Thyroid through gp, but had to go privately for others;
TSH 0.10 (0.35-5.)
T4 9.9 (9.0-19.00)
T3 3.9 (2.9-6.1)
iron 15.6 (6.6-26.00)
Ferritin 214 (13-150)
TIBC 49 (41-77)
transferrin saturation 32 (20-55)
vit D 35 (50-200).
Currently taking 20 mcg T3 and 75 mcg levothyroxine, also losartan and bendroflumazide for blood pressure, have lost confidence in GP, hair thinning, flaking nails, suffer migraine aura occastionally and poor night eyesight. Any help appreciated
I could only comment that your ferritin (iron storage) levels are very high unless there has been a typo.
Iron and zinc compete in the absorption. Hair loss and flaking nails are one of the possible symptoms for low zinc. Have you had you vitamins A levels checked?
Being on blood pressure medications could also impair the magnesium levels in your body. Reading about it suggests that each one of us has magnesium deficiency and it is the first thing we loose under stress along with zinc. Supplementing with magnesium can be very helpful.
thanks, yes, I do take magnesium and zinc supplements, and now started vitamin d.
Hope you dont mind but I have edited these slightly for easier reading.
Hope you get lots of helpful answers.
Moggie x
thanks very much, interested to see what the ferratin view is, the only comment from private Dr was not to worry too much, but should retest in 6 months, but to take vitamin D
You'll need to see what your GP says about the high ferritin levels as I dont hink I would be comfortable with it being ignored. Have you ever supplemented iron at all?
Moggie x
I do not take iron, but do take a multivitamin every other day, and on the alternate days have taken magnesium and zinc plus a general vitamin B. I am aware that i have Gilberts Syndrome, which affects the bilirubin in the liver, and wondered whether the high ferritin level could be something to do with that? Due to the results of the private test, I am taking a vitamin d3 supplement daily. The private Dr did not seem overconcerned, but did recommend retesting in 6 months. I see his wife who is a physio, for tendonitis of my achilles, and she has known me for several years, likewise a few years back her husband cured my knee problems with ostenil injections, which were unavailable on the nhs where I live; but I am not exactly sure what ferritin is and does in the body. Thank you for your support it is much appreciated.
Ferritin is the amount of iron your body has stored in reserve.
Have a read of these snippets from the "labs on line" site.
What is being tested?
Within cells, iron is stored as protein complexes called ferritin and haemosiderin. Ferritin is the main storage complex and is present mostly in the liver, but also in the bone marrow, spleen, and muscles. Small amounts of ferritin also circulate in the blood. The ferritin concentration within the blood stream reflects the amount of iron stored in your body.
What are signs of iron overload in my system?
The most common symptom is pain, as iron accumulates in your body, usually in your joints. Other symptoms include tiredness and lack of energy, abdominal pain (pain around the stomach area), loss of sex drive, and heart problems. Some people, however, have no symptoms of this condition.
You really do need to go to your own GP a.s.a.p. and get this sorted as I would not leave this for a further six months if this was me.
Do any of the symptoms of iron overload ring any bells with you.
Moggie x
I am very grateful for this information, in the past I had some joint pain problems, but much better recently except for the tendonitis,, some days I feel tired but on others, raring to go, have suffered loss of sex drive, but put that down to my age, 65. The problems that had concerned me were migraine auras and eye floaters, also have had poor night vision for years.
Interestingly, from the replies I received to my query, one person thought I was undermedicated and another over, in relation to thyroid medication.
I am seeing the physio again next week, and will have another word with her husband, the Dr who did the tests for me, expressing my concern at the ferratin level, now learning what it actually does in the body. ~At the moment not very confident I will get anything sensible from my GP, after my recent experience. Thanks t3rr.
Thank
I honestly do not think your GP will ignore these results as they are so obviously way over the range. Can you tell me what you think you have got to lose by going to your GP? as I dont think the other doctor you have seen has been sensible either.
I can stress all I like how improtant it is to get medical help with these results but it is your health and your decision so good luck with whatever you choose to do.
Moggie x
Yes, I have thought about this and decided to write to my GP giving her the results. I just felt that at my review with her she was'nt interested in my thyroid results and only seemed to want to give me statins, saying my thyroid was in range. I do believe her knowledge of thyroid problems is poor. Also think the surgery is on a penny-pinching mission, as she said I was the only patient in the whole practice taking T3; almost asking why I was actually taking it. I was put on it by an Endo some 10 years ago with reduced Levo.
I really must thank you for your wonderful help.
Best wishes t3rr
Your welcome BUT a very important point is that you also need to pp a copy of your letter to the practise manager so that your GP does not ignore or "lose!!!" your letter containing results. Post them in seperate envolopes and put on the bottom of both copies that you have pp's to the other one so they know exactly what is what. You could also include the symptom snippet I posted from the "labs on line" website and say which of these you are suffering with.
Let me know how you get on wont you.
Moggie x
So pleased for your help and will do as you suggest, am in the process of composing the letter and will deliver it to the surgery. I will keep you posted as to progress.
t3rr
Good luck.
Moggie.
p.s. Should that have been "deliver THEM to the surgery"?
yes, I did mean them, until I spoke to my daughter this morning, she thinks it could be seen as antagonistic to send a copy to the practice manager at this stage, she says wait for the reply and then see what the tone of it is and what is suggested. We shall see... I will let you know progress.
