Thyroid levels help

[Powergower]

Went to my gp as I was feeling unwell, fatigued, dizzy, nauseous and cold. I have also been gaining weight. My mum and sister have a history of thyroid issues. I was treated for thyroid function and when I rang for the results I was told by the receptionist the results were 'normal'. I requested a copy of my results and saw that my tbh serum level is 0.74 (range being 0.34-5.6).

I am also quote high in cholesterol. High in vitamin d and low mean cell haemoglobin of 26. I am also anaemic.

I have long suspected my thyroid isn't working well. Should I go back to the gp to discuss these results? I work ft and being without energy and headachey all the time is depressing.

Did you just have TSH? That’s the most common one the NHS use and GPs are often not very knowledgable...

I’m having full thyroid tests done privately. All my family have thyroid disease but my GP said my TSH was fine so that was that!

I have had thyroid problems for 21 years, after having a tumour removed. All was well until the GP decided my levels were too high (they were perfectly normal) 6 years ago. I have not been right since. I am currently symptomatic, so got my bloods done. they came back normal appart from suppressed TSH, which it should be. I was told it was too suppressed and they want to cut my levels further. I told them that was not happening, that I was very unhappy with the way they have mucked me about over the years and lo and behold! A miracle occurred. I have finally been referred to an endocrinologist! I'm only on the waiting list, and the GP is pestering me to get more bloods done to rule out 'other things'. I asked if he thought I had MS, which has been posited before and the subsequent resounding silence answered that one. I have no symptoms of MS, so that doesn't worry me. I will get the bloods done, just to get them off my back, and hope the endo will actually listen to what I am saying, as I cannot continue like this.

Ask to be referred. GPs are notoriously shit at thyroid problems.

I've been in this cycle of feeling crap for over a decade. I seem to put my health last (busy life, kids, job, volunteering...). I have private health care through work and am thinking of going down this route instead of my useless gp. I am so fed up.

I don't even know if my tsh is low or not. It seems low for MY body to function well but my gp is useless.

Bumping for the evening crowd.

I think with a low tsh of 0.74 you need to go back to your Dr.

Are you supplementing vitamin d? If so, you need to stop and monitor your levels. Too much vitamin d is toxic. Being anaemic would cause he symptoms you describe. What has your GP said/done about the anaemia? They should be prescribing 210mg ferrous fumerate three times a day.

I would sort the anaemia then see how you feel. If you still suspect your thyroid get a proper blood test from Blue Horizon or Medichecks that checks your TSH, T3, T4 and thyroid antibodies. It is possibly to have a normal or low TSH and low T4/T3 because the pituitary gland or hypothalamus isn't working properly. These are called secondary or tertiary hypothyroidism.

Agree with above posters. TSH on its own is useless. At the very least you need to get T4 checked as well.

Gp’s are notorious for their lack of thyroid knowledge. I’m under an endocrinologist due to having thyroid cancer several years ago and my medication is reviewed and altered only by him.
This doesn’t stop a gp at the doctors surgery hounding me every year for the whole of January demanding I go to the surgery to get blood tests and telling me i’m On too much medication, and one year she told me to stop taking it completely ,!
I’m not on too much there are different levels for patients on replacement thyroid medication due to cancer and she just won’t listen until I remind her who my endocrinologist is. (He is the main professor for Scotland ! ) It then restarts every January until I put in a formal complaint last year about her. She’s not called me so far this January.

Mini - Yes I am taking a vit d supplement and I'm astounded I'm over the limit. I've only been taking it a few months over winter and even then not every day. Will stop taking it now.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to get a private test done for the T3 and T4. What treatment is available for secondary hypo?

I agree you need further tests. Meanwhile though, get yourself some ferrous fumerate. You can but it over the counter from the pharmacy. That should help your low iron levels, which may also account for some of the symptoms.

I’ve booked my blood tests via Blue Horizon and if I am hypothyroid I will be paying privately to see an endocrinologist! I wouldn’t trust my GP, nor want to wait 18 weeks plus for an NHS one...