Thyroid Problem

[pk12345]

I have recently suffering from what health professionals have described as depression and anxiety. However I am not so sure . I had recently had a blood test done by my local GP and when the results came back, he said my bloods were "normal".However, when I analysed the results, I found my TSH was 0.8 (Range 0.5-4.3) which suggest I am borderline hyperthyroid and I also have very low triglycerides-0.72 (Range 0.8-1.7) which also suggest hyperthyroidism. However, when I point this out, it literally falls on deaf ears as my doctor is very deaf. I have been suffering from all the symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as increased appetite, very frequent bowel movements, tremors, increased perspiration and slighlty irregular heart beat constant feeling of being warm as well as the mental manifestations of the condition(no concentration, apathy,memory problems etc). Also, there is a history of thyroid conditions on my mothers side of the family as my mother has hypothyroidism, my granny has hyperthyroidism,my grant aunt has hyperthyroidism and my great grant aunt died from an undiagnosed thyroid condition.
    I need help as the professionals treating me are very narrow minded and will keep giving me anti depressants and increase the dosage until I stop complaining. I am only an 18 year old male and nowone is listening.

[gimel]

Red Star has covered the needed tests very well.  I just wanted to note that from your mention of "bloods" I suspect that you are in the UK.  That presents extra problems due to the influence of the NHS.  Basically they push doctors to only test and diagnose based on TSH, which doesn't work.   TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many things that at best it is only an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3, as well as other tests listed above.  

So, it is frequently difficult to get UK doctors to do all that should be done.  One of our members that was successful in that attempt described it like this.    "What I have learned from my experience is that you have to go to the Dr's office and TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT and to go backed up with knowledge.  You have to tell them that you have done your reading and looked into your condition and care about the long-term treatment of your health and thyroid.  If you fight for what you want, you will eventually find someone that is happy to go along with your wishes.  But we all have to take charge of our own health, right?"

So this may be a little more difficult since you are 18; however, from your post I sense you are up to the task of learning about thyroid issues, and becoming your own best advocate, in order to get the testing and treatment needed.  If all else fails, could you go private?

Please keep in touch and we will help any way we can.  

[Red_Star]

Based on your symptoms, family history and low triglycerides you need a more indepth work up.  Besides the clinical evaluation, tests to help with a diagnosis include:

TSH
Free T4
Free T3
TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) / thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI)
Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb)
Thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb)
Radioactive Iodine Uptake (RAI-U)
Thyroid ultrasound
Thyroglobulin serum