Results - help please

Hi all, I have just had results back and been told they are normal so was wondering if you guys can shed any light on these. The number don't seem to be in the same format as I see discussed on here

TSH 0.76

T3 4.5

T4 11.5

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Do you have the reference ranges? Some labs differ so it's best to have them rather than guess.

There is no information in your profile. Do you have a diagnosis of hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's? Are you on any thyroid meds?

If your GP is going by TSH only then yes, he would say normal as that result is in a good place, particularly for a treated hypo patient as 1 or below is what should be aimed for. However, depending on the range the FT4 looks low, also FT3 could do with being higher. But hard to say without more information.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for coming back to me, she didnt give me the ranges but I am going to see if I can pick up a copy of the results tomorrow so I can see ranges. She commented the FT3 & FT4 were in the lower figures but still within normal

I am not diagnosed hypo and was only having these tests as 2 doctors have both commented on my symptons all pointing towards Hypothyriodism. I've never looked into it but now that I can't believe how many I do have.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

OK, if she said your free Ts were low normal then FT4 range is possibly 10-22, that's quite a common one. FT3 may be around 3.1-6.8 so you have both free Ts low which, if you had a high TSH would be pointing to hypothyroidism.

When you've got the full results with ranges, make a new post. I'm puzzled but there's bound to be someone who can make more sense of the results.

Maybe make an appointment with your GP to discuss the results, mentioning your symptoms (make a list and take it with you), and asking for further investigations. Ask for antibodies (TPO and Tg) to be tested. Also see if you can get Vit D, B12, ferritin and folate, all helps to build up a picture.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you - I shall post all the results of my blood tests tomorrow.

If I was T3 & T4 low but normal TSH... what would that mean? I had read that TSH doesnt always paint a full picture

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

I'm not very good with anything other than bog standard hypothyroidism with bog standard results so I won't try to guess 😊.

However, here is a link to an old post with similar results to yours healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... scroll down to the reply by jimh111 (fourth one down) and he mentions secondary hypothyroidism (I don't really understand what that is). Also the BTF has this information where it says low TSH and low FT4 can indicate disorder of the pituitary gland btf-thyroid.org/information... . Something to maybe bring up with your GP.

Certainly worth requesting a referral to an endo but make sure you get the list off Louise (admin) so you can choose a hopefully thyroid friendly one.

[jimh111 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Primary hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland is failing. Secondary (or central) hypothyroidism is when the pituitary is failing.

In this case it doesn't look like secondary hypothyroidism but it's all a matter of degree. The TSH can be lower than it 'should' be for given fT3, fT4 without there being a pituitary disorder. It can occur with depression, starvation or if there was a period of hyperthyroidism which suppressed the TSH for some time.

Whatever the reason your TSH is rather low for an fT4 of 11.5. This would be fine if you were feeling perfectly well but I assume you are not as you asked for the thyroid tests and have posted here. It's difficult but assuming you do have hypothyroid symptoms the logical approach is to ask for a trial of levothyroxine, getting your fT4 above the upper half of its reference interval. Unfortunately doctors don't do logic. So you will have to be rather persistent.

[Hidden in reply to jimh111]

Thanks thats great advice! I have an appointment with an endo in September but I have seen it mentioned that it might be worth speaking to a Dr Bernard Willis which I am considering at the moment.

I have ignored these symptons for so long due to the fact that I don't feel that doctors listen (I once ended up in A&E with pneumonia after a doctor said it was 'only a cold, it will pass) but I feel at the end of my tether. I want to explain to them that I know when my body feels off and at the moment I could be falling apart

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

You could always consider self medication. I got very ill thanks to doctors and I was well below range and had hardly any T4 or T3 in my system so do not trust them either. I dont have an nhs diagnosis but self medicate and check bloods privately. Seems a bit pointless them not doing the TSH test as this gives a clearer picture of what is going on.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

How do you self medicate?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh they have done the TSH. I do apologise. Your TSH is low. You can buy Natural dessicated thyroid. That is how I started to self medicate. It may raise your T4 and t3. You can also buy t3 and t4. You would only need a small dose I think. Your results are quite confusing though. Your TSH is suppressed.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Hidden]

if it's all low, with hypo symptoms, it's probably secondary or central hypothyroidism, - a problem with the pituitary or hypothalamus - but don't expect a GP to know about that. You could ask for an endo referral. Worth finding out how your ferritin, folate and B12 are, as deficiencies can cause similar symptoms.

[Hidden]

They have referred me to a endo but its not until September. I was considering going private if my results meant anything but I shall wait until I have the ranges.

How would I get in touch with Louise?

Thanks so much for your help

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

I believe this is her email [e-mail]

If you've got someone in mind, put up a post and ask if anyone has any experience of them, I think replies have to be by private message.

[TupennyRush]

Hi there.

I had "normal' tsh with below range ft3 and ft4 for years and was told it wasn't my thyroid while having most of the symptoms. I finally moved GPS after very poor treatment by my former GPS and was diagnosed as potentially hypo thyroid by my new GP. He trialled me on levo and my symptoms magically abated (to a degree, I change to ndt after a year and then most of my symptoms went)

Low to normal Tsh with low ft4/ft3 indicates secondary hypothyroidism. Basically your pituitary (and it can be for a number of reasons) is not sending sufficient tsh to your thyroid to tell it to make sufficient t4 and t3.

It's unusual compared to primary so doesn't get diagnosed as quickly as primary hypo (and that can take some time)

Suggest you go back with a copy of rhe NICE guidance and ask to be trialled on levo to 'rule out' hypo. They'll probably start you on 25 and assume that will fox rhe problem. I got up to 75 without any changes to my Tsh/ft3 and ft4 levels (or noticeable ones anyhow) and it was only when I hit 100 that my readings changed so that ft4 and ft3 got to normal and my Tsh dropped.

Hypothyroidism runs in my Mum's family (up until I was finally diagnosed I was rhe only female over 40 without a diagnosis) and I have since found out we all get low ft3 and ft4 with low to normal Tsh. May be worth exploring your family history and then letting the GP know if there's a family history of it; it was the second question my GP asked after what are your symptoms, when he found out that my mum, aunt, female cousins and gran all had thyroid issues it sort of sealed the deal

Good luck

[Hidden in reply to TupennyRush]

thanks for your reply - thats really good advice! I shall get my game face on and try to explain my research. Always feel a bit cheeky