Further thyroid testing "an internet fad"

[Saucery]

Just been told this by my GP. All testing beyond the basic single baseline blood test is something some people on the internet have turned into a craze, apparently.

Knowledge of secondary hypothyroidism is generally very poor, which is probably one of the reasons the NICE guidelines say suspicion of it merits a referral to an endocrinologist and yes, over-reliance on the TSH test fails to pick it up, time and time again. Secondary hypothyroidism cannot be treated by TSH, any more in fact than any other sort of hypothyroidism can.

So I've had an ultrasound because my periods are not regular and because of random spotting. The doctor who did the the ultrasound recommended I have blood tests to check my hormone levels. Does he mean thyroid tests? And I've noticed this last month I've had no spotting but the 8 months before that I did so I'm not sure how. But I deffo think my thyroid isn't functioning properly ( due to other random symptoms and nit just the spotting) what tests will my GP check for because I've had TSH done in the past and it's always 'normal'

Doctor probably means testosterone and oestrogen which is generally done on day 2-4. And possibly progesterone which is done on day 21.

StarTravels - the results you describe sound similar to mine. Can I ask which GP/endo you went to (PM me if that's against MN guidelines)? And what were your symptoms?
Thank you!

@Saucery, you referred upthread to childbirth and blood loss. I'm sorry, I've only just spotted it.

Have a look at this: www.markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/posts/-symptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment-of-sheehans-syndrome

I wondered whether it might apply to you?

Thank you, pleasemrstweedie, that is very interesting. It's possible, but there were a good 7-9 years after the blood loss before the symptoms started to emerge.
I started taking an iron/ folic acid supplement and high strength (ott) Vit D but a stinking cold has masked any benefits so far! gP next week, so we shall see.

I've just found and read through all this thread.
I'm only mid-thirties and could have written some of you have saucery, in terms of saving energy for work and mostly resting/collapsing at weekends.

I have an appointment with my GP next week to ask about this and am already anticipating 'you should exercise more' and not looking forward to it.

*some of what you have.

Sorry for typos

Insist on the blood tests, Maria, for a start. They can put it down as a Well Woman Check or whatever the heck they like, as long as they do them.

I had to fight for a year to get on thyroxine and even then only got 25mg, which did nothing. Im now up to 125mg. My results at my worst was only borderline and they were reluctant to treat me but i had so many symptoms they had to, my neck was swollen and had moon face, the lot. Luckily now i have a gp that listens to symptoms rather than only looking at the tsh level

I am going to try not to sound like a whiny child when I go....

But WHY.........but whhhyyyyyy are those levels low? Whhhyyy?

If he tells me it's me Age and offers me ADs I am going to stick his QOF somewhere uncomfortable.

Thanks saucery The problem is I had bloods done last year for e.g. Thyroid and, you guessed it, everything was within range.
At the time I wasn't feeling up to the fight of demanding a copy of my results but now I wish I had.
I know I still can - I just need to gird my loins and get on with it, so to speak.

unicorn sorry to hear you had to fight too. Bloody hell, a whole year!!! That's a long time to fight for thyroxine while feeling rubbish. Glad you got it sorted and have a better GP now

Well, he didn't mention age or ADs and gave me the dosage for the VitD and Folic Acid supplements I need to buy. Which I'm ahead of him with, as I already got them and started taking them.
More blood tests, amusingly labelled 'Malaise' which probably means 'this patient is a pita, make her go away' but sounds pleasingly Victorian
At least he is going through all the options.

I've not been in the UK for 11 years, but the endo clinic at Manchester Royal used to prescribe T3. I'm unable to convert T4 to T3 so all the T4 they were giving me just appeared in my blood test results, but other than that, was no use whatsoever.

It's easier (and quicker) for GPs to just fob people off with antidepressants. (imho).

Just a pointer - according to US research, the normal dose of T4 is 1µg for every pound of normal body weight - so someone who weighs 10 stone should be on 140µg per day.

Also, it's acknowledged that at least 25% of people who have their blood tested to get the 'normal' range results have in fact untreated underactive thyroids.

I have a fantastic endocrinologist - in Limoges - who treats my symptoms and how I feel, not my blood test results.

I have been heard to remark that if diabetic patients were treated the same way, they'd be dropping like flies. The point I was making wasn't understood.

Can anyone recommend a good website where I can buy thyroxine online (without prescription)? There are a few sites around but it's expensive and I'm not sure which ones are legitimate?