Thyroid results

[JoshRH]

SeasideSusie shaws so these are my results, is there any others I need to post up? And is this good normal bad, if you could let me know, thanks guys

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

JoshRH There are no reference ranges with your results so it's impossible to interpret them accurately. Ranges are needed so we can see where your level falls within that range, and as ranges vary from lab to lab then it's essential to have the range specific to your test.

The only thing that is obvious is that your TSH has risen from July to December indicating that you are on your way to hypothyroidism, but how far from the top of the range, or if you are over range, isn't possible to say.

FT4 - who knows without the range but it's not obviously dreadfully low.

I'm afraid I can't comment on the other results.

ETA: it was mentioned in replies to your previous post what tests you need to have done. What others have you got?

[JoshRH in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for replying, the reference ranges have confused me a bit, how do I get hold of them?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to JoshRH]

If that's a print out from your surgery then you ask them or ask the lab what the ranges are. They should look something like

TSH: 4.81 (0.2-4.2)

FT4: 18.3 (12-22)

[JoshRH in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou I will chase that up with my doctor, thanks for replying once again, also my TSH levels were 4.81 in December, so is there a chance they could be higher now? Nearly 4months on? Because if the levels over 5, isn't that hypothyroidism?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to JoshRH]

JoshRH

"also my TSH levels were 4.81 in December, so is there a chance they could be higher now? "

As your TSH is seen to be rising in the results you already have, then it could very well be higher now.

"Because if the levels over 5, isn't that hypothyroidism?"

Yes, but it depends on the range your lab uses, and whether your GP will diagnose with that level, some GPs want to wait until TSH reaches 10, that's happening quite a lot.

To get the highest possible TSH to aid diagnosis (and once on Levo when retested to get an increase or to avoid a reduction) then fast overnight (you can have water) and book the very first appointment of the morning for the blood draw.

[JoshRH in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok thankyou and I'll be asking about the ranges on Monday, so I will let you know

[JoshRH in reply to SeasideSusie]

So my ranges are

T4: 18.3 (12-22)

TSH: 4.81 (0.27-4.2) they were December results, maybe different now @seasidesusie

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to JoshRH]

JoshRH So your TSH is definitely over range. It's possible that the (+) beside the December result on your print out means that. Your FT4 is 63% through its range which isn't that bad at the moment. But it's TSH they diagnose by.

Unfortunately, a lot of doctors wait until TSH reaches 10, which makes you wonder why they have ranges if they're not going to do anything when you're over range.

As your TSH has risen, I think that should be enough to convince your GP that he should diagnose hypothyroidism and start Levo. Maybe you can point that out to him???

Or, you could do the full thyroid/vitamin and mineral test with Blue Horizon or Medichecks mentioned in your previous post. That will check both types of antibodies and if either of them are high you will be positive for autoimmune thyroid disease and together with your over range TSH that should be enough to convince your GP to start Levo.

The vitamin and mineral levels will be very useful as well because if they're not optimal no thyroid hormone can work, and that's your own or replacement​.

[JoshRH in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou for replying you've been great help, I've just got off the phone to my doctor, she said my TSH is obviously slightly higher than what it should be which I know, but she said because my T4 is in normal range that it's not at a level to be affecting me, but clearly my body says otherwise, so I will let her know that, but they don't seem to be having any of it, I've been suffering for over a year now, and they've made me feel like I'm going mad, but yeah I will do that test kit, is there any info i need on it, and do i need helping hand doing it etc?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to JoshRH]

JoshRH As far as the kit is concerned and whether you need any help, look at my reply about this in your other thread healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I would do either Blue Horizon Thyroid Check plus Eleven bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/T... or Medichecks Thyroid Check Ultravit medichecks.com/thyroid-func... They are the same test and cover everything you need. I prefer Blue Horizon because I get on better with their lancets, and their new microtainers have a little lip on the side to help get the blood into the tube (I used one this morning and found it an improvement on the straight topped microtainers).

Google 'High TSH, normal FT4' . A quick look has thrown up from Medscape:

"Patients with primary hypothyroidism have elevated TSH levels and decreased free hormone levels. Patients with elevated TSH levels (usually 4.5-10.0 mIU/L) but normal free hormone levels or estimates are considered to have mild or subclinical hypothyroidism."

And by Googling 'Subclinical Hypothyroidism, from GP Notebook:

"Subclinical Hypothyroidism

This is defined as an elevated serum TSH but a normal serum thyroxine concentration in an asymptomatic patient. The most common cause is chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (occurs in 3% of adults and 10% of postmenopausal women). Some patients with subclinical hypothyroidism will have common and nonspecific symptoms such as tiredness or weight gain.

The rate of progression from subclinical to overt hypothyroidism has been stated to be approximately 2 -5% per annum. Patients with a higher TSH value and those with positive for thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) are more likely to progress to overt hypothyroidism (2).

in those patients with positive thyroid antibodies, it can be that up to 80% of patients will develop overt hypothyroidism over a four year period (3).

There is evidence to suggest that subclinical hypothyroidism may be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (4)

Reference:

(1) Association for Clinical Biochemistry (ACB), British Thyroid Association (BTA), British Thyroid Foundation (BTF) 2006. UK guidelines for the use of thyroid function tests

(2) Todd CH. Management of thyroid disorders in primary care: challenges and controversies. Postgrad Med J. 2009;85(1010):655-9.

(3) Prescriber 2002;13 (10): 50-68.

(4) Walsh JP et al. Subclinical thyroid dysfunction as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Arch Intern Med 2005;165:2467-72.

(5) Wood J. Thyroxine therapy. NEJM 1994; 331 (3): 174-80"

So you can perhaps discuss subclinical hypothyroidism with your GP.

Find as much evidence of this as you can to show your GP.

Did you look at ThyroidUK's list of signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism that I linked to in your other thread? Print if off, mark whatever is relevant to show your​ GP.

Then you can discuss with your GP how it all IS affecting you even though your FT4 is within the normal range. Explain how every aspect of your life is affected, don't forget to mention work, social life, relationship, anything!

If you post your private test results (with ranges) for comment, we can see where there​ might be other things to bring up with your GP.

[JoshRH in reply to SeasideSusie]

One of the symptoms for hypothyroidism is palpitations but when I google it it comes up with hyperthyroidism, so I'm confused?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to JoshRH]

It can be a symptom of both hypo and hyper.

[JoshRH in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou I was wondering why I was getting them, I thought it was just anxiety, once again thankyou for replying you've been great help

[humanbean in reply to JoshRH]

Poor adrenal function - cortisol levels which are too low or too high - can cause heart rate fluctuations and palpitations too. And poor adrenal function is common with thyroid issues.

[JoshRH in reply to humanbean]

Thankyou I will also look into that

[steviecat]

As I understand it, Josh - and I'm no expert - TSH levels over 1 generally point to a struggling thyroid... But it is different for everyone. Of course, if you are in a notional 'range', doctors will generally claim you are 'normal', whatever that is...