private blood test results

[ZMF73]

Hi , I haven't been on for a while, but following further months of hyposymptoms and getting nowhere fast, I have paid for private bloods from Blue horizon, from what I can gather from other sources, these indicate hypo problems but perhaps not enough for GP help, anyone else got anywhere without going private with levels like this? It's so infuriating. Going to visit GP one last time with new results, and reiterate the endless symptoms I suffer with and ask that she either trial me with thyroxine, or refer me to an endo with this specialism. If both are negative responses I guess i will have little option but to pay for a private consultation. :-(
New results

ENDOCRINOLOGY
THYROID PROFILE 2
TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 97 nmol/L 59 - 154
THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 2.59 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.2
FREE THYROXINE 13.7 pmol/l 12.0 - 22.0
FREE T3 4.0 pmol/L 3.1 - 6.8
IMMUNOLOGY
THYROID ANTIBODIES
Thyroglobulin Antibody 18.8 IU/mL 0-115(Negative)
Method used for Anti-Tg: Roche Modular
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 7.7 IU/mL <34 (Negative)
Method used for Anti-TPO: Roche Modular

On the plus side I do not appear to have any significant antibody levels :-)

[Gibbon1]

>On the plus side I do not appear to have any significant antibody levels

A comment, antibodies are a 'preponderance of the evidence' kind of thing.  A lot of people with obvious thyroid autoimmune disease are negative. And a fair number of people without disease are positive.

Also my endocrinologist commented off hand that I didn't have hashimotoes.  She said the ultrasound was good enough to tell.  Says to me that an US might show something.  Contrary to what's often claimed, ultrasounds don't cost that much if you shop around and pay out of pocket.

You might consider other hormone tests,  Your TSH isn't very high, in classic autoimmune hypothyroid it often 'goes to the moon', like up to 100. So maybe other hormones are suppressed due to pituitary issues.. I think women sometimes have low grade pituitary damage from pregnancy and labor.  So not totally out there.

[Red_Star]

I can't pinch any skin anywhere but the tops of my hands. My most hated symptom of myxedema is my nose broadening.

[ZMF73]

Its really clever, My daughter struggles to do this too which is a little worrying, perhaps there is another link their unfortunately :-( Tried again on hubby and can pinch a bit which is more than us, but not as much as the man on the youtube vid I watched. Something else to briing to my GP's  attention! I can pinch a bit of skin near wrists and bottom of legs, but thighs are a no go too!

[Red_Star]

Hmmm. I have tried this test on everyone i know and everyone could pinch their skin except myself and my mum. We both have hypothyroidism. My mother's TSH, free T3 and free T4 are all still in range many years later (she has proven hashi's with biopsy and elevated antibodies). I found this online...

"Medical textbooks about hypothyroidism state that myxedema is thyroprival (pertaining to or characterized by hypothyroidism) and pathognomonic (specifically distinctive and diagnostic).

Translation: if the thickened skin of myxedema is present, you have hypothyroidism. Normal skin is relatively thin, and you may easily lift it with your thumb and index finger. If you look, you’ll find a number of people whose skin is almost impossible to lift. This is due to the marked swelling and glue-like infiltration of mucin in the skin and underlying tissues that result from hypothyroidism."

[ZMF73]

Hmm, not so sure because my daughter and husband are finding this difficult too!

[ZMF73]

Wow that's simple but clever, I cannot pinch skin on the majority of arm, near the elbow underneath I can, but just feels to fat/ swolen everywhere else, my arms aren't particularly huge, but they feel too tight/full to pinch a clump of skin. Don't know if this would be enough for a GP to be convinced?
Thanks for the tip Red-Star

[Red_Star]

Search for "myxedema skin pinch test" and try the test out. Myxedema is unique to hypothyroidism.

[ZMF73]

Hi Barb, the symptoms are many and have been with me and growing in number over last 5/6 years, but to be honest some of the milder ones have been with me longer. My mother , some of her sisters and also some of my female cousins have thyroid conditions too, hence my concern. I had glandular fever as a teenager and i read somewhere that this can cause problems later on too, but not sure if this is the case.

symptoms:-
Extreme Tiredness/ lack of energy/ struggle to get out of bed, drowsy through day/ sleep on sofa
Steady weight gain, diet not productive.
Dry skin, repeat periods of extreme itching/ patches of eczema
Very dry eyes, gritty sore. Using hyper mellose and other remedies.
Itchy scalp.
Hair coarse and brittle/ dull
Eyes- often reported high pressures at optician appointments.
Sun allergy since teens, worsening, itching of any part of exposed skin becoming more severe.
Sunlight makes eyes stream also hurts to go out without sunglasses.
Constipation, regular phases of 4-5 days without going to the toilet, use senna regularly.
Period changes, since 2004 extremely heavy, flooding, clots, 2011/12 changed again, much lighter, but spotting longer.
Feeling very cold all over, heating on when others are very warm, lots of layers, sat against radiator in the evening, not wanting to remove coat when home until after tea (warm for a brief period after eating)
Cold hands and feet
Bloating of stomach, getting better since taking probiotics
Headaches over last few months, tension, sometimes with aura.
Very dry mouth, concerned about breath. Mouthwash 2/3 times a day.
Arms ache after minimal activity, eg, shoulder bag , drying hair
Headache or dizzy feelings if on feet a long while, feel quite ill when out shopping or standing in a bar or watching something.
Poor memory (short term) embarrassing at work.
Loss of libido
PMS moods, breasts extremely tender
Aching joints, lower back
Ears constantly feel like they have infection, itch so much.
Whistling, whooshing in ears
Hunger cravings, salt, bread, potatoes.
Zero tolerance to alcohol, feel drunk after few glasses, progressed to headache shortly after first drink and hangover next day after just one glass.
Frequent UTI with no cause, antibiotics to self medicate (prophalactic after sex)

[Barb135]

Both your FT3 and FT4 are on the low side and it's possible that you could benefit from a trial of replacement hormones, but not necessarily.

Have you been tested for Vitamin D and B12?  Deficiency in either of these can cause some of the same symptoms as hypothyroidism.

What are some of your symptoms?