Worried sick

Hormones
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Hi i got blood test results back from my doctor yesterday, she said my TSH levels were a little high 4.92 normal mU/L should be 0.27-4.20 she just told me to go for another blood test in 6 mths time is this normal, i am worried sick as i dont have  a clue what this means . Help 

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Just a little over mine was 8

Shelly is a nurse from the USA who's very knowledgeable and a great source of information .....

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The important question is: how do you feel? Are you having any symptoms? Weight gain, constipation, fatigue, dry skin?

Some doctors would treat at that level but there may be no need to...

Oh and stop worrying! I've had it for 7 years now and I'm doing good!

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Hi Liza 

Thanks for reply , i am constantly tired (for years)  and to be honest i do suffer with stress and high anxiety  , funny though the reason i got these blood tests done was because of tiredness but doc said over phone that these results werent because of tiredness i so confused , i dont want to go ask her face to face as dont wanna be a nuisance , i know my own body though.i got a print out of the bloods off the secretary the following day to do y own research lol, double dutch to me. I havin gained weight , All i wanted her to tell me is what does it mean , i have no clue of all the tech number talk , 

Thanks Liza 

and good to hear you doing good confused

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Someone will come and tell you exactly what it mean, I am a patient so I don't know exactly but it just means that your thyroid is petering out, it's low, not functioning as well as it could.

I think your doctor could be wrong ??? and many people will probably chime in saying the same a TSH of over 4.9 can cause fatigue.

In my personal experience my last blood test was TSH 4.0 and I could barely make it through the day, I was overwhelmed just thinking about trying to grocery shop, my doctor upped my dose three weeks ago and I am already feeling 100% better. 

It's easy to treat, if you need to you just take one pill a day and it's a pill with something in it that your body makes on it's own so it's not like taking drugs.

You can go through some ups and downs as you figure out your best dose and that can change over the years, but all in all it's nothing to be too worried about. 

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Same here ....was tired for over 18 mths or more weight gain.....aches and pains...

Libido out the window ....my partners great though despite jokes about running off with some else .......

But Its Auto immune thyroiditis ....endocrinologist reckons it's lactulose but won't do anything about it. Despite the Auto immune Urticaria and Hives which I've had for the last 7 months daily.......diagnosed in Aug last yr....:-)

If your lucky you'll just go onto levothyroxine and no complications .........

I went Dairy free for 5 wks absolute pain but felt less knackered and joints were in less pain......but I'm not allergic to milk and dairy .....just sensitive .....

It's a long rd and there is light at the end of the tunnel....just some a 're longer than others . :-)

Best of luck

Stephanie

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Hello Pixie:

My name is Shelly and I am a nurse in the USA.  I have Hashimoto's thyroid disease since 1987.

TSH is a sensor hormone and when the number goes up the scale it means HYPO or under active and when it goes lower on the scale it menas HYPER or too much hormone.

You may be placed on a thyroid med to help support the hormone level the body needs.  The thyroid helps your metabolism, your weight, your energy level, ability to have a period and get pregnant.

Thyroid disease hits women more than men, it hits in the ages of 20 to 45.  It can come out after pregnancy and after menopause.

Thyroid disease can also run in your family and come from a virus called Epstein-Barr or Mono.

Symptoms of low thyroid (HYPO) are: feels sleepy, low energy level,  feels cold, weight gain, muscle aches, brusing, low temp and low heart rate, brittle nails, dry skin and scalp, depression, headaches.  These are common ones.

Don't worry it is treatable and your doctor may want to wait and monitor you and repeat your blood in a few months.  They like to make sure by having 2 thyroid TSH tests that are off before they give you hormones. 

If you are feeling bad symptoms above tell your doctor as it helps to make sure you are diagnosed correctly.

You can live a good life with this disease.

