Test results

[Bell100]

Hi all. I'm new to all this. I had my thyroid tested every year, routine bloods as I'm diabetic. Always come back normal. Always been worries that it's never quite right.

I'm a big girl and have always suffered with cold hands feet and body. Pins and needles. I have now been told i have low feritin (iron) levels. Vit D dificency. Ostioarthritus. Aching joint with pain. I lose weight one week and pit it on the next. I can get out of bed in a morning and have gained 7lb 😲

I decided to pay for a blood test for free t3 and free t4 test. MY results are in and I'm even more confused than before.

THS: 1.14 I understand this is good and normal

Free t4: 12.9 again I'm told good and normal

Free t3 : 3.9 now this shows as normal but is the bottom line of normal and could be why with a normal result THS and free t4 could be why I can't lose weight or feel better.

I took it to my GP and he said it's all normal don't worry...

Another private consultant is 150 to 200 pounds .... would I benefit from a try of some meds. ? Doc says no. So fed up now

[greygoose]

Hi Bell100, welcome to the forum.

I'm afraid we need the actual range, not someone's opinion of it. Without the range, the results are meaningless.

I'm afraid doctors only tend to look at the TSH, and as yours is 'in range', they think there's nothing wrong with you. But, the TSH shouldn't be used on its own, the Frees should be taken into account. And, if your Frees are low, as well as your TSH, then you could have what is calle Central hypo. But GPs know nothing about that.

Anyway, put the ranges in, and people will be able to further advise.

[Bell100 in reply to greygoose]

Hi greygoose my range as my report shows.

FT4 12.9 ref range 11.0 . 26.0 TSH 1.14 ref range 0.35 . 4.50 FT3 3.9 ref range 3.9 . 6.8

Now I know there all classed as in range but the private hospital I used said take it to your G.P because 3.9 is on the lower end of things ?

[greygoose in reply to Bell100]

And they were right! Your FT3 is drastically low. And given that T3 fluctuates a bit throughout the day, could actually be below range at some point! Your FT4 is also too low.

So, low Frees and low TSH. You should definitely mention Central hypo to your doctor. Central hypo is where the problem lies with the pituitary or the hypothalamus, rather than the thyroid gland itself.

Primary hypo is when the problem is with the thyroid, and TSH is high, and Frees low.

Secondary hypo is when the problem is with the pituitary, and TSH is low, Frees are low.

Tertiary hypo is when the problem is with the hypothalamus, and TSH is low, Frees are low.

When you don't know if the problem is with the pituitary or the hypothalamus, you refer to it as Central hypo.

Doctors think this is very rare, so they never test for it. But, everything appears rare if you never test for it! Just testing the TSH will not show up Central hypo. Which is one of the reasons it's a pretty useless test. So, because they think it's rare, doctors never consider that you might have Central hypo when your TSH is low, but you have hypo symptoms. But, you have hypo symptoms because your Frees are low! You see what I mean? It's a bit of a catch 22! So, the patient has to suggest to the doctor that that is what it might be, and ask to see an endo, who should know more about it, and can do the other necessary tests to prove it.

[Bell100 in reply to greygoose]

Oh my god this is mind blowing. I will ask but my doctor will refuse to do any thing. He told me yesterday. I should be please with my results as there fine. And I shouldn't hold on to there being any medical reason I'm over weight

[greygoose in reply to Bell100]

He obviously knows less about thyroid than I thought! I don't think he'd be pleased with that FT3 if it were his. It's much too low for good health. Can you try another doctor in the practice? Read up on Central hypo first, though, so you know what you're talking about.

[Bell100 in reply to greygoose]

He's the only one. I can pay private again but it's 150 to 200 for a consultant. I'm guessing I either need to look at going in and telling him straight or finding another gp 😣

[greygoose in reply to Bell100]

Well, tell him straight, and if he doesn't help, find another GP. You really shouldn't have to pay all that money to get help!

[Bell100 in reply to greygoose]

Thinking of buying some t3 supplement from somewhere if he won't help.

Only trouble is no one seems to do it ?

[greygoose in reply to Bell100]

Why T3? Why not start with levo, see how it goes? You can always add in T3 after if it doesn't work. And, what do you mean, no-one seems to do it? Plenty of people buy their own T4/T3/NDT.

The only trouble with that plan is, you really need your pituitary investigated. Because if your pituitary isn't working properly, there will be other hormonal deficiencies, like HGH. Just taking thyroid hormone won't have any effect on them, but you will be left wondering why you still have symptoms, when your Frees are optimised. So, if I were you, I would insist on getting your pituitary and hypothalamus checked out, before doing anything else.

[Bell100 in reply to greygoose]

Oooo ok. I'm so lost right now. Thank you.

[greygoose in reply to Bell100]

You're welcome.

And, remember, it's not just low thyroid hormones that can make you put on weight. They all can possibly make you gain weight, if they're low.

[HLAB35 in reply to greygoose]

Love the straight to the point advice greygoose ..

Perfect

[greygoose in reply to HLAB35]

Thank you.

[Kes8]

Do you have type I or II diabetes?

[Bell100 in reply to Kes8]

Well this is a bit mind blowing. I was diagnosed with type 2 as I was 22.7 stones. I had a gastric sleeve in 2014 as my sugar levels were dangerously high. I lost weight. I'm now 16.7. I was told that my diabetes would go.

It has not in still being medicated for it. They now say I'm type 2 treated as type 1 ?

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

You also need to test thyroid antibodies. This is test for autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's. Especially if you have type one diabetes which is also autoimmune.

Any autoimmune disease in your immediate family

Checking levels of vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 essential too

Extremely common for GP to put patients on standard maintenance level vitamin D (800iu) and for this not to be high enough dose to improve levels. Do you know how low vitamin D was before starting supplementing and how much you are taking. Has vitamin D level been retested since?

Pins & needles can be symptom of low B12. Important to test folate with B12 as they work together

How is low ferritin being treated and has level improved

Do you have any digestion issues, eg IBS that may account for low nutrients.

Autoimmune diseases are often linked to non coeliac gluten sensitivity. Gluten intolerance can lower nutrients

[Bell100 in reply to SlowDragon]

Slow Dragon

No autoimmune issues in the family.

B12 is ok as far as I know.

Vit D was done by diabetic centre so they just said it's low. Get some vitamin D supplements? My doctor won't prescribe vitamins.

Feritin is always low been told to take room tablets (off doctor) for rest of life.

I had a gastric sleeve in 2014 due to weight increase and blood sugar levels being dangerously high. I have to take a multivitamin every day. (I also have to by them

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Bell100]

Now we are getting more of a picture.

Gastric sleeve is highly likely to have reduced your ability to get adequate levels of B12 and iron and probably vitamin D too

Your GP really should know all this, your care has been inadequate if they have not been testing and supplementing missing vitamins

bomss.org.uk/wp-content/upl...

laparoscopic.md/weight-loss...

If your vitamin D and B12 are low then you can't use your own thyroid hormones, so you will have hypothyroid symptoms

You need to get the vitamins sorted first, then have a full Thyroid retest, including antibodies.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.

Private testing - Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular test. Same test, just different companies. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...