Yet another BORING thyroid question sorry!

[LazyLine]

I know that there are a lot of threads on thyroid issues. I have looked through almost all of them and got a lot of information but wanted a little bit of tailored advice.

I have been suffering from a range of the typical thyroid issues over the last two months especially, but some I have felt for years. Mainly exhaustion and dry skin with weight gain as well. I went to my GP who took blood and I got the results today.

It turns out that they only tested for the TSH level which was 1.7. I know that this is a normal level. When the nurse gave me my results she expressed surprise as she said they would normally be more than one result to be had. I assume a T3 or T4.

My question is, with a TSH level that is normal, is it worth going back and asking for a test for the other levels as well? Is there any point? Have read posts on here that the TSH level is the important one. Don't want to go wading into the doctors and be made to look like a fool.

Thanks!

I don't really know I can remember all this very well, but I if your TSH is normal it excludes the diagnosis of hypothyroidism so there would no need to do further tests. I might be wrong but that is what I remember from lectures.
I hope that helps, I'm sure someone else will know more than me.

Thanks Katyjo.

Hi Lazyline,
It is possible to have a TSH in the normal range (as yours is) but for the T3 & T4 (or better still the free T3 & free T4) to show hypothyroidism. The problem is, it can be hard to persuade a GP to test all of these, so on the basis of TSH alone, hypothyroidism might go unnnoticed.
Have you been tested for thyroid antibodies? Positive antibodies indicate an autoimmune thyroid disorder i.e. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.
It might be worth asking your GP about retesting T3 and T4 and / or antibodies. If he's not agreeable, see if he will retest TSH in six months to see if your TSH has changed.
Good luck - I hope you have a good GP!

Thanks fruitscone for that info.

Fruitscone, I would persue this further, it is possible to have a so called "normal" TSH level and still be hypothyroid. Definetly have it retested and ask to be tested for thyroid antibodies. Subclinical hypothyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid gland is begining to go underactive and you may be experiencing symptoms of this, but it can take years for your TSH levels to rise significantly. The use of blood tests to diagnose underactive thyroid is under scrutiny, some medics are totally patient lead and treat patients according to their symptoms while others just look at the results of blood tests and treat accordingly.I have had experience of both types of doctors, I have had to fight to be treated, but I now have a good endrocrinologist who listens to how I feel and treats me accordingly. Your biggest problem will be getting someone to start treatment, if indeed you do have an underactive thyroid, that is why getting the thryoid antibody tests done would be very useful because if they come back positive then you know you have the autoimmune form of the disease and you have good grounds for treatment.

Is dry skin a sympton of Underactive Thyroid?
I have been on 150 mg of Thyroxine for a couple of years recently raising to 175mg due to need and the last month I have had red, dry skin on my arms and tops of my leg, anywhere where my clothes rub really. I have used a dermalogical moisturiser but its' not really working.

I would push for it. I had a normal TSH but other symptoms made my dr send me to a specialist as she wasn't sure what to pursue. It happened that for me I have no Thyroid function as it appears my pituitary isn't working at all. I don't understand it all yet but somehow it didn't come up in first set of tests.

Dropinthe, dry skin is definetly a symptom of underactive thryoid, I have patches on my feet, legs and knees that are so dry they are pure white, the skin is thickened and cracks easily.