please could you check these thyroid results please.

[Cn13]

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to find out the cause of my health problems. I have iron deficiency anaemia at the moment and at my last blood test my ferritin levels had dropped from the previous levels leading me to suspect I may an absorption problem. I am taking iron supplements.

I am wondering if someone could confirm if these recent thyroid results are definitely in the normal range.

TSH level 1.76 mu/l [0.35-4.94]

T4 level 10.6 pmol/l [9.0-19.0]

Is these levels are too low I might consider getting some private tests done. Can anyone please advise on best course of action please.

[Clutter]

Carmel13n,

Your TSH and FT4 are still euthyroid but your FT4 has dropped considerably since your thyroid tests 2 months ago and is very low in range now. I think it would be worth asking your GP to do another thyroid function test in 2 months to check FT4 doesn't drop below range.

[Cn13 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks very much for your reply Clutter. I will ask for it to be checked again. What kind of conditions would cause a low T4 level. I am thinking of asking for a test for Coeliac disease as am worried my ferritin is dropping even though I'm taking supplements.

[Clutter in reply to Cn13]

Carmel13n,

Pituitary/hypothalmic dysfunction can mean that there is insufficient TSH to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce T4.

The tissue transglutaminase test (tTg) is the coeliac screen. You need to eat normal amounts of gluten daily for up to six weeks prior to the test or you will get a false negative result.

[Saggyuk in reply to Cn13]

Please bear in mind that the coeliac blood test is unreliable and can only truly be ruled out by endoscopy which also doesn't rule out NCGS so if your coeliac test comes back negative and you have absorption issues, you might want to try a gluten free diet for three months anyway.

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

Also you need Vit C to aid digestion of iron so always take with orange juice or those vit c effervescent tablets?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also have you had vitamin D levels checked?

If GP won't - vitamindtest.org.uk - £28 finger prick test by post

[Cn13]

Hi,

Thanks for further replies. Yes SlowDragon I had Vitamin D checked and this was also very low. Doctor gave supplements for 3 months but might ask to have it rechecked. To me it seems I have some kind of absorption issue just want to find the cause.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cn13]

Do you have Hashimotos (high antibodies )

If you do then your very likely gluten intolerant- most of us are - medics don't realise or understand connection between Hashimotos & poor gut function, low nutrients & gluten intolerance

You probably need maintenance dose of vitD all the time

Don't be surprised if it's dropped significantly if you stopped taking it

[Cn13 in reply to SlowDragon]

No I have not been diagnosed with Hashimotos. Does this seem likely from the above thyroid results. I have a GP appointment next Tuesday so could you recommend what I could ask to be tested to rule out any Thyroid issue please?

I have bought my own Vitamin D3 and take them when I remember. Thanks very much for your help.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cn13]

So you have PA, but not been diagnosed or treated for any thyroid disease?

PA is autoimmune, so you are more likely to have another autoimmune disease

Ask GP to test your thyroid antibodies to check for autoimmune thyroid disease (GP's rarely call it Hashimoto's)

[bluebug in reply to Cn13]

You are unlikely to be given a repeat vitamin D test within 3 months in primary care e.g by your GP. Most areas only allow another test at 6 months - 2+ years in adults due to the cost of them to the NHS.

What dose in international units (IU) of vitamin D3 where you given? What was your vitamin D test result with range? Did your GP do a bone profile blood test?

You should request that your vitamin B12 and folate level are tested as well as your thyroid antibodies. Lots of people once they are deficient in two nutrients are low in others. If you have those results please post them with ranges as often GPs say a level is fine when you should be self supplementing at best and undergoing further investigation at worst.

Finally it helps others to help you on here if you post all the blood test results you have had recently with ranges rather than just posting thyroid test results as the body needs to be treated as a whole to get better. In addition while this a forum for thyroid conditions some forum members have other conditions as well so would be able to advise on that.

[Cn13]

Hi,

Thanks a lot Bluebug. These are my latest results.

