please help me understand my results!!

[Brummy]

Hi I have requested my latest blood test results from my docs...and I cannot make any sense of it!!

There doesn't seem to be a T4 or T3 result?

What does it mean??!

Many thanks x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Yes you are correct, there is no FT4 or FT3 result

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

TPO is rarely checked and TG almost never checked. More common to have high TPO or high TPO AND high TG, but negative TPO and raised TG is possible, though rarer.

ALWAYS Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on results

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 a finger prick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later. (Or you can pay a big extra to get blood drawn at local private hospital)

Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, 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 high antibodies (Hashimoto's) then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can really help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies slowly over time too.

Selenium supplements can help improve conversion of T4 to T3 and may also lower antibodies

[Brummy in reply to SlowDragon]

wow thankyou ...alot of info there!! I think i will have to go down the private blood test route.