Blood test results before consultation with GP. - Thyroid UK

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Blood test results before consultation with GP.

beaton profile image
32 Replies

I have just got my blood test results back prior to my visit to my GP next week. I am still having dizzy symptoms with high blood pressure occasionally but on the whole feel loads better. Can anyone interpret these for me.

I have been taking 10 mcg T3 and 50 mcg T4 twice a day. but reduced to dose due to dizziness a high blood pressure, to 10 mcg T3 four times a day. Don't know what GP will say to me taking things into my own hands.

TSH 0.037 range 0.035-4.5

T4 6.4 range 11- 24.

Thanks.

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beaton profile image
beaton
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32 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

Your blood results look o.k. to me if you are one T3 alone. Your T4 will be low if you are not taking any. GP may be worried as he may not know how T3 reacts and if you read the first and third questions/answers of the following link it gives some good information re on T3 alone.

I felt so much better the more I dropped the T4 and increased the T3.

You can get a blood pressure monitor - quite cheaply - from Boots. The one I got also keeps your previous ten (approx) results and you can also keep an eye on your blood pressure.

web.archive.org/web/2010112...

beaton profile image
beaton in reply toshaws

Thanks Shaws,I shall look at those and quote if necessary.

Hi Beaton...sorry not able to comment on your meds as I don't take T3,however,I can comment regarding blood pressure.

My blood pressure used to go high every time it was taken at my surgery,yet when I was given a 24 hour monitor to wear at home it was fine so I was regarded as having "White Coat Syndrome"

I bought my own monitor some years ago and now record my blood pressure and pulse myself and when I see my GP or nurse for anything I periodically give them an update and also once a year get my monitor checked by nurse to make sure it is still accurate.

Now,they are satisfied and I am calmer!!!!

Regards,

Margaret.

beaton profile image
beaton in reply to

Now there's a thought. I have a BP monitor,my husband takes my BP but I never thought of doing it for my GP. Thanks.x

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply to

Same here. I can't believe how high mine can go as soon as I get within a hundred yards if the surgery. There I sit with it sky high pathetically saying 'but its not like that at home' I'm sure no one believes me. They have a do it yourself BP machine in the corridor - supposed to remove the white coat problem - nope my readings on that are high too, when I do own at home they are lovely, I have started recording them and will take my results next time I go to see the doctor.

in reply toFruitandnutcase

I think you are wise Liz.When my Gp first arrived at our surgery I think he was assigned to record everyone's BP.Mine went sky high as you say and I was put on tablets which made me feel ill and I had to come off them,which as I later learned I really didn't need anyway.

Good luck with all your treatment ..Have a good weekend X

Thyroidmeg profile image
Thyroidmeg in reply to

I think I have it too I feel sick and teary even thinking about nurse appt

Thyroidmeg profile image
Thyroidmeg in reply toFruitandnutcase

I've bought a home monitor as I'm pretty sure it's a lot lower at home and I don't want to accept the pills from the nurse if I don't need them

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply toThyroidmeg

Ring up and speak to the surgery and you ought to be able to arrange for the nurse to check out your monitor to make sure it is reading close to theirs. Or even just take it along next time you go to get your BP done.

Liz x

beaton profile image
beaton in reply toFruitandnutcase

Thanks Liz,it is a new 'monitor and my husband checked his temp after but I will take it with me on Tuesday to see GP.

Thyroidmeg profile image
Thyroidmeg in reply to

Nurse said as long as clinically validated it should be accurate. Are the wrist ones accurate?

tegz profile image
tegz in reply toThyroidmeg

My experience is that the wrist ones are not that accurate- tending to read lower and more affected by arm pose, too.

OK for a check up if you can get used to it's habits but the arm cuff is better. Even these can vary one arm to the other and also be affected by arm height..

If you really want to use the wrist one for convenience then you need to iron out the variations in your own case, over time by doing comparisons between methods before being confident about accuracy to any degree.

beaton profile image
beaton

I've never had a problem with "white coat syndrome" or any other procedures at the doctors or hospital. These people are there to help us.

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply tobeaton

I know it is so bizarre, even when I know it has been really low at home it still blooming well shoots up. I've tried everything - not talking while it is being recorded - even thinking of a low number while it is being recorded - I read that once - doesn't work for me. I'm already taking lisinopril for my BP so it really shouldn't be high at all. It's only my BP that's a problem - I can let people stick needles into me, take blood, I can give blood until the cows come home none of that bothers me, I can go into tubes for scans with no bother - the person doing the BP doesn't even have to have on a white coat.

