Thyroid diagnosis

[hellosummer23]

Hi
I'd like to check my thyroid gland as I think I have the symptoms of thyroid problems. If you had been diagnosed was it with your GP and based on what complaints did they test you?
Some (not all) of the doctors at my practice tend to "brush you off", I'd like to avoid that.

I got my diagnosis incidentally as part of other blood tests.

However, you might want to ask on the autoimmune disease sub section of health boards. There's a lot of thyroid knowledgeable people there.

My eye changed and I saw the opticians first who were useless then GP Got full Bloods done, then took Carbimazole for 18 months for hyperthyroid and private surgery on my eye. Long road

What symptoms do you have, OP?

Blood tests are easy to organise and ask for, and TSH levels are usually routinely tested.

Thank you for your answers @rhow 1) I have pain under my chin and it looks a bit like a double chin quite rounded, and that's a new thing. I am 35, 2) have had weight fluctuations since having DS 4 years ago (between 134 to 154 lbs, my height is 5 feet 6)
3) eye sight worsened (have been to optician)
4) been diagnosed with pre diabetes
5) brain fog/forgetful/mood fluctuations...

I'll add tiredness and body aches

I couldn't even get an appointment to speak to my doc so had a thyroid check done privately. Only £50. I used a walk in randox clinic.

My mostly defunct thyroid was picked up in an annual review. I have an autoimmune blood disorder so it was no great surprise to find my immune system was attacking my thyroid as well.

I was diagnosed by my GP when I was 27 in 2015 and referred to an endocrinologist. I had severe Graves disease. I took neomercazole for a year and a half and went into remission in 2018. I developed hashimotos in 2020 and take eltroxin for that. I would take an underactive thyroid 100 times over an overactive one.

My symptoms with Graves disease were a severe tremor, I lost 2 stone, I was very hot all the time (wearing a t shirt walking to work in February and unable to cope with the heat in an office setting at work though everyone else complained about the cold), I had an insatiable hunger and was eating constantly including waking up at night to eat, my periods stopped, I was sweaty all the time, I had very severe heart palpitations and was constantly going to the loo, had weakened muscles to the point where I struggled to open doors, get out of a chair or walk up or down stairs, I felt constantly wired and couldn't sleep, I was very emotional and had severe mood swings, my memory was impacted and I struggled to remember basic things including forgetting words when I was speaking. I had to write absolutely everything down on post it notes including how to get ready every morning for work. Awful. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

My hashimotos symptoms were mainly just extreme fatigue and low mood.

Oh and hair loss. I probably lost half my hair with Graves disease.

I had thyroid blood tests because my heart rate was crazily high (150bpm when lying down), was diagnosed as hyperthyroid and then tested for antibodies which showed it was Graves disease.
I think with your symptoms it wouldn't be unreasonable to ask your GP for a thyroid blood test, at least to rule it out.

Hyperthyroidism/Graves picked up during a routine test as thyroid function had to be tested regularly anyway. Carbimazole, massive doses of betablockers and radioiodine eventually helped over time and now it’s in remission.

Symptoms I had:
Put on a lot of weight
Always tired
Dry skin
Dry hair/falling out hair
Dry feet
Blurred vision and dry eyes
Aching muscles
Sleeping all the time
Very cold even in summer

My thyroid gave up altogether not just reduced.

If it's severe I've seen it likened to the beginning of hibernation.

could anyone tell me if these thyroid results are normal? I cannot get a doctors appointment! Just for peace of mind!

T4 Level - 7.2 (7.9-16) below low reference
serum free triiodothyronine level 5.6 (3.8-6)

thank you!