Blood test

[Dalilafng]

Hi!

Can anyone tell me what would be a complete blood test for a good diagnose of thyroid problems?

I'm considering paying it privatly since can't find a doctor willing to prescribe...

Thank you so much!

[Clutter]

Dalilafng,

What tests have you had so far?

[Dalilafng in reply to Clutter]

Dear Clutter,

Just the basic:

Atc Anti-Tiroideus Anti-Peroxidase (TPO) - Value: 42 - Range: <= 35 Ul/mL

TSH - Value: 0.415 - Range: 0.550-4.780 mUI/L

Free T4 - Value: 1.04 - Range: 0.70-1.58 ng/dL

Should be feelling great but don't. Keep on feeling pretty much hypoT.

I'm on Levo, 150 mcg.

[Clutter in reply to Dalilafng]

Dalilafng,

FT4 is less than half way through range so you could increase dose. If you do, wait 6-8 weeks to order a private thyroid test. I think you just need to order TSH, FT4 and FT3 to see how well you are converting T4 to T3.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 1.0 or lower with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Dalilafng in reply to Clutter]

Clutter,

You are the best! Always so kind...

Than you! I'm really greatfull for your help.

Just last monday my Endo saw this results and said I was just like she wanted and I should be feeling bad cause my thyroid was "on fire".

Even regarding Hashi... she never commites to that... just keeps on saying its a autoimmune thyroid disease without much detail...

I feel really disapointed and I keep on losing this strugle...

Don't know if you are relating the posts, but I'm going to try to add Tiromel, by my own, with a help from a friend visiting Turkey on the begining of July and was considering to make the tests prior to that and then after.

What do you think?

.......

Also, last February I had a broader blood test, to be repeted in August:

Value Range

Iron 48ug/dL 50-170

Ferritin 4 ng/mL 8-252

Folate 18.8ng/mL 3.5-17.5

VitD 8 ng/mL <10 - >100

cortisol 7.83 ug/dL 4.3-22.4

Since this I've started on Iron, VitD and Magnesiun suplements....

Let me know your thoughs and please feel free to give me an hint of a direction to take....

Regards

[Clutter in reply to Dalilafng]

Dalilafng,

It would be a good idea to know what your FT3 is before adding T3.

Iron, ferritin and vitD are deficient. How much are you supplementing? Folate is excellent. Are you vegetarian?

[Dalilafng in reply to Clutter]

I'm not vegetarian although I have difficulty on eating meat (don't really apreciate it that much).

I've had a gastric by-pass 10 year ago and it causes me to have deficient vitamin and mineral absorption. I really must suplement always....

Actually my diet now is pretty much as glutten free as possible... most like paleo and low carb. (even so, and controlling portions, I cannot lose weight!!!)

So, I guess that for now I'm just going to test FT3, right?

[Clutter in reply to Dalilafng]

Dalilafng,

If you want to know how well you are converting you should check TSH, FT4 and FT3 together otherwise FT3 only is fine.

What doses of iron and vitD are you supplementing?

[Dalilafng in reply to Clutter]

On the Iron Pill:

VitC – 60mg

Folate – 400mcg

VitB12 – 8mcg

Iron– 28mg

...

VitD: 2500iu

....

Regarding blood test I'll just need TSH, FT4 and Ft3? No need for T4 and T3, right?

[Clutter in reply to Dalilafng]

Dalilafng,

There's not much iron in that multi-vit pill. Ferrous Fumarate 210mg has 65mg elemental iron and you probably need 3 x 210mg to correct iron deficiency plus taking 1,000mg vitamin C with each tablet will aid absorption and minimise constipation.

VitD 2,500iu is insufficient to correct severe vitD deficiency. My GP prescribed 40,000iu D3 daily x 14 days followed by 2,000iu daily x 8 weeks which raised vitD from <10 to 107. I maintain levels with 5,000iu per week most of the year and increase to 10-15,000iu per week during the winter months.

Has B12 been tested? The 8mcg B12 in the multi vit won't be much use if you have low B12.

[Dalilafng in reply to Clutter]

VitB12 was 385pg/ml on a range of 211-911

This Iron pill is the only one I manage to take without running to the bathroom a few moments later.

This Ferrous Fumarate is it a pill?

I didn't mention but I'm not from the UK... I'm from (and at) Portugal. And this suplements have been on a trial and error...

[Clutter in reply to Dalilafng]

Dalilafng,

It will take you a long time to correct iron deficiency if you are only taking 1 x 28mg iron. Ferrous Fumarate is an iron pill. Perhaps you could try using the Cambodian Iron Fish too healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

B12 385 is fine unless you have symptoms of B12 deficiency in b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

[Dalilafng in reply to Clutter]

I'm amazed over that Cambodian Iron Fish.

[Clutter in reply to Dalilafng]

Dalilafng,

It's been a while since I posted that. Quite a few people on here who struggle to tolerate iron supplements bought it. If you have cast iron pans they release iron into food as it cooks too.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your vitamin D and ferritin are dire.

You need your B12 tested. This is also commonly low. It can be masked/exacerbated by high Folate.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/179...

Are you on gluten free diet as you have Hashimoto's. Very many of us find it helps heal the gut and improve symptoms. Other food intolerances can be dairy or nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes)

Do you have any gut symptoms? Are you on any other medications, especially acid reflux (PPI's)

We need very good vitamin levels to be able to use our thyroid hormones, if they are T4 or T3.

For masses of info about Hashimoto's see The Thyroid Pharmacist website

[Dalilafng in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello SlowDragon!

Thank you so much for your reply.

As my previous reply to Clutter, VitB12 was 385pg/ml on a range of 211-911.

For dairy I just take ocasionally greek iogurt and high fat chease.

The only other medication I'm currently taking is Prozac (Fluoxetine) as an attempt (I belive) to shut my complains, from my GP.

I'll check that site! Thank you!

Regards,

[Katepots]

Bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk

Thyroid plus 11,-2&15 are all good comprehensive tests.

[Katepots]

Sorry just seen you're not in the uk!

[Dalilafng in reply to Katepots]

Tks anyway! 😊

[Dalilafng]

Clutter and SlowDragon,

Regarding suplements,

Can you recomend something lije this: amazon.com/dp/B00S8PW6P6?psc=1 ?

[ssMarilyn]

Here in the states, these are the ones done by the thyroid experts:

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Thyroid Hormones (FT3 and FT4)

Thyroid Antibodies

Reverse T3 (rT3)