Results of thyroid blood test

[Linmic]

please find attached the results my dr has given to me, have also got the results of kidney and liver function Haemoglobin , and this was not a fasting blood test.this does not look like the test results i have seen on here and would like your opinion on it please as i just do not understand it .

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Linmic

TSH: 0.11 (0.35-5.0)

FT4: 19.7 (9-24)

Are these the tests that resulted in your GP reducing your Levo?

[Linmic in reply to SeasideSusie]

hi there yes they are the test results of my latest thyroid function and she said she would have to reduce them again .

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Linmic]

Linmic, she's wrong! She's dosing purely by TSH and because your TSH is under range she is saying that you are over medicated. You can't be overmedicated unless your FT3 is over range and that is the test they rarely do.

From ThyroidUK's main website > About the Thyroid > Hypothyroidism > Treatment Options

'Dr Toft states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)." '

Dr Toft is past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist.

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing [e-mail] and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

So you need FT3 tested. Also, as mentioned in your previous thread, you need vitamins and minerals tested. These all need to be at optimal levels for us Hypos to enable thyroid hormone to work. Ask for

Vit D

B12

Ferritin

Folate

[Linmic]

Thank you very much for your very detailed reply and i do really appreciate it , i have emailed for the article you advised me to send for which i will read through as i really want to find out everything i can, as now i know that they are only doing part of the thyroid test, and having had thyroid disease for over 25 years and ive never been given a vitamin test . Should the thyroid test be a fasting one ?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Linmic]

Linmic

"Should the thyroid test be a fasting one ?"

Most doctors will say no, but we know better 😁

Patient to patient tips when having thyroid function tests:

1. Always book the very first appointment of the morning.

2. Fast overnight, water allowed.

3. Leave off Levo for 24 hours.

This gives the highest possible TSH which is what is needed when looking for a dose increase or to avoid a reduction. It also gives continuity so that all tests can be compared accurately.

Keep a spreadsheet or note somewhere of

Date .. Test Name .. Result .. Reference Range .. Levo Dose .. Note about how you feel/symptoms

All useful for future reference when doctor wants to change dose and you don't!

If you can't get FT3 and vitamins/minerals tested with your GP, we have details of private labs who do home fingerprick tests at a reasonable cost.