Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thanks again. I've been in UK for 4 weeks now. Dad is off his Thyroid meds (block and replace therapy) and seems to be doing well. A few more hospital appts for his memory/heart but generally he seems to have made a spectacular improvement since the weeks leading up to his hospitalisation. Ironically I have now slipped a disc a week ago, and am hoping to recover enough to make a delayed flight back to Oz on 13 feb. Lets hope I get on my feet as it's no fun being stuck here in the Motherland in this cold snap we are having. getting good (but expensive) Chiropractic and am crossing my fingers for a speedy recovery. It's a strange thing but dad is now having to care for me - and I think it is doing him some good having that responsbility and sense of purpose again. Funny old world eh?

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

**Just thought i would do an update**
Well we have been here in Melbourne for over 12 months and felt fine on the medication... then i had to re-apply for jobs and the stress sent me into those old feelings again and a very husky voice!!
So I took myself off to our bulk-billing doctor and after examining my neck he sent me straight for a CT scan and blood tests. He said he thought my medication was too high and make more appointments when i had the blood tests.
2 days later I was back in the surgery and he diagnosed Hashimotos due to the bumps on my thyroid but he still wanted me to have an Ultrasound. So the next day I go for the Ultrasound and go back to him.
This was all within a week!! In the UK I waited 8 weeks for an Ultrasound :sneaky:
With all the results he said I needed to take 125mg one day and 150mg on the next day to reduce my medication (Eurostix or something). I feel fine ATM...
I go back in March for more blood tests but this doctor is listening!!:thumbsup:
J x

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Hey that's good.

How did he come to the conclusion you were on too much medication? Were you having hyper issues?

It's great to find a doc who actually hears you... really good! : )

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

The blood tests. I can't remember what he said but it was one of the 3 thyroid results that was not in the range. He said to adjust the medication and to return after a month and have more bloods done then see him again. I did that and I am back within the range and feeling much better :thumbsup:
Got to have more bloods in March. He seems to be keeping an eye on me and know what he is talking about - such a relief from that robot I saw in the UK!
Its all good :D

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

That's great. Glad to hear of someone with a switched on doc!

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Hi everyone - i have read this thread (and the old one) through and so much of it sounds just like me. I feel lousy and am exhausted ALL of the time, no matter what time of day or night or how much rest or sleep i have.
I have been having severe palpitations for a few weeks now and very bad dizziness.
I work in my local hospital kitchen so after my shift last thurs i went down to a&e convinced i was having a heart attack - my heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest and the dizziness was constant.
After an ECG they confirmed i wasn't having a heart attack but did lots of blood tests. They told me when i left that all the results seemed normal but the thyroid test wasnt back and would be sent to my GP. Today, after the results not arriving at my GPs, I went to pathology and now have my results to take to the docs.
My thyroid test results are Free T4 12 and TSH 0.97. What do you think? I can google til the cows come home and convince myself of good or bad results but mainly I want to know that when i go to the docs i'm not going to be fobbed off. I kinda hope the results are bad cos i just cant face going on feeling like this every day!:(

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Ah, um... ok. Have you got the results in front of you? There should be a 'range' which is next to the results. Can you post those here? Every lab is different and it's hard to tell without the range.

Your TSH seems very low... and your Free thyroxine (free T4) seems high - which may suggest you're hyper... which would match with your description of palpitations and dizziness.
Did they test your Free T3 too?
You really need to know what the converted hormone Free T3 level is. T3 is responsible for how you feel... The T4 is converted to T3 in your system.

I suspect you're right, you are hyper and you require a full thyroid panel, liver function, cholesterol etc test.
Do you have any thyroid malfunction in your family history, specifically hyper?

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Thanks Tiddly.
Yes I have the results here they read:

Free T4 12 pmol/L (9 - 19)
TSH 0.97 mU/L (0.40 - 4.00)

There is nothing about T3 so i presume that wasn't tested.

As far as I know there is no history of Thyroid problems in the family but I will be asking the question when I call my Mum tomorrow.
I didn't mean to belittle anyone suffering by saying that I hope the results are positive, it's just that if they say something isn't right at least there is a cause to me feeling so terrible all the time. :(

I have to make appointment to see doc in the week and I just wanted a bit of inside knowledge before I go see them and you seem to be very well informed on the topic:thumbsup::wub:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Ok, with that range, your 12 isn't massive but it's still slightly elevated. It would indicate you're hyper or there's possibly another issue going on which your doc will suss out for you. Sometimes high T4 can be indicitive of a pituitary gland condition, though this is usually matched by high TSH too.
Your high T4 is pushing down your TSh, which is why it's so low.

Your doc needs to know the uptake of that T4 and how it's converting, which can be done with Ft3 test. Once you have that, there'll be a clearer indication of what's going on for you.

It's easier to get diagnosed if you are hyper, as hypo can be disguised as other things, like depression.
It's important your doc tests for low cortisol too... as you need see how your adrenals are functioning. Hyper often sends them a little awry!

Family history can be things like crazy maiden aunts, who were known to make sudden and rash decisions... heart attack, family history of very thin, highly active people, perhaps relatives who had bulging eyes, etc.
Sometimes it's hard to spot. You don't need a family history of hyper to become hyper though! Just helps if other people have had a diagnosis for you to refer to the doc with.

Hope that helps. Good luck at the doc. Tell us how you go on. He may give you a prescription to help slow things down a bit if he agrees.
Usually thyroid tests need to be repeated several times in a few weeks to get an accurate description of what's going on, as the test results vary, so don't be surprised if he wants to repeat.
Do push for a full thyroid panel though, which inc cholesterol, liver function and all the Free's I mentioned.
Let us know how you get on. :)

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

woah that all sounds a little confusing! :blink: The crazy aunt could fit anyone of my relatives lol though i will check it out tonight.
Thanks Im going to make a docs appointment for later in the week and ask for the full work over, i will certainly let you know the outcome.
Thanks once again for your help x:thumbsup::wub:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Have just spoken to my mum and it would appear my grandmother (her mum) had an overactive thryoid and that my mum is currently awaiting tests back on her thyroid as they suspect she may have a problem. Feel I may have a bit more 'clout' when insisting on more detailed tests now:fingerscrossed:

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Well there you go. Strong family history there.
Hope it goes well at the doc.

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Yes and it now transpires that my mums sister (my aunt) and 2 of her adult children also have thryoid conditions. Thanks I will let you know how it goes - not expecting them to roll over and agree to more testing easily though as according to them everythings 'normal'!! Well if this is normal i dont know what out of the ordinary is!

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

I'm sure you'll be fine. This is Aus... not the NHS. I've found them better here. If your doc won't test what you want, then you just go to another one. ;)
Always good to look on the top docs list too, for someone in your area who can treat you expertly:

http://thyroid.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi.../australia.htm

Re: Thyroid Thread - Part Deux
 

Didnt realise this thread is still going strong.
Hi Tiddly,any thoughts on this,currently have whooping cough and reg dr tested thyroid and its TSH 0.2 (0.40-4.00)
FT$ 20 (10-20)
Am still on my NTH meds but have not been taking the as regulary as i should,but i had taken them on the morning of the test.
Thx
Donna x