Thyroid results. What should I think?

[loz1234]

Hi, so I have pretty persistent cold intolerance, along with sleep disturbance, muscle pain and fatigue. So my doc always checks thyroid. I had her print my blood results and my ft4 the past fee years has been 16 -17 and tsh between 0.7 and 1.5.

Now my most recent results are ft4 12.5 and tsh 1.5, she says that's fine. I guess because its within reference ranged, but why has my ft4 dropped like that? And isn't tsh meant to rise when that happens? I'm just wondering should I be concerned?

Thanks

[Marz]

Did you have both tests early in the morning after fasting ? The FT4 looks low in range and there is no FT3 - however without the ranges in your area it is difficult to offer advice.

How are your levels of B12 - Ferritin - Folate - VitD ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If they have not been done ......Suggest you ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells

Also have you had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's the most common cause in UK of being hypo.

Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out.

Alternatively you can now ask for online access to your own medical records. Though not all surgeries can do this yet, or may not have blood test results available yet online.

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.

Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) If you are taking Levo, then don't take it in 24 hours before (take straight after). This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible