Hi Im new to this at the moment and wondered if anyone could help with my blood results.

[billy100]

I would love to know what is going on as my Doctor although he is nice has not explained anything. Just told me over the phone that I had under active thyroid, poss Hashimotos and he was sending me to an Endo. I dont have the appointment until March but would love to know a little more before then.

thyroid peroxidase antibody level = 276 IU/ml (0 - 34)

Serum free T4 + 11.9 pmo/L

Serum TSH = 7.58 mU/l (0.35 - 4.5)

Thanks for any help.

[billy100]

I would also add that I am at present of 25 of levothyroxine.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum,

Did he tell you to get a blood test in 6 weeks' time after first prescribing levo, or is he going to wait till you see the Endo?

In case it's Hashi's this is a link:-

thyroidlifestyle.com/

Others who have hashi's will comment. It's a big learning curve.

[billy100]

Im having another blood test 20th February

[Moggie]

Welcome and can I say that I wished all our members had GP's like yours as some on here have fought for years to get a referral to see an endo and your GP sends you to one straight away - good for him.

I have hashi's but am not as ill as some can be with this disease as I manage my own condition very well, have learnt lots from this site and other - so have a fair amount of knowledge to be able to do this - and have also had to fight my corner with badly trained GP's (which so many on here come up against).

Firstly can you tell me if you are actually on any medication for your thyroid condition? and if so how much?

Secondly, the thing about hashimoto's is that it is an auto immune illness, which means that your own body is attacking your thyroid and unfortuntely is can also attack other parts of your body as well, like your gut (Coeliac) and you will need to be aware of these things.

You will need, from the start, to ask (and keep) copies of all blood/test results so that, not only can you keep track of your condition yourself but you can also keep an eye on what the doctors are doing/missing/treating.

A lot of thyroid patients will be low in certain vitamins - vitd, iron, ferritin, B12 & folates - so these need to be checked sooner rather than later. This can be down the the gut issues I was talking about as the auto immune issues may stop you gut from abrorbing many of your vitamins and without these vitamins your thyroid mdication will struggle to work properly. There is a big difference in what the NHS say are sufficient levels of these vitamins to what a thyroid patient needs their levels to be so when you do get them checked you can post the results on here for people to comment and advise.

And before I confuse you totally (sorry if thi is a bit to much) when you get your meds please do just take it as the GP or pharmacist tells you to as there are certain do's and dont's as far as thyroid medication goes so again, hen you get your meds come back on here and ask another question.

You've made an excellent start by finding the right people to help and guide your along your journey and it wont be long before your heklping and guiding others along there way.

Moggie x

[billy100 in reply to Moggie]

At the moment I am on 25 of levo and having another blood test on 20th February.

Are these results as posted before what you need to know to be able to help?

thyroid peroxidase antibody level = 276 IU/ml (0 - 34)

Serum free T4 + 11.9 pmo/L

Serum TSH = 7.58 mU/l (0.35 - 4.5)

There were loads of other bits on the printout but I am not sure really what I am looking for.

I have found it all a bit worrying, I have been feeling 'off colour' for quite a long time but have always put it down to other reasons (family deaths, husbands 3 redundancies, husbands stent etc) Also I have just turned 50 so felt perhaps I have to just put up with this.

I was very surprised to learn that I will now get free prescriptions, this in itself worried me. You dont usually get something for nothing.

Also the quickish referral has worried me a bit because others dont seem to get this.

sorry if I am waffling a bit.

[Moggie]

Dont be sorry - you are just confused and worried so let me clear up a few things for you. If a person has to have medication for life then they get free prescriptions, it's as simple as that, it doesn't mean that you are mega ill it just means that our nice government!!!! is not expecting us to fork out month after month for prescription charges plus you or hubby have contributed towards the cost of the meds through taxes so its definately not something for nothing.

Sorry my mistake, I didn't see you answer saying you are taking 25mcg's of levo. So need to ask when are you taking it - morning or nightime - and do you take any other medication for anything else? The reason for asking is because levo needs to be taken on a completely empty stomach and although the GP will tell you its o.k. to be taken 1/2 an hour before food it isn't. It need to be kept 2 hours away from any food or drink (except water) and four hours away from any supplements or other medication you might be taking.

The reason levo needs to be taken on an empty stomach and away from other meds is because food and drink in the stomach will stop your gut being able to asbsorb your levo into your system and certain things, like calcium, iron, milk, coffee to name but a few, are worse than others which is why a lot of us take our levo last thing at night, making sure we have had nothing to eat or drink, except water, for two hours before. Taking it this way makes it less hassle as you dont have to wait to have a cup of tea/coffee/breakfast in the morning and any other meds/supplements you are on can safely be taken in the mornings along with your morning cuppa.

I've seen a lot worse thyroid levels than yours on here and I think the quick referral is more down to a good GP than anything to be concerned about and you definately dont have to put up with it as the autoimmune part of this illness means that unless you get good treatment then you will only start to feel worse.

I'd be intersted to know what the rest of the printout says just incase its something worth while that you haven't had mentioned to you.

Moggie x

[billy100 in reply to Moggie]

Plasma Viscosity = 1.68 cP

GRF Calulated abbreviated MDRD . 90mL/min Original Result: 90 mL/min/1.73m 2

Serum urear level = 6.1 mmol?l

Serum total protein = 76 g/L

Serum Sodium + 142 mmol/l

serum potassium = 4 mmol/l

serum creatinine = 59 umol/L

Werum chloride - 106 mmol/L

Serum total bilirubin level = 6 umol/L

Serum alanine aminotransferase level = 52 U/L High original result: 52 u/L (10 - 40)

Serum alkaline phosphatase = 63 U/L original result 63 U/L (50 - 110)

Serum albumin = 49 g/L

red blood cell distribution width = 13%

Basophil count = 0.02 10*9/L

Haematocrit = 0.381

Lymphocyte count = 1.99 10*9/L

total white cell count = 6.07 10*9/L

red blood cell (RBC) count = 4.17 10*12/L

Platelet count = 283 10*9/L

Neutrophil count = 3.45 10*9/L

Monocyte count = 0.45 10*9/L

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) = 91.4 fl

Mean corpusc Hb conc (MCHC) = 323g/L

Mean corpusc haemoglobin (MCH) = 29.5pg

Haemoglobin estimation = 123 g/L

Eosinophil count = 0.16 10*9/L

Hope I have got all this correct and that it is helpful. I am taking the pills first thing in the morning at the moment.

Thanks for your help so far

[Moggie]

Thanks for that - as long as you are keeping food and drink (especially milk) well away from your levo and you feel fine with morning dosing then carry on but if you find it difficult to keep food and drink away from it then you might want to consider changing to night time dosing to maximise absorbtion.

Ask your GP to test your iron to see if you are low but your endo should carry out a full set of blood test that will include all the ones I have mentioned.

Moggie x