Please help me interpret my blood test results ...

[CarolineC57]

Hi everyone! I'm hoping some of you can help me understand my blood test results. They've *finally* found the test results I had done way back in October! (lost between one consultant retiring and another taking over)

The consultant's secretary phoned me today. At first, she would only say "all the results are normal" but then, after I pointed out to her that a patient was entitled to know their results nowadays, she spoke to the consultant and came back and told me my results (and ranges), which I explain below.

First, please note that I'm undiagnosed but have all the symptoms of Hashimoto's (hypo). I currently have diagnoses of ME/chronic fatigue (made as long ago as 1999) and fibromyalgia (about 7 or 8 years ago when I got that diagnosis). My TSH test - which is the only one I've had done previously - has always come back "normal" (though I've never known what the figure is), so no further tests have been done. Now, I've had some more tests (but not the full range) as follows:

Thyroid Function (TSH) 0.87 (0.34 - 5.6)

Free T4 10.7 (7.5 - 21.1)

Both of these, though within the range, seem to be towards the lower end. Does this mean I'm slightly lacking in these things, or what does it mean exactly?

I've also got:

TPO (I think this is the antibodies thing?) - less than 10

The secretary said there was no figure for this. But it strikes me that both 9.9 and 0.1 are less than 10 - but there's quite a difference between them! Should there be a figure (and a range) for this test?

Now that these three tests have come back within the normal range, I do fear that my GP (who I'm seeing next Monday) will say everything's fine so there's no need for any more tests, and that she won't then be willing to refer me to an endo (the consultant I saw who ordered these blood tests was in general surgery - not an endo). So, I'd like to be as knowledgable as I possibly can about what these figures mean before I see her.

Hope someone can help. Many thanks!

[Moggie]

Your TSH test need to be HIGH for your to be hypothyroid (mine first result before treatment was 29.9) so I would say that this is fine (although others might say differently)

Your FT4 result is on the low side and could do with being higher BUT you have not got (or had) the most important test done and that is your FT3 test - which would have given you a very accurate picture as to what is going on

Your TPO (yes this is for antibodies which would mean an autoimmune thryoid illness) is low and needs to be HIGH for you to have a positive diagnoses. They stopped counting mine at 10,000.

So putting all these together I would hazzard a guess that your GP will say you do not have thyroid issues.

If I were you I would ask for a coeliac test (gluten intolerance) as this can cause an awful lot of inflamation in the body, pain and extreme tiredness (just a thought).

Moggie x

[CarolineC57 in reply to Moggie]

Ah, that's interesting - if a little depressing as I was really hoping I'd found a possible answer to my health problems. I've already had the test for coeliac disease and that came back fine too. Oh dear, not sure where to go with this now. Perhaps I'm one of those people who really *does* have ME/chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

Thanks, anyway, for helping me interpret this.

[Moggie in reply to CarolineC57]

Someone else on here might have other ideas or answers for you so dont give up yet.

Have you ever had an adrenal tests as these, if the go wrong, can have very similar symptoms to thyroid illness.

Just because you had a negative coeliac blood test it does not mean that you may not be gluten intolerant as bloods, and even camera/biopsy tests, do not show this accurately. The only way to see if gluten is a problem for you is to give is up for 6 weeks and see if you notice any difference, which may be worth giving a go - that way you can at least rule gluten in or out as a possible cause.

Hope someone else comes along with some more ideas/info/suggestions for you soon.

Moggie x

[CarolineC57 in reply to Moggie]

Hi Moggie! No, don't worry, I'm not going to give up. Adrenal function test was something which I mentioned to my GP when I saw her earlier in the week. It may be that she's prepared to try that. And, of course, there's that Free T3 test you mentioned.

I did go gluten-free for 3 months last year - no effect on my health whatsoever, I'm afraid.

I'm going to do some more reading on the topic. I'm sure I saw somewhere that antibodies can go back to "normal" if you've been ill for a long time (which I have)? Can't remember where I saw it though.

Has anyone else got any ideas for me here too? For ease, here are my symptoms:

Joint and muscle pain

Chronic fatigue (with resulting poor concentration/poor memory/”brain fog”)

Insomnia (difficulty getting to sleep; frequent waking; never feel refreshed)

Dry, sore eyes/puffy eyelids

Dry/chapped skin

Dry hair/losing body hair

Permanent feeling of thirst/dehydration

Feeling of lump in throat/sometimes difficulty swallowing and restriction around windpipe

Thyroid nodules

Chronic constipation

Acid reflux (under control with Lansoprazole)

Weight gain/unable to lose weight

Craving carbs

Always feel cold (especially feet and hands)

Constant headaches/occasional migraines

Mild anemia/Low vitamin D (self-supplementing in both cases)

Prior to menopause – heavy periods

Basal body temperature – 36.1

[twinpower14760 in reply to CarolineC57]

You need to be tested with an ANA titer your symptoms definitely sound like some sort of autoimmune disease with those symptoms do you have any rashes I had a rash on both my legs and all your other symptoms you have listed and went to dermatologist and he ordered this testing for me and took biopsies of each leg of the rash and the biopsy came back with vasculitis and the ANA titer came back positive but that testing is not something that providers generally order so I was shocked maybe you could ask your practitioner for the ANA titer with cascade to follow

[CarolineC57]

Thanks, reallyfedup. Yes, I guess I just have to find a way to persuade the GP that there really *is* something going on here - despite the test results. She did seem interested and concerned when I gave her my list of symptoms - saying that there did appear to be something thyroid-related going on here. The next time I see her (Monday) she will be looking at the results I've had so far, and I'm hoping I can persuade her to do more tests to get a fuller picture.

But if that fails, then I've now received the list of private practitioners from Louise at TUK. I've discussed this with my husband, and we're willing to eat into our retirement savings to see a private specialist if needed. There is one on the list who does outreach work near me, so that might have to be my next course of action if the NHS route fails.

As I've seen so many people say on this board, you kind of know how your own body feels and what might be going on. I'm sure there is something thyroid-, or adrenal-, or pituitary-related going on here.

[CarolineC57]

Oooo - useful looking website there. Thanks very much for that!

[Kacey_Jade]

You should research cushings disease/syndrome