Any thyroid experts around? Suspected underactive thyroid

[PinkArmadillo]

This is a long one and I would appreciate any advice from anyone more knowledgable on thyroidy things than me!

Backstory; I'm 27 and have a long history of depression, since about 2011 feeling very tired, weight gain, heavy periods and hair loss. I have always taken GPs advice that most of this is down to the depression, and that the antidepressants I am on (venlafaxine) could be exacerbating the weight gain. I finally had a blood test in 2016 to see if there was any physical cause, was assured it was all fine.

Fast forward to this year. My brother has been diagnosed with hashimotos (underactive thyroid). He has been suffering with identical symptoms to me. I decided to go to GP to mention this and ask for a new blood test. She seemed to understand my concern and agreed that my thyroid needed investigating.

While I was there I asked for a printout of my 2016 bloods. It seemef on these I was on the verge of underactive, witha TSH of 4.6 and t4 of 9. My ferriten was also low at 15.

I've just received the latest bloods back. My TSH is 3.61, my ferritin is 23. Nothing else thyroid related has been tested for. From looking up about hashimotos I'm under the impression T4 and antibodies should also have been tested for.

I phoned the surgery to try and make an appointment with the GP and was told she is on holiday for 3 weeks. They did say they could get another GP to give me a call but they will only do calls between 11 and 1, and I can't take calls during this time when I'm at work!

I'm not really sure how to proceed with this- I don't want to have to be nagging the GP but at the same time I don't feel 'well'. And I am sure this feeling bad is not depression related, as my mental health is good and stable these days.

Should I go back and ask for another blood test, testing for T4, antibodies etc? Or will they not do that?

Sorry to hear you are having to go through this OP.
Unfortunately it's really common to be fobbed off by NHS GPs when it comes to thyroid problems.

IME trying to get the NHS to do a full Thyroid panel is like pulling teeth...sorry to sound so cynical but it's all down to costs.

You can have a whole thyroid panel done by Medichecks online.
It's £59 atm and it's a finger prick test you do at home.
Results are online usually within 24-48hours.
A certified doctor comments on your results and gives advice.

Also you can look at Thyroid UK or Stop The Thyroid Madness and actually take charge of your own thyroid health or at least be armed with more information before attempting to talk to NHS GP again.

Good Luck OP

From those numbers alone you would be considered hypothyroid in most countries... I second getting a Medichecks thyroid panel. NHS won't do it -_-

I have had similar results. GP very reluctant to treat, infact they didn’t see the results as a problem at all, it was picked up by another specialist I saw.

I third the advice to organise your own blood tests. Would also be worth including tests that encompass B12, vitamin D, folate etc. Thyroid UK website has a list of providers. Good luck.

I suffer from an under active thyroid which took almost 3 years to diagnose. It started when I was at school and I began exhausted to the point where I couldn’t lift myself out of bed in the morning when I was about 13.. I didn’t mind school so it was never just an excuse to not go in I genuinely had no energy. I couldn’t concentrate on anything and was so negative. My mum finally agreed that it wasn’t me so demanded blood test after blood test. Eventually they said I was suffering from vitamin D deficiency and gave me tablets to improve this. Nothing really seemed to change so I was back and forth to the GP demanding more blood tests and finally it came back that my thyroid level was very low. I have been on levothyroxine now for over 10 years, most days you do see a difference in yourself but then of course like everyone you get the bad days where you physically have no energy. You need to also remind GP to test your levels every 6 months to ensure you are taking the right dose of levothyroxine. Sounds to me like this is exactly what you are suffering from and they need to retest you for T4 as you need to be put on medication. I don’t know where abouts you are but I get all my prescriptions free due to having an under active thyroid which may be a case of why they don’t just give these tests out so easily as they feel they are losing money. My nan has these symptoms all her life it was only when she got to about 60 odd and had a heart attack they realised why and now she is also on levothyroxine. If your brother has it then it is even more likely you will as my sister does also. I hope you finally get the answers you are looking for so you can start feeling better!

Thankyou for your replies!

I think I will try and plead my case when I can next see the GP for a blood test including antibodies, and if i get nowhere I will have to shell out for a private blood test.

I've been reading somd thyroid forums and it seems a lot of people end up buying medication online :s This worries me as I don't think I could afford a regime of full price medication and private blood tests.

It's frustrating that it seems the NHS won't treat a condition that effects quality of life so much and causes other long term problems. It seems odd that it isn't seen in the same way as blood pressure, and cholestoral etc. You can barely step in a GPs surgery without someone strapping a blood pressure monitor onto you, and yet they won't run throid tests based on obvioys symptoms and family history!!

How did your brother get his diagnosis? I'd do whatever he did.

His doctor looked into it properly as his TSH was over 5, so within the range they will treat.

Hi
I have Hashimotos. I only found out as I asked the question to my GP as I had antibodies. With a TSH like that you should be treated.
You will be given Levothyroxine, small doses built up. I never really got on with this and ended up researching and and now take NDT, which I buy myself over the net. Take a look at stop the thyroid madness website. Having a UAT makes you feel horrid, NDT was the best thing I did, but I have my GP's support (even though they won't prescribe) It wasn't an easy decision if I can help further message me.