Mean cell haemoglobin concentration 32.6 g/dL [31 - 35]

Coded entryPlatelet count - observation 153 10^9/L [140 - 450]

Coded entryRed blood cell distribution width

Coded entryHaematocrit 0.377 [0.37 - 0.47]

Coded entryMean cell volume 81.6 fL [78 - 100]

Coded entryMean cell haemoglobin level 26.6 pg [27 - 32]

Coded entryMonocyte count - observation 0.3 10^9/L [0.2 - 0.95]

Coded entryEosinophil count - observation 0.1 10^9/L [0.01 - 0.7]

Coded entryBasophil count 0 10^9/L [0 - 0.1]

Coded entryDifferential white blood cell count

Coded entryNeutrophil count 2.1 10^9/L [2 - 7.5]

Coded entryLymphocyte count 1.6 10^9/L [1.5 - 4]

Coded entryRed blood cell count 4.62 10^12/L [4.2 - 5.4]

Coded entryFull blood count

Coded entryHaemoglobin concentration 12.3 g/dL [11.5 - 16]

Coded entryTotal white blood count 4.1 10^9/L [4 - 12]

Serum albumin level 37 g/L [35 - 50]

Coded entrySerum globulin level 30 g/L [23 - 40]

Coded entrySerum alkaline phosphatase level 41 iu/L [30 - 130]

Coded entryPlasma glucose level 4.6 mmol/L [3.3 - 6]

Coded entryBone profile

Coded entrySerum total protein level 68 g/L [60 - 80]

Coded entryLiver function tests

Coded entrySerum total protein level 68 g/L [60 - 80]

Coded entrySerum albumin level 37 g/L [35 - 50]

Coded entrySerum calcium level 2.26 mmol/L [2.03 - 2.45]

Coded entryCalcium adjusted level 2.38 mmol/l [2.2 - 2.6]

Coded entrySerum inorganic phosphate level 1 mmol/L [0.8 - 1.5]

Coded entryPlasma glucose level

Coded entrySerum sodium level 140 mmol/L [133 - 146]

Coded entrySerum potassium level 4.2 mmol/L [3.5 - 5.3]

Coded entryGFR calculated abbreviated MDRD > 90 mL/min/1.73m*2

Coded entryUrea and electrolytes

Coded entrySerum creatinine level 51 umol/L [49 - 90]

Coded entrySerum urea level 4 mmol/L [2.5 - 7.8]

Coded entrySerum globulin level 30 g/L [23 - 40]

Coded entrySerum alkaline phosphatase level 41 iu/L [30 - 130]

Coded entrySerum alanine aminotransferase level 16 iu/L [0 - 55]

Coded entrySerum total bilirubin level 4 umol/L [0 - 21]

Serum folate level 10.6 ng/ml [3.1 - 20.5]

Coded entrySerum ferritin level

Coded entrySerum ferritin level 26 ng/ml [10 - 204]

Coded entrySerum vitamin B12 level

Coded entrySerum vitamin B12 level 979 ng/L [187 - 883]

Probably no point in asking for another vitamin D test then. The Vitamin D3 I was given was 20,000iu to take 5 each month for 3 months.

Also to clear up any confusion my PA diagnosis is in question because this new GP needed proof and I got my hospital records but there is no B12 test and no paperwork to say PA. This GP had given me loading doses of B12 at the beginning of April which is why my B12 is high. I want to get properly tested for PA but will have to wait now for the B12 to leave my system.

Could someone please tell me what tests I need to ask for regarding Thyroid testing and Ceoliac testing please. I have also noticed in the last 2 weeks the glands under my chin seem to be swollen which I will mention to GP on Tuesday.

Thanks for any help.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So vitamin D supplement was 20,000iu just 5 times each month for three months? That's only just over 3000iu per day. Depending on how low your vitamin D was, and the fact you seem to have poor gut function going on, it's quite likely it didn't raise it that much even at the time. How long since you stopped this dose?

Suggest you get it checked via vitamindtest.org.uk -£28 postal kit.

Ferritin is low, looking to be at least 70 for good thyroid function.

Was folate tested? Can't see it here

Ask GP for coeliac blood test, but it is notoriously unreliable.

Also thyroid antibodies test

[Cn13]

Hi Slowdragon,

Yes that is all I was prescribed. My D3 level in March was 23.2nmol/l. I have bought my own supplements of d3 5,000 iu. Is it safe to take these everyday?

My folate level is 10.6 ug/l [3.1 - 20.5] which has reduced quite a bit since I was first tested in March.

I do think I have some other condition as my Ferritin levels are going down even though I am taking 3 x 200mg ferrous sulfate per day.

I will ask the GP on Tuesday for the coeliac and Thyroid testing and hopefully he will agree.

Thank you very much for the support.