Results of thyroid blood tests over the last 3 years.

[mummyof2bunnies]

So my thyroid is never right or working properly there's always something popping up in the blood results my gp is never happy with my results and when I've been pregnant my endocrinologist has never been happy either. My highest dosage of Levothyroxine has been 250mcg that was last year for 6 months. Anyways I'm back seeing the endo in 2 weeks as my gp has finally had enough of me lol and wants a specialist to take another look. I've attached a pic of my results most recently my tsh is 11. Can anyone help me with what the levels mean reasons why it's high? Thanks x

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

mummyof2bunnies For anyone to comment accurately, reference ranges are always needed. Do you have them (numbers usually in brackets after the result).

But whatever the range for TSH you are way over the top with a level of 11. The aim of a treated hypo patient is for the TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective ranges and the patient's symptoms to be alleviated.

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, wrote this in a Pulse Online magazine article:

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

Maybe your GP/Endo would be interested in this. If you email [e-mail] she will let you have a copy of the article which you can print out and show your GP and Endo if necessary.

It would be really helpful if they also did tests for thyroid antibodies, thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin, and if they come back high over range then you have autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's.

Do you always have your blood drawn for thyroid tests at the first appointment of the day, fasting (nothing but water since previous evening's meal), and leave off your thyroid meds for 24 hours?

How are your vitamin and mineral levels? Ask for

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

all to be tested, these all need to be optimal (not just in range) for thyroid hormone to work properly.

[mummyof2bunnies in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks this is all the info I was given by my gp and I had to beg for this. I'm low on iron currently taking ferrograd tablets also slightly low in vitamin D and low in folic acid. I had a baby 7 months ago and I just feel worse and worse every week. I shall ask my endo to test for those other things. But no I've never been told to fast or have it first thing or even not take meds for 24 hrs never knew this at all and I've been hypo for 10 years now x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to mummyof2bunnies]

mummyof2bunnies Ferrograd is good, it contains 105mg elemental iron per tablet. In case you don't already know, with each iron tablet take 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation. Also take iron with water 4 hours away from your thyroid meds and a couple of hours away from other supplements.

Do you know your levels of Vit D and folate? Are you taking anything for them?

I've been hypo for over 40 years and I've never been told anything at all by my doctors over the years, I think they like to keep us in the dark and keep us ill!!

[mummyof2bunnies in reply to SeasideSusie]

I don't know anything else results wise my gp is a bit of a pain I asked for the last few results on paper hoping to get every thing they ever tested for but he just gave me thyroid results every blood test I have they test for folate b12 fbc something else to do with iron and thyroid. I don't know why docs aren't more willing to help if their not sure then pass me onto someone who does I've been struggling for 10 years I'm lucky I've had 2 kids

[greygoose]

So, how much are you on now? How much when your TSH came back at 11? It could be you have an absorption problem. Do you have Coeliac Disease? Or acid reflux, or other digestion problems? Do you take PPIs?

[mummyof2bunnies in reply to greygoose]

I'm currently on 200mcg and have been since February ish. I do have a bit of reflux but test came back negative for coeliacs I had that done about 3 months ago. What's ppi's? X

[greygoose in reply to mummyof2bunnies]

PPI's are what doctors give you when you complain of acid reflux. They reduce acid production. The problem is, most hypos have low stomach acid, but the symptoms are the same as high acid. So, you end up with hardly any acid at all, and that inhibits digestion and absorption of nutrients and things like levo.

If your TSH is 11, it is very high for 200 mcg levo. Which suggests an absorption problem of some sort.

Coeliac tests are notoriously unreliable. Just because it's negative doesn't automatically mean you don't have it. The only way to know is to go gluten-free for a while, and see if it makes you feel better in any way.

[mummyof2bunnies in reply to greygoose]

What can they do for an absorption problem? I'm just so worried it's something bad my dad had throat cancer and they removed his thyroid completely along with part of his vocal chords but they never said either way if it was general throat cancer or thyroid related. I'm not on ppis then, I will look into gluten free a bit more too

[greygoose in reply to mummyof2bunnies]

Well, first, they have to find out why you have an absorption problem. And getting them to get of their fat behinds and actually do something isn't easy.

But, you can try gluten-free, as I said. And, you can do a test to find out if you have low stomach acid.

Put half a tsp bicarbonate of soda into a glass of water, and drink it. Then just wait. Time how long it takes you to burp. The longer it takes you, the lower your stomach acid.

So, if you have low stomach acid, you can then try taking half a tsp apple cider vinager (organic, with mother) in a glass of water and honey, before meals. That should improve your absorption.

You can also try taking some vit C with your levo, to see if that increases absorption.

Try all that, and if none of it works, we'll have to think again!

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

I don't see any connection between an absorption problem and throat cancer... Am I missing something?

[mummyof2bunnies in reply to greygoose]

Thanks. I'm already taking a general multi vitamin to boost whatever it is I need should I take vit c on its own? I don't think there is a connection tbh just with my dad's history and my on going problems I'm just working myself up just worried it might turn sinister and no one pick up on it because they don't listen properly.

[greygoose in reply to mummyof2bunnies]

A multivit is just a waste of money. It won't do you any good at all - and could even do harm.

There's not enough of anything in it to help with anything.

And, I'm willing to bet, it has all the wrong ingredients in it.

Plus things you don't want, like iodine and calcium.

Plus things that shouldn't be taken together, like magnesium and iron.

Multivits are for the Worried Well, who don't need them. Not for people with real problems. Far better to ditch it and get yourself tested and take what you actually need. You shouldn't just take things 'on the off chance...'

Take the vit C at the same time as the levo.