Thyroid - anyone know the ranges?

[Elsasalterego]

I have just had my thyroid tested and wondered if anyone would be able to tell me what the ranges were before I go and pick up the results as from reading on here it seems that doctors are reluctant to say what is normal.

I normally burn about 2800 calories per day but have had an injury and am piling on the weight. This would be understandable if I was eating 2800 calories per day but there is no way I am anywhere near that and in fact was even battling my weight when I was doing all that exercise.

I was tested for an overactive thyroid in my early 20s so I have always dismissed that I might have an underactive one- but I am now in my 40s and have had kids and accept that my body may have changed.

I also am always freezing cold, wake up with numb fingers, have anxiety and mild depression, brittle dry hair and dry skin, heavy irregular short periods and I believe all of these are symptoms of an underactive thyroid too. I am beginning to lose my hearing as well. I just want to know what the ranges are before my doctor tells me the results so that if he tells me I am fine but I think I am low then I can request further tests.

You need to ask for a print out of your results, which you are entitled to- the reference ranges will be on there- and then a good idea is to post them, including the reference ranges, on healthunlocked.com's thyroid uk page.

It's worth noting that reference ranges vary from lab to lab, depending on what equipment they use, which is why it's important to give the ranges if you're asking anyone to interpret your results.

By way of example, where I live, the range for FT4 is 9-26, but another lab has a range of 12-22.