Hi
Can anyone please confirm if my thyroid results are normal from over the last few years?
(Not sure if it makes a different but I was pregnant from feb 2021 - October 2021, do they may have altered the readings?)
June 2019: serum TSH level: 1.54 mu/L
July 2019: serum TSH level: 1.6 mu/L
June 2021: plasma TSH level: 2.11 mu/L
July 2021: plasma TSH level: 2.43 mu/l
Nov 2021: plasma TSH level: 0.46 mu/l
Thank you so much!
Was only TSH tested? The range would differ if pregnant so yes, to interpret accurately they would need to be included.
Have you been diagnosed with thyroid issue? Take any replacement hormones?
Thank you for so much for your response. As far as I’m aware they only tested TSH. I haven’t been diagnosed, it’s just I’ve been so unwell the last 10 months with flu feeling and unwell feeling in my throat, I feel like I have symptoms of hashimotos or something, I feel like it’s hormone related as it got a lot worse when I was pregnant.
Pregnancy can affect thyroid level and issues can occur or start around pregnancy too.
When GPs test for thyroid issue the lab test TSH thyroid stimulating hormone. It’s a pituitary hormone which signal the thyroid to produce hormone. It’s assumed that’s if the TSH range so will actually thyroid hormone be the FT4 & FT3 but that’s not always the case.
If levels fluctuate, which can happen with some conditions, it might be that tests happen to catch the TSH when in its range.
The higher the TSH the more the thyroid is being signalled to work harder.
Your last TSH is on that lower side which may mean your current levels ok. Without testing there’s no telling.
You might have to pay for a private test, to confirm if FT4 & FT3 are at a good level or not.
Just testing TSH is completely inadequate
Are you diagnosed as hypothyroid and on levothyroxine?
If yes, how much and do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis) usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
In U.K. medics never call it Hashimoto’s, just autoimmune thyroid disease (and they usually ignore the autoimmune aspect)
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s.
Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s.
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Are you currently taking any vitamin supplements, if yes….what exactly
What’s your diet like
Are you vegetarian or vegan
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...
Thank you so so much for your response. I have unwell with flu like symptoms and unwell feeling in my throat for a while and doctors have no idea what it could be as they said my bloods all came back normal, they said my thyroid came back normal but someone said to post results on here to check. Those are the only test I could see done on my NHS app.
Thanks so much for the info I’m going to try book those private tests asap
Also to add I’m vegetarian and I eat very well, vit levels were check recently and all within normal range
Vitamins all within normal range
Please add actual results
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
If taking any supplements that contain biotin stop these a week before all blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results
Sorry can I ask a few more questions you are so informative. Do you think if I purchased the £29 test that would be helpful in giving me an idea if I have hashimoto? Is it normal do you know for doctors to just test peoples TSH levels? As that seems so unfair many people must not be getting the correct diagnosis
also I went gluten free and it’s probably a coincidence but my symptoms actually got worse when on a gluten free diet.
The basic TSH, FT4 & FT4 test would show if the thyroid levels were low or not. Low levels may due to Hashimoto’s but not always.
You would need to test TPO & TG antibodies, if the test detect a positive level then that would confirm Hashimoto’s. However thyroid levels fluctuate and so to antibody levels and they do not always correlate either. One positive result is diagnosis of autoimmune but all hypothyroid regardless of cause is treated the same and as antibodies cant be treated directly doctors often only test them once.
When you went gluten free did the calorie intake reduce considerably as this can adversely affect conversion of FT4 : FT3.
Gluten free Is not something I’ve tried myself but many report feeling worse initially, it can affect the gut flora & take time to improve.
Many conditions, including deficiencies in Vit.D, B12 and folate can cause symptoms that mimic those of hypothyroidism, but I assume they have all been included in your previous tests. However, the symptoms you describe do not specifically indicate hypothyroidism, particularly as you have always returned within-range tsh results. Have you been tested for other conditions as glandular fever or lupus? I feel your GP should be doing further investigations to try and pinpoint the cause of your symptoms.
Thank you for your response. Yes I’ve had vit D, folate and b12 tested which were normal. I have had a ANA blood test which came back negative, as I was thinking lupus. I was tested for glandular fever too, again negative. It’s just so strange the way it comes and goes, but it comes on most days.
I know it sounds silly but the feeling in my throat is so hard to describe, it’s not a sore throat, it’s a horrible feeling and I just keep thinking is it my thyroid because of the throat feeling. I’m going to get some private testing just to rule out thyroid issues.
I never thought I would be living like this, it’s like
living in a nightmare, I feel so much for everyone going through any health issues, until you have been through it you don’t know how bad it is
Pregnancy can trigger Hashimoto's. I felt like I was falling apart for a year after having a baby. My dr ran a full thyroid panel (TSH, FT3, FT4, TG antibodies, TPO antibodies) and that's how they found Hashimoto's. You should ask for a full thyroid panel or order one, if your dr doesn't want to run one.
Hi thanks so much for your response. Did you have normal TSH readings at first? Or were they always out of range?
Could HRT be effecting my thyroid levels?
Are my levels normal?
Results are in - T3/T4. Does anyone know what the lower ranges for serum ACTH and DHEA are? My area uses 0 so I’m ‘normal’ apparently 
results back .
