FAO my lovely Dr Sqad... x

[Halifaxmum]

hello darling!

my TSH was 4.5 last year, earlier this year was 3.3 and is now 3.9.

As you know, my lovely, my hair is departing rapidly and i could win the olympic medal for sleeping...

The GP temp I saw last time said it might be worth looking at my TSH, hence the previous values and re-test.

Sqad, do you think I need thyroid treatment? If so, what would you recommend? x

[fliptheswitch]

>If so, what would you recommend? x

Sqad: "600mg Ibuprofen... and monitor the situation" :P

[Halifaxmum]

flip - is that your professional opinion?! lol ;)

[fliptheswitch]

Lol!

Er.... no, sorry. I just couldn't resist :) x

[237SJ]

I suspect your GP will tell you you are borderline and suggest being re-tested in 6 months to "keep an eye on it". You might have to insist that you have symptoms.

[Halifaxmum]

i know flip - lol ;)

yes 237sj, that's what they'll tell me, i'm sure!

[TOWIE]

Halifaxmum - A TSH range is between: 0.35-4.50 - so you are still within reasonable levels. You also need a Free T4 and T3 blood test to complete the overall output.

[Halifaxmum]

towie - are they part of the tsh test?

[TOWIE]

No - T4 and T3 are separate blood tests.

[237SJ]

I think they are in addition to the TSH test. I`m not sure of the figures but I think the UK "normal" TSH levels used to be something like 5 - 5.5 but it has now gone down the the US equivalent which is 3 - 3.5 so in effect you are on the low side (as I am). It`s quite hard to get anything done about it unless you insist that you have symptoms.

[TOWIE]

http://thyroiduk.healthunlocked.com/

This website is great for information. Its free to join. Lots of knowledgable people on there to answer questions.

[Halifaxmum]

well i'm half-bald like a monk, and i can sleep 16 hours a day (easy) - are they symptoms?!

[Halifaxmum]

thanks towie

[237SJ]

My GP said that the TSH levels are not an accurate test as far as your thyroid is concerned. If the thyroid is a bit slow, the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) can be high but if it is working and doing it`s job, T3 and T4 levels will be normal. That is why you need a complete thyroid profile done and from what I can see, the NHS seems to be a bit reluctant to do that. I had to go abroad to get mine done. You just need to insist.

[Halifaxmum]

thanks 237sj, but i live in an area where the gps tend to treat druggies and not much else :(

[Halifaxmum]

btw, the temp gp told me these were tsh results from the past 2 years

[237SJ]

Yes, being half bald and knackered are symptoms. A friend of mine (in her mid 30s at the time) was so tired she couldn`t get off the settee until lunchtime. Everyone told her it was due to her job but she knew it wasn`t that. When she had her thyroid tested, she was almost off the scale. The doctor said her thyroid must have failed suddenly (a hazard of her job) because she still had her eyebrows and hadn`t put on loads of weight. Mind you, there are other things that can cause tiredness and hair loss. Maybe you should check out your iron and B vitamin levels.

[Halifaxmum]

237sj - i have iron-deficiency anaemia as well as B12 deficiency, but i don't know about anything else! lol

i'm just getting sick of going to the doc's and saying " i feel so tired, i could sleep for 24 hours a day", which i literally do think i could

don't get me wrong, i'm not a lazy twonk! i do work, i have a hard physical job that i do 9 1/2 hours saturday and 8 hours sunday... in the week i have halifax son (14) and daughter (12) so i'm not exactly lazy! i have a three bedroom house to maintain!

[237SJ]

Well then don`t quote me because I`m not an expert but I would think your tiredness is to do with your iron levels and B12 and not your thyroid. Are there any support groups online that you could investigate where you could get come ideas as to how cope with your tiredness (maybe diet related)?

[Sqad]

My lovely Mrs Halifaxmum,

Your TSH is perfectly normal, and in my opinion T3 andT4 levels would be of little help. The debate about T3 disorders goes on and on in the medical world and also in the medical world of AB.

No you do not need thyroid treatment.

You say that you have iron deficiency anaemia AND B12 deficiency.....a common situation an that is where your next port of call should rest.................your GP for a full blood count and serum B12 levels.

Hair loss and sleepiness.....are we dealing with a depressive illness here?

I am not an expert on depressive disorders.

Your loving Dr Sqad.xxx

[Sqad]

I have just re-read the thread........NOW....these thyroid results......are they current OR 2-3 years old?

Simple answer please my love.