Test Results advice...

[AiryFairie]

Please could someone have a look at my Daughter's latest results?

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 2.96 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE 15.02 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 87.4 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00

FREE T3 4.31 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

Thyroid Antibodies

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 15.810 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 9.02 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

HAEMATOLOGY Vitamins

VITAMIN B12 151 pmol/L 140.00 - 724.00

FOLATE (SERUM) 16.82 ug/L 3.89 - 26.80

BIOCHEMISTRY

Inflammation Marker CRP - HIGH SENSITIVITY 0.1 mg/L 0.00 - 5.00

Iron Status FERRITIN *180.3 ug/L 13.00 - 150.00

A test taken by her GP 2 weeks ago showed Serum Ferritin at 98 (22.00 - 275).

My girl (early 30's) is not medicated at the moment, but is seeing her GP tomorrow. I would be most grateful for any comments/advice.

[Clutter]

AiryFairie,

TSH indicates your daughter's thyroid is beginning to struggle to produce T4 and T3 but NHS won't diagnose hypothyroidism until TSH is over 4.2 or FT4 is below 12.0.

Thyroid antibodies are negative which means your daughter does not have autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's).

B12 is very low in range but folate is good. I would pop over to healthunlocked.com/pasoc for advice about low B12 and what to ask her GP.

CRP is an inflammation marker so a low result is good.

Serum ferritin 98 is good. The second ferritin result being over range can be due to inflammation or infection somewhere in the body. A cold or virus at the time of testing may elevate ferritin.

[AiryFairie in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for your reply Clutter. Two weeks ago GP did a blood test and my Daughter's TSH was 4.37 (0.27-4.20), and her GP wanted her to wait a month, then test again. But she has been feeling so awful she is going back tomorrow, expecting to be given Levothyroxine. Yesterday she did a test with Medichecks, which are the above results (TSH 2.96).

You are right about the virus - she has been suffering on and off, for a couple of weeks, with chicken-pox-type spots, and feeling very unwell at times. GP said it wasn't actual chicken pox, but a similar virus.

Typical Hypo symptoms have been creeping on over the past couple of years (always put down to other things). She is now struggling at work, but has tried to rest more and take it a bit easier since going down with this virus. I wonder if she should tell her GP about the new (lower) TSH result ...

[Clutter in reply to AiryFairie]

AiryFairie,

The GP asked her to wait a month and retest because a virus or non-thyroidal illness can elevate TSH. Unless her TSH is over the range for the lab the GP practice uses I don't think she will get a diagnosis of hypothyroidism.

I think it is worth investigating why her B12 is so low. b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

[AiryFairie in reply to Clutter]

Thank you Clutter. Grateful for your advice.

[Marz in reply to AiryFairie]

If you scroll down in the above link Clutter has posted - you can see how serious being low in B12 can be and anything under 500 can present with neurological symptoms - which the list confirms. So many of the symptoms for LOW B12 overlap with being Hypo.

As we often mention on the forum - optimal levels of VitD - B12 - Folate - Ferritin are needed to both feel well and for thyroid hormones to work well - those we produce or supplement.

B12 is often low when stomach acid is low - which seems to be a common problem. Does your daughter have any gut issues ?

[AiryFairie in reply to Marz]

She often suffers from constipation (got a haemorrhoid 6 months ago), but can also go "the other way"...

[Marz in reply to AiryFairie]

... could be sensitive to certain foods which could also prevent good uptake of vitamins and minerals ....