Blood test results

Hi everyone, I have just been to see the nurse who wrote down my results for my tsh results. 0.58 range 0.20 _ 6 . Can anybody body please tell me if the results are good? .

[Angel_of_the_North]

It's fine. But doesn't tell you much without free T4 and free T3 levels as well. It's a bit like telling someone that you weigh 9st. That's a statistically "normal" weight. but without your height (and perhaps your age and sex also), isn't actually useful as an indicator of health.

What symptoms do you have? Are you on medication?

[Hidden in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thanks for replying, I have lots of symptoms but by far the worst for me is the weight gain. It has had a huge impact on my life. I am going to ask for a print out of my blood tests and Shaws has sent me a link which I will show to my Dr. How I would love to feel like my old self again.

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Gracie,

You haven't completed your profile giving your medical history, i.e - when diagnosed - with what and what dose of medication etc etc.

Yes, it's good to have a low TSH but that's not the only thing that should be tested. Your T4 and T3 should also be tested.

The question is 'how do you feel?' The TSH is meaningless itself even although GPs might think so. It also varies throughout the day so if you had a test ten times you might have ten answers.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Hi shaws, thanks for the reply. I was diagnosed in 2009 and I am now four and a half stone heavier, I have high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I have muscle aches and pains and tinnitus. I also suffer digestive problems and I am asthmatic. I used to be fit and active but not anymore. Basically I am a totally different person. No wonder we have a medical exemption with all the different conditions that seem to go hand in hand with thyroid disorder. Other than that, I'm fine. Dr's don't believe in any other treatment so how can we get better?

[shaws Administrator]

Hi Gracie,

Thanks for the information. I don't think you are on sufficient medication if you have - weight gain, high cholesterol (reduces when you are on sufficient medication) the others are clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism which should have been alleviated if on maximum amount. Tinnitus can be a side effect of levothyroxine.

Gracie if you haven't had a recent blood test for your thyroid hormones, ask for a new one. Ask your GP for a Full Thyroid Function Test, i.e. TSH, T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3, plus Vitamin D, iron, ferritin and folate. He probably wont do all the T's but should do some plus the vitamins/minerals. We have to have everything near the top of the range. Tell him your New Year resolution is to get well.

Don't take levo on the morning of your blood test, take it afterwards. Make the appointment as early as possible. You should leave a gap of around 24 hours before the blood tests but take levo afterwards. If you take levo at bedtime, miss this dose and take it after blood test and you can also take it again at bedtime.

Get a print-out of your results, with the ranges and post on a new question. Members will comment. I will bet you that you are underdosed and it's time to take your own health into your hands as the GP, in my view, has kept you ill if you have all of the above symptoms.

PS. As an example of a Profile, if you click on my name to get a rough idea. It saves members asking you repeat questions

[shaws Administrator]

This is a link and click on the blue Full Text PDF and give copy to GP if you wish.

web.archive.org/web/2010032...

[Hidden]

Thank you. I will look on your profile now. I'm seeing the nurse in 2 weeks so I will ask her for a print out of my results. This a fab site but sometimes I get confused and can't retain information.

[Hidden]

Thanks for the link shaws ,hopefully I will have the courage to show her and hopefully she will listen. I won't hold my breath though !