Blood tests

[Audra11]

Hi, I've been taking thyroxine for approximately 21 years, currently on 100mg having been reduced from 175mg to 150mg over the past 4-5 years. Asked for blood test last week as I have put on weight was feeling tired and cold. I've been on bp meds for quite a few years and was put on atrovastatin last year. Rang for results and receptionist told me it was all normal but I had to have liver part retested in 3 months. I was so sure I would have to have higher dose of thyroxine that I didn't ask why I had to have this done. Any ideas? Many thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Audra11 'Normal' doesn't mean anything other than the result is probably somewhere in the range but it's where in the range that matters.

If you don't already know the numbers, ask your surgery for a print out of your results and make sure the reference ranges are included. Post the results of your thyroid tests for members to comment.

Apparently, liver problems can be a side effect of taking statins (look at the patient information leaflet) so maybe your liver test is showing something that may need investigating.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

That is quite a reduction in dose, and symptoms suggest you may now on too small a dose

Most people on levo need low TSH around (or even slightly below) 1 to be adequately treated.

ALWAYS 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.

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.

(NHS rarely checks TPO and almost never checks TG. NHS believes it is impossible to have negative TPO and raised TG. It's rare, but not impossible, there are a few members on here that have this.)

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. £99

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

If you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too.

You do not need to have ANY obvious gut issues, to still have poor nutrient absorption or low stomach acid or gluten intolerance

Best advice is to read as much as you can. Vitamin and minerals levels are very important, but standard NHS thinking, doesn't at the moment seem to recognise this. You will see, time and time again on here lots of information and advice about importance of good levels of B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D, low stomach acid, leaky gut and gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's (& Grave's) too.