underactive thyroid - Anyone?

[Buddy80]

Hi all,

It all makes such sense now (feeling tired, brittle hair, depression, over eating, muscle aches, lack of concentration, etc) I have been tested for thyroid problems last month.

My first blood test results: high TSH level and low/normal T4.

My GP told me that it's a borderline result and recommended another blood test. I have since had this and due the results next week.

BUT, I am dreading being diagnosed as sub-clinical . I have heard if you are, you don't recieve any medication until your T4 levels decrease to a specified level.

I have 2-friends who also have an underactive thyriod and felt so much better once treated with medication.

Help please. I have a toddler and it would be wonderful to get this sorted!

I've been reading up on this, and apparently the set medical normal range for TSH is 0.5 to 5.0. This 'normal range' was established years ago, as the original testing was conducted on men who had normal thyriod glands. Been stated since that the normal range is more like 0.5 to 2.5. I don't know which range GPs work from or whether its subjective?

Feeling ill today, really hope I can get some treatment.

For my case, will wait and see.

Anyone follow considerations in thier diet for thier thyroid? I've been briefly reading up on nutrition if you are hypothyriod.

LBC, thanks for the details for Lab21. How hard was it to get blood samples organised?

Phoned up for the results of my second blood test. Got told they are 'normal'. Got told this before (they were high TSH and slightly low T4) by reception so have booked an appt tomorrow to find out my levels and how borderline I am.

When you get tested by Lab21, did you go for all thier thryiod tests? When the results came back, was it easy to approach your GP with them?

Good day today... got back from GP's and results are borderline again.

Been prescribed 100mgs as a temporary measure just to see what happens in the long-term.

As per my previous post.. you get yourself all armed with the facts, etc and when it comes to it, was all really straightforward in the end

Ignore post - meant to be on other MN board! LOL

This post caught my eye cos my Mum recently has been diagnosed with underactive thyroid. She has probably been undiagnosed for decades. It really has ruined her life and was probably the reason for the depression she has had pretty much all my life. Hassle your GPs please it really is worth it. I'm angry with my Mum's GP for never testing her for this!

You guys seem to know your stuff does it really run in families??

That is really sad about your mum. I can't really comment if it runs in families, but I have heard it can.

Did not want to read and run, but I sure a wiser MN'er will be along shortly....

Hi Kateecass, yes it does/can run in families. Doesn't mean you're guaranteed to get it though, but more likely. In my case my mum and both her sisters had it, and when I was pregnant doc said he expected I would develop it too in later life - a few months later and he was right. That's not something to be worried about, but if you recognise the symptoms then at least you can ask the doc to check you for it.

Does it run in families?:
My Mum didn't have it but my grandmother did. None of my brothers or sisters have it. I am the youngest.

Thanks

So if I went to my GP you reckon they'd do blood tests?

Am always tired bu then I have a 3 and 1 year old!

Yeap Goober
My mum only got diagnosed last year, Ive been diagnosed 8 years
But all but one of her sisters have had it for years

another one here on armour thyroid obtained privately. Leonie would be interested to know how much you pay.

I went private for the same reasons

And yes believe there has been a stement recently from the orthodox thyroid people saying people shouldn't go off and do what we;ve done.

I knew I was ill and they were having none of it despite haveing TSH of 8 at one point.

'This post caught my eye cos my Mum recently has been diagnosed with underactive thyroid. She has probably been undiagnosed for decades. It really has ruined her life and was probably the reason for the depression she has had pretty much all my life. Hassle your GPs please it really is worth it. I'm angry with my Mum's GP for never testing her for this!'

Exactly the same thing happened to my mum. It has taken her years to recover. Fotunately I got tested regularly, so when I got it (after having DD was born which is quite common) it was picked up early.

Just had bloodtest results back and they are 3.88 TSH - no idea if that is borderline or what means though and will hopefully get to speak to a dr soon.

Hopefully it won´t be too much longer as my hair is falling out by the bucket load, am dead on my feat and I can´t think or cope with anything....

Reading about the symptoms for an underactive thryroid and it suddenly all makes sense....

I will second the posters who say listen to your body an not necessarily just the actual results.

I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid at age 11, and over the past 20 years or so, have seen my thyroxine increased and increased

A couple of years ago, after one of my 6 monthly blood tests, my GP said that the results showed that i should take 200mcg a day, when he know by looking at me and my symptoms that i should take 250 - so that is what i took.

I have just had another blood test, where apparantly my results are low again, so i may need another increase - sorry, i am waffling

ANd def ask if you can be referred to an endocrinologist, as they are much more clued up.

best wishes

You might also like to check out
wilsons syndrome.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism 4 years ago after the birth of my second child.
I am still on 50mgs of thyroxine (T4) a day and have recently asked for T3 to be added as I felt I was struggling to turn T4 (your store cupboard energy) into T3 (readily available energy). I take 12.5mg of T3 a day and feel much better for it.
Thyroxine can also cause iron and B12 deficiencies, as well a deficiencies in B-complex vits. I was recently diagnosed with aneamia (probably due to very heavy periods) and was low in all B-vits so take supplements of these too and am feeling much better.

Just bumping this up; I have ordered the thyroid panel from Lab21, where can you go to get the actual bloods taken? I know my GP will be very unhelpful. I live in London.

I am about to start bovine thyroid because I have been diagnosed with thyroid disorder. Its the same supplement that healed my aunt.

I know most of this thread is about getting a GP to prescribe thyroid treatment - but I am a bit weird about never wanting to take prescribed medicine if I can avoid it. Is it possible to sort out a slightly underactive thyroid by lifestyle changes - eg I could quit the soya, from advice given here; exercise more; eat better; take some supplements. Would that all have an effect?

Is 0.5 borderline for thyroid problems in a thyroid specific blood test?

I had my bloods done in January as I’d experienced sudden weight gain which is unusual for my body and some swelling in my legs. I was told my bloods were normal and that my endometriosis was the cause. However I’ve just realised I can view my blood results on the nhs app and can see my thyroid test came back as 0.5 so right on the edge of being too low. Should I ask for another test or is 0.5 normal? I have been feeling pretty wrecked since Xmas. Thanks