Please help. Can someone tell me what my results mean?

[Monster]

I've been suffering typical, I think under medicated symptoms. I'm on 75mcg of thyroxine. My GP insists they are in normal range and won't prescribe a higher dose.

I paid for a blood test from Blue Horizon and these are the results. Could somebody decipher them for me please?

Many thanks in advance.

Monster.

[Clutter]

Monster, your thyroid results are 'normal' because they are within range. I don't think they're optimal though. FT4 is low in range and that is why FT3 is also low. A dose increase would improve FT4 and FT3 but will suppress TSH below range. Some patients need a very suppressed TSH, 0.03 or lower, in order to have FT4 in the upper quadrant of range >17.0. Read Dr. Toft's comments in Treatment Options thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] for a copy of the Pulse article when the office opens on 1st September if you want to show it to your GP.

Thyroid antibodies are negative for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's).

CRP is an inflammation marker so low is good.

Ferritin is optimal as it is over halfway through range.

Folate is good.

B12 is adequate. <500 may cause neuropathy, 1,000 is optimal. Supplement 1,000mcg methylcobalamin sublingual lozenges, spray or patches. Take a B Complex with it to keep the other B vits balanced.

[Monster in reply to Clutter]

Thank you. I'll buy the lozenges

[Monster in reply to Monster]

Thank you I've ordered sublingual tablets from Amazon x

[gabkad]

Monster, increasing your dosage MAY reduce TSH. It may not. My TSH was 0.5 when I was somewhat undermedicated and now it's 0.5 at a higher dose of levothyroxine. So it's not always a lockstep sort of 'thang'........... Maybe negotiate with the doctor to increase your dose by 12.5 mcg initially, go for blood tests and if there's no change in TSH and only modest improvement with fT4 and fT3, raise it another 12.5 mcg.

Get the blood taken first thing in the morning because then TSH is highest. And don't eat before the test, no tea either but you can drink some water. Don't take your levothyroxine before the test (if you normally take it in the morning). Take it after they take your blood.