Any questions just ask,

Shelly

 

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Oh yeah my endocrinologist said 1 should be my optimum........0.54 I'm hooded stiill :-)

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Shelly your a star wish we had more RNs in the UK never mind GPS that understands what this means to the majority of us .....without your Info I don't think I'd have pushed further for more info from my care trust.

Despite this I think it's a vastly under rated illness ......but thankfully covered under the equality act 2010 as an illness classed as a disability due to the lifelong effects and problems associated with Auto immune conditions.

So UK peeps if you've had a little time of and reaching your triggers points go see occupation health and get them to advise your employer of what is expected from them ......know your illness know your rights ....:-)

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Thanks liza

i am scared of putting on weight , is this deffo part of it if you go on medication or do you put on weight anyway I know it sounds vain but i have always had a hang up about weight even though i only 8 and half stone, i have seen my sister really gain loads of weight from other medications , do you know of an alternative ? 

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Thanks stephanie glad i joined this forum feeling a little bit better already , i might try the dairy free diet , i still have a lot to learn on this , but have to try been less stressed , thank you for your possitive thoughts . I just wish she had seen me face to face and not called me over the phone , would been more professional but thats the health system in Ireland for you 

Best wishes 

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THANK YOU SHELLY FOR REPLYING, I WROTE TO YOU ALSO IN A PRIVATE MESSAGE , WE MUST OF BEEN TYPING AT THE SAME TIME BEFORE I SAW THIS MESSAAGE , IT ALL SOUNDS A BIT SCARY , AS WOMAN WE REALLY SEEM TO GET THE RAW DEAL LOL, ALSO WAS WONDERING COULD THIS BE THE START OF MENOPAUSE? I AM 47 YEARS OLD , THANKS FROM IRELAND confused

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Pixie they can test your blood for that :-)

I'm 47 no sign of menopause yet for me lol :-)

Take care

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Hello Stephanie:

Glad to help!  Antime I can I find it rewarding to ease a person of worry.  Thanks for the kind words I appreciate them very much.  Thyroid disease can be covered in USA by disbility if needed.  I am glad to know that it is in the UK.

They now know so much more than they did when I was first diagnosed.

Shelly

 

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cheesygrincheesygrin

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Hello Pixie:

Yes us ladies get it worse than men!  So very true!  Menopause can start bad things in the body as our hormones are changing.  It can trigger Thyroid problems. 

I wrote you back via PM. 

Shelly

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When I went to my dr last Nov with exhaustion, dizziness and brain fog as main symptoms - my bloods showed TSH at 4.210 and I'd to push to be checked further as I nearly collapsed at work with chest pain. It took 4 months of being checked out with heart check, mri, scan and finally an endocrinologist prescribed 25mcg for first week and from then on 50mcg because by then my TSH was at 6.07.

If you feel your dr isn't serving you right, then perhaps change? It's very hard to find a dr who's well informed on thyroid problems. If you feel the way you do, there is a reason for it. Some ppl will have severe symptoms and hardly any problem with TSH, and vice versa. With thyroid disease the whole person needs to be catered for, not just blood results. In my personal unprofessional opinion 6mths might be like a prison sentence for you. Ask for a full blood work-up including vit d, b12, ferritine levels and TPO, T4 and T3.

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Hi Mary 

I had a chat with my doctor today too put my mind at ease , i am going to wait the 6 months for the next test. And then i will know whether to worry or not, thank you for your kind advice . there is no point driving myself any more nuts then i have been lol. Wait and see please god it will go back to normal. I hope you are feeling well .

Kind regards

Pixie

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 Thank you so much Shelly for all your kind advice and patience . I had a chat with my doctor today too put my mind at ease , i am going to wait the 6 months for the next test. She explained things to me a little more and knows me so well and how stressed i get. When the test is repeated i will know whether to worry or not, thank you for your kindness . there is no point driving myself any more nuts then i have been lol. Wait and see please god it will go back to normal. 

Kind regards

xxx

Pixie

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Hello Pixixe

Your welcome.  Stay well.

Shelly