Do I ask for blood test result print outs?

[MonterayJack]

Today I had blood taken to try find a reason for my extreme tiredness, hair loss/thining, dry skin, constipation and other thyroidy type symptoms.

I've had blood tests before for the same thing and they always come back 'normal' yet I still have lots of symptoms. The GP is now testing Vit D levels, ferritin, gluten intolerance, T3 and T4 for thyroid. But I bet good money they will all be 'normal'. I've read that interpretations of thyroid tests can show that levels are normal yet would be regarded as low in other countries and would be low enough to make people symptomatic.

How will I know if my levels are low enough to need treatment if they don't meet the current guidelines? Do I ask for a print out of the results and if so, how would I get to find out if anything needs doing about them? Tia

You can certainly ask for printouts, I've always been given copies of mine by my GP. You can fall back on Googling to see if you can find anything that looks authoritative about how test results would be interpreted in other countries, but it sounds like you want to be referred to a specialist. Have all the tests been done by your GP so far?

Always ask for a printout then just post results on here

Oh wow, merci, it would be great if there are people on here who can help out. I will definitely do that. I just feel permanently shit for no good reason and it's gone on and on for years now with symptoms increasing.

tribot all tests have been done by GP up to now. I had my ferritin levels checked along with thyroid about 9 months ago and was told by GP they were normal. I was then referred to a dermatologist about my hair loss/thinning and she said my ferritin was low enough to affect hair growth but not low enough to explain fatigue. She prescribed 210mg of ferrous fumerate once a day which I've taken for nearly 6 months now with no benefit to hair or anything else. Am utterly fed up and miserable.

Yup - get a print out and then post on here merci and I will be happy to pick your results apart for you!

Oh bless your hearts RockinD and Merci. Think all the results except the Vit D one should be back mid-week. Am praying there is enough to go on to warrant doing something. Am getting desperate here. Thanks again.