Hypothyroid SOS cross posted

wlorenm

This is all mega new to me sorry of these are dumb questions.

my thyroid results just came back as a "satisfactory" level. The TSH level was 3.8 but I still have a mass of symptoms. I have a consultation to discuss on Monday. What do I do or ask or investigate on Monday?!
Any help would be mega appreciated.

Fuzzipeg

Please may I suggest you look up the site "Stop the thyroid madness", this is US based and has lots of information you can wade through. You will be able to identify your symptoms and set them against the list of possibles. You will also be able to read how to understand the numbers and so very much more. Like not taking Normal range for an answer, having your symptoms imprinted in your mind or on paper will help you no end.

Many of us have found this site helpful. Many of us outside the US. All the best.

editorgrrl

Are you seeing an endocrinologist on Monday? A good one will consider both your test results and your symptoms.

If it's just your GP, ask for a referral to an endo.

wlorenm

Please may I suggest you look up the site "Stop the thyroid madness", this is US based and has lots of information you can wade through. You will be able to identify your symptoms and set them against the list of possibles. You will also be able to read how to understand the numbers and so very much more. Like not taking Normal range for an answer, having your symptoms imprinted in your mind or on paper will help you no end.

Many of us have found this site helpful. Many of us outside the US. All the best.

Yeah I'm in the Uk. I'm worried he'll just say our guidelines are different
This is hell.

I'm seeing my GP on Monday first. His reaction is what I'll gauge getting a referral on!

Fuzzipeg

You and me both, here in the UK. There are many of us. Europe in general is similar from what I have read.

Come Monday ask for a referral to endocrinology, this will probably be at your local general hospital. It sounds worse than it is, it only means, on the inside, or very similar. The objective is to see how the body is behaving using blood test results. You may only have had specific thyroid ones so far but the endocrinologist will want/need eventually in depth ones.

I repeat, looking at the site will help your understanding. There is also a UK Thyroid support site, (I did not mention this because I assumed you would be in the US, sorry). If you have been called in to talk to your doctor it would seem there is an open mind here. If it is a simple, your results will be in, come in and discus, then the site will be useful but there is so much information to take in, so only follow what is relevant at the moment. Compile your personal list of health issues, the "possible" list will "give you permission" to see your situation with an overview, and empower you because you will know this and that and may be that, may be others you will not have considered could be possibly thyroid related to build up a picture of your true situation. Be objective, and be relax.

All the very best, this need not, should not be as frightening as you currently fear. Relax.

go2grrl

In addition, see if you can get a full thyroid panel and have them check your T3 and T4 levels too. While not entirely progressive, in the US we have the American Thyroid Association (thyroid.org) that will at least advocate for T3 and T4 testing and maybe dosing based on symptoms. Perhaps the UK has an equivalent. Being at the high end of range doesn't necessarily work for everyone.

I'm lucky that I have an endo who, under the guise of "it's your body," will increase my meds according to how I feel. But she still doesn't "believe" in anything other than a TSH number so she's still mega conservative. I had my gland removed 3 years ago and it's been sloooooooooow going.

Best of luck to ya!