Thyroid

1
Hi helpful people, I recently had a blood test to test for underactive thyroid. My mum has it and I was tested years ago and was apparently borderline and I have a lot of symptoms. I was told over the phone after the test that my thyroid "level" was 7 on a scale of 0-30. The nurse was quite dismissive and didn't really explain what this actually meant just that I don't have underactive thyroid and that's that. I've googled this 0-30 "scale" and can't find any info anywhere that shows a scale of 0-30! I'm totally baffled as to what this score of 7 even means and getting an actual appointment with an actual doctor is near on impossible... Just wondered if anyone can shed any light for me, please? Thanks
 
yellowmellow said:
Hi helpful people, I recently had a blood test to test for underactive thyroid. My mum has it and I was tested years ago and was apparently borderline and I have a lot of symptoms. I was told over the phone after the test that my thyroid "level" was 7 on a scale of 0-30. The nurse was quite dismissive and didn't really explain what this actually meant just that I don't have underactive thyroid and that's that. I've googled this 0-30 "scale" and can't find any info anywhere that shows a scale of 0-30! I'm totally baffled as to what this score of 7 even means and getting an actual appointment with an actual doctor is near on impossible... Just wondered if anyone can shed any light for me, please? Thanks
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Could you request the blood test results? I always get my GP to send me a copy of my blood results (these days I can request by email and they will email it back or I pick it up from the desk) for my records. I'm not familiar with any reference ranges for TSH/T3/T4 that use 0-30 - the British Thyroid Foundation has a page on thyroid function tests that might be helpful https://www.btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-function-tests.
 
dinosaursideways said:
Could you request the blood test results? I always get my GP to send me a copy of my blood results (these days I can request by email and they will email it back or I pick it up from the desk) for my records. I'm not familiar with any reference ranges for TSH/T3/T4 that use 0-30 - the British Thyroid Foundation has a page on thyroid function tests that might be helpful https://www.btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-function-tests.
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Thanks for responding! I didn't even think about asking for a copy of my results, I'm going to pop in after work and ask them so I can do some research!
 
I have not seen that as a range, TSH is normal up to about 5 anf FT 4 anywhere from 7 up to early 20's.
I have just had a battle on to get an increase of medication as I was 'in range' but going off Thyroid UK I am totally at wrong end for both GP tried to say it could be perimenopause.
Have you had an antibody test? Good luck with everything.
 
I've gone hypo now from hyper yet again.. Got meds reduced on Monday to hopefully bring thyroid back to an even keel. Have piled weight on and there's no shifting it. As for the fatigue good gawd🙄🙄. But whether it thyroid related , peri menopause related or long covid related god only knows. Thyroid problems suck👍
 
catmama1692 said:
Hi! I contacted my midwife today and she's referring me to the area midwife that specialises in endocrinology issues and she's contacting the specialist to get me seen sooner 😊
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Hope they get you checked over! I found out I had an underactive thyroid when I was pregnant. I don't have any symptoms from it so god knows how long I've had it for. But they gave me a packet of levothyroxine then I never heard anything about it again. Then at a blood test after my son was born, my TSH level was 25 😬😅 it's back to normal now but it was quite a shock to know it was that high!
 
Im going to get my levens checked Soon, I have some symtpoms and just want to make sure. Had them checked 3 years ago and my tsh was 3.0 then.

but i have shortness of breath even when in rest, gained 5kg in a month but didnt change anything, periods are irregular all of a sudden, oily hair and very dry skin, mood swings
 
I've been hypothyroid for almost 20 years now and I'm about to lose my mind. Has anyone who is hypothyroid had their levels jump around? Before Christmas I was bitchy, fatigued, sensitive to cold, gaining weight; all the hallmarks of my levels being off and in hypothyroid territory. GP ups the dose and I do the blood test 6 weeks after the fact. I check my results and now I am in hyperthyroid territory according to my TSH, but my free T4 is in normal range. I am expecting the call this week that the GP/nurse tells me to go on a reduced dose (0.75). Here's the thing, this has happened to me before and I swear that I am religious about taking my Levothyroxine at the same time, no milk/calcium or any other supplements or medications when I take my dose. I am also not eating foods that affect the Levo, such as caffeine, soy, walnuts, fibre, grapefruit, raw cruciferous foods. 😤
 
I would imagine that Thyroid levels, naturally would jump around, because its naturally linked to the adrenal glands and adrenalin. So Id also imagine that anyone taking thyroxine would also have similar issues!