Many thanks t3rr
Still no reply to my letter to the gp with my private results!! will follow up with copy to practice manager next week, as I think a fortnight is enough to reply, especially in the circumstances.... just keeping you up to date. t3rr
Sorry but I did warn you that this could happen - if someone is as unhelpful as your GP then they are unlikely to take notice of a letter, that's if he/she has even read it.
Send a copy of the letter to the practise manager but also state that you have had no reply from your GP so had no other option to take this course of action. That way it looks like you have given your GP a chance to get things sorted but your GP has not responded.
Good luck, thanks for the update and please let me know how you get on.
Moggie x
Finally had letter in reply from gp, just as I had typed new letter to practice manager!
She is prepared to send me back to endo I saw 10 years ago, and says to continue with Vit d I have started to take, also not to worry about ferritin level, but has marked for me to have a full blood count and liver function test and inflammatory markers to my blood tests, which I can have taken at my convenience. so some progress I think. Kind regards
t3rr
Finally had reply from gp today, just as I had typed letter to practice manager, she is willing to refer me back to the endo at the hospital that I last saw about 10 years ago, she says continue with the vit D I have started to take, not worried over the raised ferritin, but she has added a full blood count and liver function test and inflammatory markers to my blood tests to be taken at my convenience. So some progress . Regards t3rr
Finally had reply from gp today, just as I had typed letter to practice manager, she is willing to refer me back to the endo at the hospital that I last saw about 10 years ago, she says continue with the vit D I have started to take, not worried over the raised ferritin, but she has added a full blood count and liver function test and inflammatory markers to my blood tests to be taken at my convenience. So some progress . Regards t3rr
At least something is moving and an endo appt has got to be a good thing.
Well done, hard work and effort does pay off in the end.
Moggie x
Thanks for your support, just hope I don't have to wait too long for the endo appt.
Your very welcome.
May I suggest that you prepare for your endo appt by gathering together ALL your previous blood tests (including the private ones), a list of questions that you want to ask and a list of supplements you are taking - the more info you give him/her the better treatment you will receive and also should prove to the endo how serious you are about sorting your health out.
Wishing you the very best of luck with your endo appt and I would still seriously think of changing your GP - who, throughout all this, has not been the least bit supportive or pro active in your care.
Please let us know how the endo appt goes wont you.
Moggie x
to keep you up to date, chased eno appointment again yesterday, and advised it will be at least 3 months before I get to see him, and that for follow ups, it is at least 6 months, if I want to see him privately the cost is at least £200!! Is it me or is the NHS getting worse?
regards
t3rr
t
Finally had reply from gp today, just as I had typed letter to practice manager, she is willing to refer me back to the endo at the hospital that I last saw about 10 years ago, she says continue with the vit D I have started to take, not worried over the raised ferritin, but she has added a full blood count and liver function test and inflammatory markers to my blood tests to be taken at my convenience. So some progress . Regards t3rr
Glad to hear it. Good luck. I hope you can clarify what's going on.
thank you... don't know how long it will take for the endo appointment to come through!!
...just out of interest how much D3 are you taking ? My husband had Ferritin over range - which settled once he started treatment for his Thyroiditis.....
I guess the T3 is suppressing your TSH but the actual T4 and T3 figures appear on the lower side of normal.
You should speak to a doctor about the Ferritin.
You could consider vitamin D3 supplementation as optimally levels would be >75.
Do you feel unwell? Your t3 could be higher.
thank you, some days I feel as flat as a pancake, others raring to go, so not sure what to put that down to! agree that both the T3 and T4 levels are lower than they have been on past tests.
Just noticed your TSH level. It is low and pointing towards hyper rather than hypo. Your vitamin D is low and could do with some boosting for optimal levels
I think that must be the t3 suppressing the tsh because the t4 and t3 are low.
thank you, starting to supplement with Vitamin D, do not think I am hyper, my current T4 and T3 levels from the test are lower than in past years, although the TSH is suppressed.
Your vitamin D is far too low and should be supplemented. Try 5000iU per day of vitamin D3 supplements (must be D3 not any other type of D supplement). It will probably take a few months to raise it. I think I've read that D3 is absorbed best when taken with something a bit fatty. I've read of people taking it with a small amount of coconut oil. I'm not sure about this though, so hope someone else can confirm this.
I suspect the T3 is suppressing your TSH as has already been said.
The T3 and T4 figures... Are they Free T3 and Free T4 or are they Total T3 and Total T4? I'd say from just looking at them that they are Free T3 and Free T4 which is what you want to know, but just thought I'd better ask.
They are both too low, you would appear to be under-medicated, and I suspect you don't feel very well. Unfortunately, with a suppressed TSH your GP may get twitchy and claim you are over-medicated. He/she may want to reduce your meds. Fight this, if anyone suggests it. Don't let them make you feel worse!
Oh, I should also have said - your ferritin is rather high. I'm not familiar with the problems caused by high ferritin. I hope someone else can help with that.
thank you, I am starting to take vitamin D3. Yes, the T3 and T4 are Free. Yes, my GP, who I feel knows very little about the thyroid, definitely works on the TSH, I agree that I felt my T3 and T4 levels were on the lower side than previous tests over the years. The odd thing is that some days I am really flat, and others raring to go!! which is a bit confusing.
Finally got results
Could anyone please help to interpret my test results please. 
Comment on spoilt blood test please 
Where can I get my Liothyronine prescription?
Can I have some help with results please?
