TSH test

[suresh786]

my TSH came as 1.088.

Which other tests to do to know if i have the hyper or hypo

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

suresh786 A full thyroid panel will include:

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies

Thyroglobulin antibodies

and that will give a good picture of your thyroid health.

It's also worth testing:

Vit D

B12 (although I see you're supplementing this)

Ferritin

Folate

And as I saw you have anxiety problems this can affect adrenals so a 24 hour saliva adrenal test which measures cortisol and DHEA with four samples over 24 hours could be useful.

[suresh786 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I have deficiency of vitamin d and b12.

Regarding testing of the FT3, FT4 and antibodies, do I need to be fasting for 8 hours.

do I need to avoid before test b12, d, SSRI to avoid any affect on results

[suresh786 in reply to suresh786]

I don't know if they test ferritin, folate, saliva adrenal in Qatar

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to suresh786]

I'm afraid I don't know if they test those in Qatar either, but ferritin and folate are very important. Ferritin needs to be half way through it's range, and at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work. Folate and B12 work together so if you are supplementing with B12 you should take a B Complex to balance the B vitamins and it should contain methylfolate. Folate should be at least half way through it's range.

[suresh786 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Just sitting at the endocrinologist and he said TSH, FT3, FT4 plus thyroid scan are enough at first checking. He said no need for the antibodies unless we find any wrong in above tests. Is he right?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to suresh786]

suresh786 No, he's wrong. Antibodies fluctuate which makes symptoms and test results fluctuate. If your TSH, FT4 and FT3 are being tested when antibodies aren't active then your results could all be in range (even though you may have symptoms) so you will be told everything is fine.

Antibodies can be tested and be low, that doesn't rule out autoimmune thyroid disease. High antibodies are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease but it needs more than one negative test to rule it out (I've had four negative results and am confident I don't have it, and I don't have fluctuating symptoms so again am confident about not having it).

You will see on here that testing antibodies is always recommended as standard.

I can't comment on thyroid scan as I've never had one so no experience.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to suresh786]

suresh786 It's always advised, when having blood drawn for thyroid tests, to book the very earliest appointment of the day, fast overnight (water only to drink until after the blood draw) and leave off Levo for 24 hours. This way you will get the highest TSH (it lowers during the day, highest early in the morning) which is what you would be aiming for if looking for a dose increase. Also, if you do this every time then conditions will always be the same and results can be compared like for like.

I would take any other supplements and medication (including your Levo) when you get home after the blood draw.

Are you supplementing D3 for your Vit D deficiency? If so are you taking it's important co-factors K2-MK7 and magnesium? If you want to give your Vit D level and what dose of D3 you are taking then members can comment.

[suresh786]

Thanks a lot. I am taking the vitamin D3 10,000 IU per day. I am mangesium but I am not taking the vitamin K.

I am not taking any thing for thyroid as I don't if have any problem or not. Last time just had a TSH tested. My GP thought that is enough but I disagree.

Thanks a lot

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to suresh786]

Vit D aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs it to bones and teeth where it is needed rather than arteries and soft tissues where it can cause problems.

What was your Vit D level and how long have you been taking 10,000iu daily? Have you had it retested since starting supplements?

[suresh786 in reply to SeasideSusie]

First test Vit-d initially was at 13ng/ml level. Then tested about approx. a month supplementing and got 39ng/ml. So far its about the 2 months of supplementing. Out of 2months the first two weeks were on D2 then switched to D3. Hence 6weeks on the D3. I will buy the vitmain K and add to my daily supplements. Thanks for helping.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to suresh786]

suresh786 As 10,000iu is a hefty dose of D3, I would retest to see where you are now.

Here in the UK the units are nmol/L and we are recommended to aim for 100-150.

Your units are ng/ml and converting your 39ng/ml to nmol/L it works out at 97.5, so you were very near the recommended level then.

Take a look at the Vit D council's website here and scroll down for the guidelines to recommended level and you'll see it is 50ng/ml (sufficient being 40-80mg/ml and toxic being over 150ng/ml).

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

You probably should just be on a maintenance dose now and K2 is very important so you should be taking it with your D3.

[suresh786 in reply to SeasideSusie]

thanks. I am in touch with the vitamin d council. Here is thread which I am posting,

vitamindcouncil.org/q-a-for...

[suresh786]

Sorry for typos as I am on the mobile