Im sure that taking a regular dose day in and day out, doesnt necessarily take some things into account, eg if you have a late night, or a busier day than normal. then a flat dose of thryoxine doesnt take this into account. I know I cant afford to get too tired on my levothyroxine, cos it literally will take days to feel normal again.
 
Has anyone tried or discussed Armour with their doctor? I’m on Levo for almost five years now and don’t find it’s helping all that much. With small kids it’s difficult feeling so low all the time.
 
hi everyone! didn't know there was a thread for this! but I've been on levothyroxine(?) 75g for years now because of my under active thyroid, last time I went to the docs for check up all my levels where fine and I do feel it! I definitely felt the heat in the UK last year 🤣 before going on these tablets you would of seen me in a jumper as I was always cold! I hope everyone manages to get the tablets they need/want for this! 😊
 
Hi ladies.

I'm wondering if anyone can shed light on how hard/easy it is to be diagnosed with an underactive thyroid? Especially as someone starting from an overweight BMI?

I recently came across a checklist for thyroid issues and I check a lot of the boxes - difficulty losing weight but easy weight gain, always tired no matter what I do, eat or take (as in supplements), low mood, constantly cold and always battling with dry skin. I always thought that this was just how my body worked (even my boyfriend says I'm just eternally sleepy) but my mum had an overactive thyroid when I was little and now I'm wondering if it may run in the family. How long did it take from your first appointments to diagnosis and being on tablets etc?

Would be grateful to hear from anyone :)

ETA: I also just read that teenagers can start puberty early if this is something they suffer with. I started my periods in primary school so really starting to wonder if I've always had this issue in peaks and troughs...
 
jojida said:
I'm wondering if anyone can shed light on how hard/easy it is to be diagnosed with an underactive thyroid? Especially as someone starting from an overweight BMI?
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I'm in Canada, but I don't doubt this will be the same for the UK. Your GP will order blood work for a TSH and free T4 to see if they thyroid is hypo or not. If the TSH is high and the T4 is low (depending on the numbers of course), your GP will prescribe thyroid meds ASAP. In my case I sleeping more than I was awake, hardly eating and gaining weight, muscle aches.
 
jojida said:
Hi ladies.

I'm wondering if anyone can shed light on how hard/easy it is to be diagnosed with an underactive thyroid? Especially as someone starting from an overweight BMI?

I recently came across a checklist for thyroid issues and I check a lot of the boxes - difficulty losing weight but easy weight gain, always tired no matter what I do, eat or take (as in supplements), low mood, constantly cold and always battling with dry skin. I always thought that this was just how my body worked (even my boyfriend says I'm just eternally sleepy) but my mum had an overactive thyroid when I was little and now I'm wondering if it may run in the family. How long did it take from your first appointments to diagnosis and being on tablets etc?

Would be grateful to hear from anyone :)

ETA: I also just read that teenagers can start puberty early if this is something they suffer with. I started my periods in primary school so really starting to wonder if I've always had this issue in peaks and troughs...
Click to expand...
Your gp can do bloods to check your thyroid levels
Or you can buy a home test kit, you take a blood sample (finger prick) and send off
let’s get checked is one website I know off.
 
jojida said:
Hi ladies.

I'm wondering if anyone can shed light on how hard/easy it is to be diagnosed with an underactive thyroid? Especially as someone starting from an overweight BMI?

I recently came across a checklist for thyroid issues and I check a lot of the boxes - difficulty losing weight but easy weight gain, always tired no matter what I do, eat or take (as in supplements), low mood, constantly cold and always battling with dry skin. I always thought that this was just how my body worked (even my boyfriend says I'm just eternally sleepy) but my mum had an overactive thyroid when I was little and now I'm wondering if it may run in the family. How long did it take from your first appointments to diagnosis and being on tablets etc?

Would be grateful to hear from anyone :)

ETA: I also just read that teenagers can start puberty early if this is something they suffer with. I started my periods in primary school so really starting to wonder if I've always had this issue in peaks and troughs...
Click to expand...
I was diagnosed around age 20. I had my bloods done and they came back borderline hypo however I was having symptoms so the doctor decided to initially just wait and do a repeat in 6 weeks. This also came back borderline hypo and so decided to medicate as I said before due to having symptoms (bad fatigue, dry skin and nails, unexplained weight gain...)

I was started on a low dose and then brought back in for testing every few months initially to ensure the right dose, with the dosage increasing slightly each time as they try to get the balance correct. At one point went slightly hyper with symptoms and so dose was brought back down again. It remained fairly steady then for a few years then the dose went up again around 3/4 years ago but has been pretty consistent since that.
 
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