Thyroid test help to understand these - Thyroid UK

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Thyroid test help to understand these

MIckeyrow profile image
14 Replies

These were the last test results. Tsh-0.53 Folate-19.6 Ferritin-150 Vit B12-254 . I could not see Free T4 Free T3 or Vit 3 on the form .

There were abt 37 lines sorry all very confusing to make sense of it. Thanks all can anyone help me understand these please.

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MIckeyrow profile image
MIckeyrow
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

It's not easy to comment accurately without reference ranges for the tests.

However, your TSH at 0.53 is in a good place, be aware that if it was any lower it would likely be under range and a reason for your GP to say you were over medicated (mine definitely would).

Folate at 19.6 is marked as abnormal. No idea if that is low or high without a range. It would be just under half way in the range my last test used. As it is marked as abnormal did your GP comment?

Ferritin seems good at 150, but again depends on range.

Your B12 is measured in ng/L, mine was done in pmol/L. However, the range here in UK for ng/L appears to be 180-900 so as yours is 254 it is low. You need to supplement to the top of the range, take Solgar or Jarrows sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges. Balance B Vits by also taking a B Complex such as Thorne Basic B.

You do have a Vit D result, it is the 25 hydroxy vitamin D level which is 51nmol/L. It's not optimum. You need to get that up to around the 100 mark by supplementing with Vit D3 cholecalciferol. When taking D3 you should also take K2. Vit D aids absorption of calcium, K2 will direct the calcium to bones and teeth rather than arteries and soft tissue.

Pity there is no FT4 and FT3. To get a more accurate and up to date picture, if your GP won't repeat any tests, you could get a private test done through Blue Horizon, the Thyroid Plus Ten or Plus Eleven would cover everything including antibodies.

As you are on Levo you stand no chance of an increase to help your symptoms with your TSH at 0.53. You need to get all your vitamins and minerals at their optimal levels to give your Levo the best chance of working properly. Also, selenium helps with converting T4 to T3 but, of course, as you have no results for free Ts you don't know if conversion is adequate.

So supplementing B12 and D3 (with K2) and possibly selenium as a start, but up to date tests and maybe even a Genova 24 hour adrenal stress test to see if your adrenals are struggling would be on my 'to do' list.

MIckeyrow profile image
MIckeyrow in reply to SeasideSusie

Thank you so much for such detailed and helpful information so appreciate it.

MIckeyrow profile image
MIckeyrow in reply to SeasideSusie

Hello again SeasideSusie, Doctor just said Vit D a bit low but no need to do anything is all she said.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to MIckeyrow

Doctors know nothing about nutrition. Usually, they are very happy if the result is just in range. They don't realise the difference between optimal and in range. I would supplement, if I were you.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to MIckeyrow

MIckeyrow Your GP said that about Vit D? Oh well (rolling eyes here!), just go ahead and supplement to about 100 or so.

Did she say anything about the folate result that is marked abnormal? I'm really puzzled by that.

MIckeyrow profile image
MIckeyrow in reply to SeasideSusie

Exactly, she is just not interested ! she only mentioned the Vit D and nothing else. So glad I found this group and all the support and advise given so far, thank you again.

MIckeyrow profile image
MIckeyrow in reply to SeasideSusie

Hello please can you advise I tried Holland and Barrett

Solgar lozenges

Thorne Basic B Vitamin

Vitamin D3 Cholecalafenol

K2

They were not very helpful any suggestions please greatly appreciate it

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to MIckeyrow

MIckeyrow I always buy mine on the internet, do price comparisons for the brands I want and buy from the one who works out cheapest and who I know gives good service.

These are my first go-to suppliers:

bodykind.com/

healthmonthly.co.uk/vitamin...

If they don't have what I'm looking for then I look at Amazon (I always look at seller rating and reviews and don't buy from any less than 99% positive rating) and then Google Shopping for comparison prices.

Thorne Basic B is on Amazon, also yourhealthbasket.co.uk/inde...

This is the D3 I use bodykind.com/product/brand/...

I'm looking for a new supply of K2 myself. I can't tolerate capsules unless I open them and mix with juice, so I prefer softgels or tablets. The ones I currently use are a K Complex and I want to change to K2-MK7 so I'm still looking.

MIckeyrow profile image
MIckeyrow in reply to SeasideSusie

Thank you so very much 👍

MIckeyrow profile image
MIckeyrow in reply to SeasideSusie

Hello Seaside Suzie

Thanks again. Sorry to be so thick

Must I order these ?

I typed K2 and it shows these are best seller on Amazon

Nu U D3 10 000iu

Nu U Vit12 Methylcobalmin

I have bought the T 3 but understand that the T3 doesn't work if the Vit D etc and other things you so kindly highlighted are not corrected first. I just want to be sure to order the right thing thanks very much for helping 😀

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to MIckeyrow

Hi MIckeyrow Can you just clarify what by "must I order these?" - do you mean are those particular ones OK?

My thoughts are that you don't go by what is Amazon's best seller, you find the right one for you as far as quality, dosage and price are concerned.

I don't know anything about the brand Nu U, I've never seen it recommended by anyone. That one contains 10,000iu which is an exceptionally high dose. I think you need more like 2,000iu daily or if you bought the ones I linked to (Doctors Best 5,000iu) then one every other day. Your Vit D result is 51 nmol/L and you're aiming for around 100+.

I personally wouldn't use the Nu U B12. It has 3 forms of sweeteners - dextrose and maltodextrin being artificial sweeteners made from starches and I would be avoiding them. Solgar and Jarrows are the ones usually recommended on here.

Have you found a K2? I'm still using up my K Complex so not got around to looking for another one yet.

It's not only T3, but any thyroid hormone that can't work correctly unless vitamins and minerals are at optimal levels.

MIckeyrow profile image
MIckeyrow in reply to SeasideSusie

Thanks again. I just don't have any knowledge abt vitamins as I have never taken any before.

I have not found K2 yet.

I will search for Doctors Best Vitamin D 5000 iu , and Solgar and Jarrow vitamin B12 .

I can start with those then try to find K2 somewhere.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to MIckeyrow

MIckeyrow The link I gave you for Doctors Best Vit D is the cheapest I have found bodykind.com/product/brand/... £11.98 for a year's supply at one a day, two year's supply if you take alternate days to give an average of 2,500iu daily which I think would be enough. And if you search that site for K2 there are quite a few to choose from. I'm leaning towards K2 MK-7 at the moment.

Amazon looks the cheapest for Solgar B12 5000mcg amazon.co.uk/Solgar-Subling... if you start with the 5000mcg when you get your level up to optimal you can drop down to the 1000mcg dose as maintenance.

alangardner profile image
alangardner

this seems to be an overubundunce of information to confuse ..... in my experience you need the following ::: tsh , f3 ,f4, ferretin,folate, vitd3, [with ranges for the lab carrying out the tests -- they do vary --] firstly .... before going to all the others , which only confuse and do not allow you to read or treat them correctly as the first point . alan

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