are free from age 60. It probably ought to be means tested.

When I was diagnosed, also about 20 years ago, my GP said, "I have good news and bad news. The good news is you will never need to pay for a prescription again. The bad news is you have hypothyroidism and will be on meds for the rest of your life."

Levothyroxine was such a game changer for me, comedian doctor kept telling me my symptoms were depression. Eventually I saw the nurse practitioner, I was in tears and said I just couldnt go on. She said she thought she knew what it was and did a blood test. Next morning I got a call to say doctor needed to see me that day. After "breaking the news" to me his next comment was, "Gosh your results are quite severe, life must have felt like swimming through treacle. No shit Sherlock shame you didn't listen 3 years ago.

It took months to titrate up to the full amount I needed but I felt the difference almost immediately.

Hope it goes well.

Thanks for all the comments. I feel such a relief knowing why I’ve been feeling so rubbish for so long. Swimming through treacle is pretty bloody accurate!

I keep getting heart palpitations. Is that likely related to this?

Certainly is!

It can be and if they don't get the medication right and the dose is too high it can also cause palpitations. You should get regular blood tests to make sure the dose is correct.

I think you are going to be really happy with how much better you feel when you start on levothyroxine.

Just spoken with my gp. She’s prescribed 50mg levothyroxine. I’m so happy there’s a reason I’ve been feeling so awful!