Advice needed- new to group

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I am new to this group. I had bloodtests for hypothyroid about 4

years ago but they came back negative. After doing some " online

questionnaires " and reading about sympthoms and other peoples stories

I have decided to contact my GP for a second opinion and another set

of blood and urine tests.

My biggest problem is that I find it impossible to lose weight. I am

female, 31 years old. I am not overweight (164cm /65kg) but keep on

putting weight even if I eat very healthily and excersise heaps (gym/

jog four times a week). I only drink alcohol maybe once every two

weeks. Other sympthoms include getting very bloated after eating,

severe constipation, wind, tiredness, moodyness...

Now I do appreciate that these sympthoms alone do not mean I would

have hypothyroid, but my stepmum has recently been diagnosed with the

condition, and she had similar problems.

I just really wish to find some kind of solution as my weight gain is

affecting my confidence, and my relationship.

Sorry about long letter... I wanted to thank you for this group, I am

much better armed with information for my meeting with my GP this

time, and not worried about getting a second opinion, or asking a

referral to private doctor.

JH

[Guest guest]

Hi Jenni

Welcome to our forum where I hope you get all the help and support you are looking for.

When did you last have your blood and urine tests done and can you let us have the results here, together with the reference range for each of the tests. One of the problems with being hypothyroid is gaining weight. This is because your low metabolism is making it difficult for you to burn off excess calories. Once you get on the correct treatment, this should raise your metabolic rate and you will start to lose these excess pounds.

Before you see your GP, I would recommend you go armed with a list of your symptoms and signs. You can see the 'signs' in our website www.tpa-uk.org.uk under Hypothyroidism in the Menu. On the drop down Menu, click Symptoms and Signs and see if you have any of these. Also on the list, add your basal temperature for 5 days. Take this before you get out of bed and before you eat anything or have a drink. Normal temp. is 98.4. If yours is 97.8 F or less, this could be an indicaiton of hypothyroidism. It could be very much less. Also, take your pulse at the same time for beats per minute and list these too. Tell him about any members of your family who have a thyroid or autoimmune problem.

You should ask him to give you a full thyroid function test which includes TSH, Free T4, Free T3 and a test to see whether you have antibodies to your thyroid. Ask him also to test your ferritin level (stored iron) - low ferritin can cause all the symptoms of hypothyroidism, and apparently, can be a cause of hypothyroidism - so it is important you get this checked. Having a low ferritin would stop any thyroid hormone replacement you might eventually need from being absorbed by your body. There are other things that you would need to check at a later date, but we will talk about them as and when they arise.

I hope you have a good consultation with your GP - one of the chief problems we have in the UK is with the TFT's. If your TSH is returned within the reference range, then practitioners sincerely believe this shows you do not have a thyroid problem, and put your symptoms down to something else - and if this is the case with you, you must ask to be referred to a thyroid specialist, as your GP is not one. I say a thyroid specialist because the majority of endocrinologists (in the UK anyway) have diabetes as their specialty, and know little about thyroid disease.

Read all the information that we have in our FILES - which you can access from the Home Page of this forum website. Read also, everything about hypothyroidism in our website.

Luv - Sheila

My biggest problem is that I find it impossible to lose weight. I am female, 31 years old. I am not overweight (164cm /65kg) but keep on putting weight even if I eat very healthily and excersise heaps (gym/ jog four times a week). I only drink alcohol maybe once every two weeks. Other sympthoms include getting very bloated after eating, severe constipation, wind, tiredness, moodyness... Now I do appreciate that these sympthoms alone do not mean I would have hypothyroid, but my stepmum has recently been diagnosed with the condition, and she had similar problems.I just really wish to find some kind of solution as my weight gain is affecting my confidence, and my relationship.

..

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[Guest guest]

Jenni,

You wrote:

> ... I had bloodtests for hypothyroid about 4

> years ago but they came back negative....

Would you mind giving us the exact values from that test and the

reference ranges? Different people have very different standards for

what " negative " means.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

Thanks for reply. I haven't got the test results... Never actually

saw them and do not know the values. I was just told I was " normal "

i.e. there was nothing wrong with my thyroid. Sorry I am not sure if

negative was the right word to use here..

Now I'm older and wiser (and fatter, hah) and about to make an

appointment with my GP first thing tomorrow morning. I do have

private healthcare insurance so am hoping the least they can do is to

refer me to a specialist.

Jenni

> > ... I had bloodtests for hypothyroid about 4

> > years ago but they came back negative....

>

> Would you mind giving us the exact values from that test and the

> reference ranges? Different people have very different standards

for

> what " negative " means.

>

> Chuck

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for reply. I haven't got the test results... Never actually

saw them and do not know the values. I was just told I was " normal "

i.e. there was nothing wrong with my thyroid. Sorry I am not sure if

negative was the right word to use here..

Now I'm older and wiser (and fatter, hah) and about to make an

appointment with my GP first thing tomorrow morning. I do have

private healthcare insurance so am hoping the least they can do is to

refer me to a specialist.

Jenni

> > ... I had bloodtests for hypothyroid about 4

> > years ago but they came back negative....

>

> Would you mind giving us the exact values from that test and the

> reference ranges? Different people have very different standards

for

> what " negative " means.

>

> Chuck

>

[Guest guest]

Jenni,

You wrote:

>

> Now I'm older and wiser (and fatter, hah) and about to make an

> appointment with my GP ...

Then do insist on a copy of all test results. They are yours. Also,

during your " consult " ask the doctor to explain any tests that might be

out of range.

Good luck,

Chuck

[Guest guest]

At the appointment Jenni, make sure you ask for your last thyroid function tests. You need the results for each test and be sure to get the reference range for each of them too and then post them here.

Luv - Sheila

Now I'm older and wiser (and fatter, hah) and about to make an appointment with my GP first thing tomorrow morning. I do have private healthcare insurance so am hoping the least they can do is to refer me to a specialist. Jenni

..

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[Guest guest]

Sure thing! Thanks ever so much for your support and advice guys -

feeling heaps more positive already.

Jenni

> >

> > Now I'm older and wiser (and fatter, hah) and about to make an

> > appointment with my GP ...

>

> Then do insist on a copy of all test results. They are yours. Also,

> during your " consult " ask the doctor to explain any tests that

might be

> out of range.

>

> Good luck,

>

> Chuck

>