Thyroid tests - what test does/ your doctor use to monitor your thyroid condition and any treatment?

[kitedoc]

There was a discussion on a thread which became side-tracked. This thread is to pick up that side-track.
Which tests did you have to check or screen for thyroid conditions and for monitoring over time with or without treatment? Attention @DCUKMod.

 

[Dodo]

There was a discussion on a thread which became side-tracked. This thread is to pick up that side-track.
Which tests did you have to check or screen for thyroid conditions and for monitoring over time with or without treatment? Attention @DCUKMod.

My under active thyroid was shown in my usual blood test. Now I take Levothyroxine once a day and it's at a normal level.

 

[HICHAM_T2]

There was a discussion on a thread which became side-tracked. This thread is to pick up that side-track.
Which tests did you have to check or screen for thyroid conditions and for monitoring over time with or without treatment? Attention

Hi Mr @kitedoc
I found This informations
Thyroid function tests are a series of blood tests used to measure how well your thyroid gland is working. Available tests include the T3, T3RU, T4, and TSH.

• 
  
• Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary, depending on the severity of the hormone deficiency. But in general, any problems you have tend to develop slowly, often over a number of years.

At first, you may barely notice the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain, or you may simply attribute them to getting older. But as your metabolism continues to slow, you may develop more-obvious signs and symptoms. Hypothyroidism signs and symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Weight gain
• Puffy face
• Hoarseness
• Muscle weakness
• Elevated blood cholesterol level
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
• Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
• Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
• Thinning hair
• Slowed heart rate
• Depression
• Impaired memory

 

[Bluetit1802]

Going back as far as my on-line records go (2006) I seem to have a TSH test approx every 2 years.. As it has always been in range, (0.3 to 6) I haven't had any other tests.

 

[Resurgam]

I had tests which did not pick up the failing thyroid, as it can diminish and recover over years - by the time I could see the doctor, convince them that I felt ill, not had been overeating so I was fat and sluggish, then book a test, my results showed the low end of normal. Eventually I stopped asking. Some years later I saw a new doctor, more tests and then was told 'something is seriously wrong' which frightened me considerably until I realized there was nothing seriously wrong at all I just needed a thyroid supplement.
I should have a test done once a year but the surgery has neglected that since the diagnosis of diabetes and I have to remind them to include it with the Hba1c checks, but they are far between too.
I am told that I have had annual health checks since the age of 40 - I have not.

 

[ringi]

Only TSH once a year is needed to check the dose of Levothyroxine is correct unless someone is getting unexplained problems. My underactive thyroid was picked up over 15 years ago due to my "lipids" looking odd and the GP then doing a TSH and T3/T4 test. The TSH T3/T4 needed to be repeated a few times until the dose of Levothyroxine was stable.

(In the USA they like to do lots of expensive tests that are not needed unless the cheap tests fail to unexplained health problems someone is getter. I think doctors in the US get a commission on the cost of all the tests they do.)

After going on a low carb diet my TSH has reduced, but we have decided not to reduce the Levothyroxine at present as the current does seems to be working well.

 

[Boo1979]

I have had various thyroid tests over the years that have come back out of reference ranges i.e high Tsh with low free T3/T4 (cant remeber which)
The endocrinologists have said each time that 3 concecutive tests over a few months need to be off before they would offer any kind of treatment - my body seems to interperate that as a challenge and gives a within range result on the third test - that has happened twice so far.
My next set of blood tests due for review early January have another thyroid function test panel included

 

[ringi]

My GP started Levothyroxine after one test of tests shows a very high TSH, but I do have a family history.

 

[Elaine p]

I developed low thyroid function after being prescribed lithium for mental illness. Every 3 months I get a letter to advise me I need a blood test to check my lithium levels and thyroid function test. My lithium results go to the “lithium register” and the thyroid results to my Consultant psychiatrist and GP, the lithium register write to tell me the results of the lithium test and I get told about my thyroid levels by the psychiatrist on my 3 monthly visits. At the beginning I was under the consultant at hospital to stabilise the thyroid levels; I now take 125mcg one day and 100 the next. All working well and system seems very efficient. My only concern is that I was put on medication that caused the thyroid condition, but I do realise that, at the time, I needed the intervention and not in a position to be able to make make choices and I know the lithium helps me. I also feel like this about the onset of diabetes- Olanzapine being the culprit: great drug for psychiatric conditions but awful consequences.

 

[Robinredbreast]

There was a discussion on a thread which became side-tracked. This thread is to pick up that side-track.
Which tests did you have to check or screen for thyroid conditions and for monitoring over time with or without treatment? Attention @DCUKMod.

My daughter was showing medical symptoms aged 7, our GP referred her for blood tests at the hospital, the result came back as borderline thyroid and no action was taken, but GP said it may surface when she is a teenager, as far I know she is okay, but it is always at the back of my mind.
ps This happened in her last year at Infant school and her report for that year was not at good as her other reports, but at least we found out why.

 

[HSSS]

Ive had tiredness issues for years. 10 yrs ago diagnosed with a multinodular goitre and lowish levels. At that’s time a fnb was all clear. Monitoring over the years of the and t4 and the occasional t3 all showed lowish levels but within normal. I’ve been convinced my normal should be higher. This year I had a sudden lump come up on my throat. Within a week I saw a specialist and 2 weeks later had half of it removed after a suspicious biopsy. it was very luckily all clear. Just a not so pretty throat slashed scar.

the surgeon said go away unless you have symptoms. Apparently post hemithyroidectomy level dip and get treated permanently but left alone it can rise again in many cases. Gp decided monitoring was in order. Tsh has more than doubled. T4 remains similar. I guess what’s left is working double time to keep up. Apparently I’m likely to face that half giving up exhausted at some point but no way of knowing when.

I’ve done a fair bit of reading around it. Tsh alone is not enough to diagnose anything. T4 helps a fair bit but t3 is what we actually use. The assumptions are if tsh is ok then t4 will be and if t4 is ok then t3 will be. Not always the case. Antibodies should also be checked at least initially.

 

[phoenix]

My lipids had gone up, I lacked motivation and had gained some weight

To screen I had TSH and free T4 tests.This was repeated together with TPO antibodies .(they were positive)
I then had a thyroid scan which showed my thyroid was very thin and 'degraded', which they suggested meant that the autoimmune problem had been going on for some years .
These were done in France. I'm still waiting for tests in the UK to check that my present levels are correct... they gave me a levothyroxine prescription based on my French but no follow up 9 months later

 

[Daphne917]

I have hypothyroidism and my levels are checked at the same time as my hba1c.

 

[ringi]

My lipids had gone up, I lacked motivation and had gained some weight

To screen I had TSH and free T4 tests.This was repeated together with TPO antibodies .(they were positive)
I then had a thyroid scan which showed my thyroid was very thin and 'degraded', which they suggested meant that the autoimmune problem had been going on for some years .
These were done in France. I'm still waiting for tests in the UK to check that my present levels are correct... they gave me a levothyroxine prescription based on my French but no follow up 9 months later

You need to book an apointment with your GP to get this sorted, as they should now have your records.

 

[HSSS]

My lipids had shot up follow the thyroid surgery and gallbladder removal. Definitely linked.