HELP please with new 'private' blood test results compared to GP's.

[anniec11]

Hi, I have recently posted my (sparse) GP blood test results for Hypothyroidism. (I am 72 yrs young !) Kindly, knowledgeable people on here have suggested I have a FULL blood test taken privately, so I did, via Bluehorizon. A I have already explained, I have not been feeling well, low mood, anxiety, lethargy and inability to lose weight. The results that have come back from Bluehorizon have baffled me even more than I was before. LOL. Just to add here, I have been hypo for some 20 years. VERY oddly, I have never 'felt the cold' as they say Hypos do, quite the contrary, I suffer from heat intolerance and am always hot when other people are chilly. I was taking 125 mcg Levothyroxine, but I have actually cut down to 100 mcg... to see if I can at least lose these anxiety symptoms. Just for comparison my test results through the GP a month ago were: ! Plasma TSH ,0.01 mU/L; !Plasma free T4 level 19.2 pmol/L; and Plasma free T3 level 3.8 pmol/L.

I attach the results from Bluehorizon a week ago in an image. (Quite a difference in T4 level) and hope this is ok? Your advice as to what all this means will be hugely appreciated!

Oh, to add to the confusion, the following Doctor's Comment was attached!!!

This is a hyperthyroid result (overactive thyroid gland). The high Free T4 and low thyroid stimulating hormone level, are suggestive. You may have symptoms – including weight loss, rapid heart rate, sweating and anxiety, amongst others. If you are already taking thyroxine medication, you could be taking too much and downward dose adjustment may be in order. I advise you to contact your usual doctor to discuss these thyroid function test results.

[Clutter]

AnnieC11,

Did you take Levothyroxine before the BlueHorizon blood test and were you taking 125mcg or 100mcg at the time of the test?

[anniec11 in reply to Clutter]

Hi, I took 125 mcg before the test, but NOT on the morning of the blood test.

[Clutter in reply to anniec11]

Anniec11,

FT4 was over range but reducing dose to 100mcg should see it drop back into range. TSH may or may not lift. Mine didn't budge after 3 dose reductions. FT3 is good but is likely to drop after the dose reduction.

If thyroid peroxidase antibodies have ever been higher than 34 you have autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's) which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. If 33.5 is the highest it has been it looks as though you may be developing Hashimoto's.

There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine 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. G-f may also help with digestive issues like constipation or diarrhoea and some finds it aids weight loss.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

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

Vitamin D is suboptimal, around 100 is optimal. I would supplement 5,000iu D3 daily x 6 weeks and then reduce to 5,000iu alternate days and retest in 3-4 months. Most of us need to supplement 2-3,000iu daily during Oct-Apr to maintain levels. VitD should be taken 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.

B12 and folate look okay to me.

[anniec11 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you very much for that, Clutter, but I have no idea what previous levels of peroxidase antibodies were, as I have never had a private blood test before and NHS don't test for those. So no way of finding out.

[diogenes Remembering]

Your FT4/FT3 ratio is over 5/1by both methods and you have FT3 in midrange in one test and low range in the other. Therefore you are a relatively poor converter of T4 into T3. Such patients are more often likely to benefit from T3 addition to dosage - with judiciously lowered T4 at the same time.

[greygoose]

I was going to say much the same thing as diogenes. You do need to lower your levo, but also need to add in some T3, because you just don't convert well enough.

With that level of TgAB, I would assume you do have Hashi's, if I were you, and try a gluten-free diet, to see if it helps. Hashi's people are often bad converters. You could also try taking selenium, which might lower antibodies, and help conversion at the same time.

Your ferritin could be a tad higher - should be at least mid-range. Try eating liver once a week.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you try strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months to see if it helps. Your antibodies are almost at Hashimoto's range even with very low TSH

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

Vitamin D needs improving. Common with Hashimoto's

hypothyroidmom.com/92-of-ha...

Good probiotic and old fashioned bone broth might help too

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[Treepie]

Some posters here reckon B12 is best over 500 .

[anniec11]

I am very grateful to everyone on here who took the trouble to reply. My thinking, for the time being, is to carry on with the reduced dose of Levo of 100 mcg (I was on 150 mcg for years, then about a year ago cut down to 125 mcg) , take some Vitamin D and possibly some B12 supplements for around another 6 weeks and then have another blood test?

My first priority is to aim for wellbeing and to lose some of that awful anxiety as well as the lethargy and tiredness. Some say that my high cholesterol readings, which GP wants me to take Statins for, maybe due to being hypo?

Does this make sense? If so, can anyone on here suggest what kind of D combination or B12 to get? Sadly, I am allergic to the sun and have to cover up when I'm out in it! Errrggg!

THANK YOU.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to anniec11]

In older people, the higher the cholestereol teh longerr you live according to the statistics - there are no studies that show that statins benefit women or people who have not has a heart attacjk of either sex. High cholesterol is a side effect of hypo. You could well be one of those peoel mentione dint eh Pulse article that need over range FT4 and suppressed TSH in order to feel well (as you don't convert well). Since your FT3 is in range that is OK, but, as you aren't feeling good I'd consider adding some T3 to your reduced levo. Anxiety and palpitations are a sign of under- as well as over-medication.

Your vit D and B12 are too low and your folate could do with being mid-range, too.