Need help translating my blood test results please.

[Lairy73]

Blood test results

T4 8.2 pmol/L

TSH 2.67 mu/L

Normal results apparently.

D level 39 nmol/L

Cortisol level 227 nmol/L (not on oral contraceptive pill)

My doctor has referred me to an Endocrinologist but my appointment isn't until end of August.

I'm a 40 year old mother of two young kids and have extreme tiredness and exhaustion, Weight gain, sex drive is non existent and my memory is terrible.

Help need some advice please.

[shaws Administrator]

I think you need a new GP as the one you are consulting seems to know little. He may be happy that your TSH is 'within range' but it's not good enough for us who are hypo. Most of us need a TSH 1 or below.

It would be helpful if you have the ranges for your blood tests as labs differ and it makes it easier to comment. I have looked at a couple of your past posts and taking only 25mcg of levo is more or less hopeless.

One point stands out and that is your extremely low Vitamn D. It should be above 70 at least and your GP should have prescribed Vitamin D3 tablets for you to take as this vitamin is actually a hormone and can cause problems if insufficient.

August is too long to wait for your Endo appointment in August. Go back to your GP (or another in the practice) and ask for medication to be increased. Your TSH should be 1 or below. Low thyroid can cause a myriad of other serious problems if untreated or undertreated.

This is a previous link re Vitamin D which is actually a hormone. Your GP should have prescribed D3 for you:-

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

If we want to recover our health, I am afraid we have to read and learn about our condition. We can get better but we need a co-operative and knowledgeable doctor. If not, we have to find a way ourselves.

[Lairy73]

Thank you for your response. I have now got an urgent appointment with endo tomorrow! Just took a phone call.

I'm not on Levo as found I was worse on it, will see what endo says.

These are my blood test results with levels.

Red blood cell count 4.92 10*12/L (3.8 - 4.8)

Ferritin 40 ug/L (11 - 307)

Folate 7 ug/L (3.2 - 25.9)

Thyroid free T4 level 8.2 pmol/L (7.5 - 21.1)

TSH level 2.67 mu/L (0.34 - 5.6)

Cortisol level 227 nmol/L (455 nmo/L)

Vitamin D 39 nmol/L

<30 nmol/L consistent with deficiency

30-50nmol/L may indicate deficiency

>50 nmol/L adequate level

I'm hoping that the endo will shed some light on what's going on with me.

[Clutter in reply to Lairy73]

Lairy,

Your TSH is too high and your FT4 low so you will struggle to convert FT3. 25mcg was too low a dose and may have inhibited thyroid production leaving you in a worse position than being unmedicated.

See if your endo will prescribe vitD and iron as your ferritin is also low. NHS often won't prescribe vitamin supplementation unless they are deficient. Self supplementing with 5,000-10,000iu daily vitD for a month folllowed by 2,000-5,000iu daily maintenance thereafter should boost your vitD. Ferrous fumarate taken with 500mg-1,000mcg vit C to aid absorption andmitigate constipation should increase your ferritin.

Was your B12 tested? Your folate may be low due to low B12.

vitamindcouncil.org/vitamin...

b12deficiency.info/what-to-...

[Lairy73]

Thanks Clutter, I've just started taking 4000mg of vitamin D. And 2000 mg of vitamin C a day. My B12 level is 230 ng/L (>160 ng/L deficiency excluded). Also started taking vitamin B12 complex.

[Hidden in reply to Lairy73]

Your cortisol and b12 are both extremely low. You need to ask the endo to test for Addisons and pernicious anaemia. What B12 supplement have you taken?

[Lairy73]

So endo said my levels are normal. Advised me to take vitamin d supplement. Then told me to join slimming world to lose weight! He had my blood tested again too and he wants to see me in 3 months. Feel deflated as I think there's more going on with me. Not sure whether to get a second opinion? Should I take Levo anyway? Or go back to dr?

[mistydog]

Well if you are under medicated (which you obviously are), then no amount of slimming world will help. And very low calorie diets are really not advised, so the 5/2 diet is also out. I'd give the Levo a try, but at 50mg, not 25, since that's neither here nor there.

[Lairy73]

Thanks, i don't understand why he said my levels were ok when I feel like this! I agree no diet is going to work if I'm not medicated properly! Will try 50 mg and see what happens.