Liz x

Thyroidmeg profile image
Thyroidmeg in reply tobeaton

Lucky you but not everyone is as lucky

Glynisrose profile image
Glynisrose

T4 is thyroxine salts and will push up your blood pressure.

Thyroidmeg profile image
Thyroidmeg in reply toGlynisrose

I never knew this does that mean my thyroxine 200 a day could be making my bp higher

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toThyroidmeg

The amount of sodium in any dose of levothyroxine is infinitesimal.

In, say, a dose of 200 mcg, there will be around 6 mcg of sodium.

Which is approximately A HALF OF A MILLIONTH of the amount the government recommends as our top intake (6 grams).

(It is possible that some of the other ingredients contain tiny amounts of sodium but even then, it will end up being only a tiny contribution.)

Thyroid hormone itself, depending on you and your body, can and does affect blood pressure.

Rod

Thyroidmeg profile image
Thyroidmeg in reply tohelvella

High bp only came after being on levo but they won't test anything else

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toThyroidmeg

That's rubbish, isn't it?

Am afraid that the two hypos I know well (me included!) both had low blood pressure which has normalised, so it is an area I have not taken so much notice of.

beaton profile image
beaton in reply tohelvella

what's rubbish?

I used to have low BP before being diagnosed.It stableised when i stared taking meds.As I said these are short bursed of high BP and low tempurature.I was checked out a week ago,by the time I got to see the doc I was nornal again.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply tobeaton

Sorry - I mean it to read more as "That's a rubbish place to find yourself in."

Rather than edit, I am putting this reply here.

Thyroid hormone most certainly affects BP. And it can be in either direction. And correcting thyroid hormone levels does not always correct the BP issue - at least with high BP.

beaton profile image
beaton in reply tohelvella

Thanks Rod,

apsjiml profile image
apsjiml

Mine was high on thyrosine only because of the water retention factor. I used to weigh in the 220's or higher. I am currently on Dessicated and my BP is down. The reason for this is because, your body produces around 80% t4 and around 20% or less t3. T3 is the most biologically active hormone, so if your body needs more it converts t4 into t3.

Well, if you do not produce much at all, your body was never ment to convert 100% of t4 into t3 therefore your Free t3 will always be low know matter how much t4 you take.

Thyroidmeg profile image
Thyroidmeg in reply toapsjiml

The nurse wanted to give me pills for bp without even considering that Levo alone wasn't helping.

I never had high bp when I had a thyroid! I'm very overweight now too

Thyroidmeg profile image
Thyroidmeg in reply toapsjiml

My surgery only tests tsh?

Glynisrose profile image
Glynisrose

T4 is a storage hormone and therefore inactive T3 is the active hormone and is the one that stops you getting foggy brain, depression and many more of the UAT symptoms. Your doctor should be aware of what he /she is prescribing you and take action accordingly!! Have to say I wouldn't take the synthetic stuff at all, I'd rather die!!

Thyroidmeg profile image
Thyroidmeg in reply toGlynisrose

I definitely get brain fog and I no

Longer have self esteem but refuse to be depressed but deep down I may be slightly

Thyroidmeg profile image
Thyroidmeg in reply toGlynisrose

My doc only tests tsh and prescribes generic levothyroxine

beaton profile image
beaton

Hi all,Thanks for your responses to my question.It's not that I have high BP constant more in waves along with the dizziness. Today woke up feeling warm and snug and to my temp, 34.8 on well.Took 10 mcg T3 waited an hour before breakfast and carried on as normal.Two hours later, temp is down to 34.6 and felling a little off balance. I haven't taken any t4 for about a week and apart from these odd symptoms fell ok.

beaton profile image
beaton

Hi all,Thanks for your responses to my question.It's not that I have high BP constant more in waves along with the dizziness. Today woke up feeling warm and snug and to my temp, 34.8 on well.Took 10 mcg T3 waited an hour before breakfast and carried on as normal.Two hours later, temp is down to 34.6 and felling a little off balance. I haven't taken any t4 for about a week and apart from these odd symptoms fell ok.

Finola profile image
Finola in reply tobeaton

Hi,

Have you checked your vitamin and mineral levels? Especially iron, b12, and magnesium? Low levels of Magnesium can cause high BP. I suffered bouts of dizziness and when I got my B12 and Mag levels higher the dizziness went. Mag oil is probably the most easily absorbable form to use and sub-lingual B12.

Do you think you might have a RT3 problem? If you are using T3 your temps should be rising not falling? I had to go onto pure T3 for a while as T4 and even NDT didn't work too well for me due to RT3.

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