Help with blood results please.

[Vibo]

Went today to get bloods checked (nurse tried 4 times and told me I have to come tomorrow and she'll try again!!??

She gave me printout of bloods done on 21/6/13. I think they seem good but I still feel the same as I did before going on to Thyroxine (100mg) about 3 months ago.

Results were:

Free T4 value 20.1 pool/L range (9.0-21.0)

Serum TSH 0.17mU/L Range (0.20-5.00)

My doc is happy to check everything again as well as request T3 to be checked but is convinced I just need time to start feeling better. My previous results had raised levels of antibodies. Any thoughts? So fed up feeling like this,

Vi

[Moggie]

Without a FT3 test result it cant be certain that you are converting your T4 to T3 properly which could be one reason why you are not feeling better.

Have you had all the normal vitamins tested and if so have you posted any of the result for people to comment on?

Moggie x

[Vibo in reply to Moggie]

Hi Moggie,

No I've not had vits etc done. I did post the previous results when I got them. I asked my doc to check the T3 for this reason and he has agreed but he said because the TSH is suppressed that would indicate it is converting ok. Hopefully nurse will manage to take blood tomorrow (6 vials worth) so quite a few checks.

Thank u for replying so quickly - I'm really struggling to hold it together just now.

Vi ??

[Natalie_Edinburgh in reply to Vibo]

TSH is based on a combination of T4 and T3 levels. If your T4 is high (as it is) and TSH normal that would suggest that your T3 might be slightly low (but still within the normal range) I think the best bet is to aim for as normal as possible results, that means T3 and T4 mid range and TSH between 0.5 and 2. And for that to be achieved you may need a little liothyronine eg 5ug (in my experience 20ug is too much if you go down that route). It will also take time for your body to recover fully. 3 months is too soon to feel totally better but you should feel some improvement.

[Vibo in reply to Natalie_Edinburgh]

Thanks Natalie, I'll certainly discuss this with my doctor. Its all so complicated and worse still when even GPs don't have a great understanding of it.

Vi

[Moggie]

A supressed TSH means that there is enough thyroid hormone in your blood which indicates you do not have an absorption issue. Getting your body to convert the levo you are taking into T3 is a different matter and if I were you I would be pushing to have your B12, vitD, ferritin, iron and folates as conversion issues can be caused by anyone of these being low.

A doctor requesting a FT3 test does not automatically mean that the lab will do one. I hope I am wrong in your case but lots of people on here have had this test requested by their GP only for the lab to refuse.

What tests are the 6 vials of blood for?

Moggie x

[Vibo in reply to Moggie]

Thanks Moggie that's what I thought. I did try to explain this to him. He did admit he's not an expert and is more than happy to look into it for me. I think the 6 vials are to check all the bloods antibodies, t4, t3 etc not really sure tho. My doc is now away on holiday but I have an appt when he gets back and he said he'll go through all the results with me. He's also referring me to rheumy as he thinks I have CFS.

Vi

[Moggie in reply to Vibo]

Try and get the nurse to include as many of the vitamin tests as you can. Some nurses will do this without questions so hopefully your nurse is one of those.

I'm not saying to lie to the nurse but I sometimes get around this by saying that myself and the GP have discussed a certain thing and "that is being tested for isn't' it" "no" the nurse would say and then I would act surprised and say something like "the GP must have forgotten to write it down" and then the nurse would order the test for me. Give it a go, you haven't got anything to lose and you could finds that your troubles are being caused by low VitD, low B12 or low iron.

Moggie x

[Vibo in reply to Moggie]

Lol I will def do that if she manages to get the blood - same every time I go to her?? thanks Moggie

Vi

[Moggie in reply to Vibo]

Ask her to use a baby needle - I have to have blood taken this way every time. I have been told more than once that I have no veins in my arms.lol. They cant be seen so it must make it difficult.

Moggie x

[Vibo in reply to Moggie]

Haha I think she gets pleasure from seeing me squirm!!!

Vi x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Vibo]

Make sure you have had plenty to drink before blood tests as it makes it easier to draw blood.

[Vibo in reply to shaws]

Thank u Shaws - I was actually in getting bloods taken were ur message came in lol. Took loads of water this morning and still took further 3 attempts!! Doc actually phoned hospital to see if they could send me there when nurse finally managed it!! Like a human pincushion ????

Just hope I get results I need now!

Vi