Hi can any one please help interpret the tests below.... I've been feeling unwell for a while in fact since I was diagnosed I take 25mg of levothyroxine luckily i saw a locum Dr who agreed to do the bloodtest as my regular Dr said there's no need and my symptoms don't necessarily mean it's thyroid related I'm at a loss as to why I feel unwell as the surgery say tests normal no further action?? Thank you xx
Most people feel better when their TSH is nearer to 1.0 but I can't see any tests for thyroid antibodies which is TPO and TgAb or thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroglubulin antibodies. Do you know if you have antibodies? 25 mcg is a very low dose of Levothyroxine. Also, your folate although in range is low so you could ask your doctor about supplementing although the NHS will not provide supplements if you're in range. vitamin B12 is better above 500. People are finding that their vitamins need to be optimal for Levothyroxine to work well. You could really do with your FT3 level tested too as it looks like you are undermedicated and FT3 level would confirm if that's the case. NHS laboratories won't always do the test even if requested by the doc.
Thanks so much for the quick reply ive been off work for a week due to go back tomorrow yet i still feel so tired didn't have antibodies done this time though my original results are below
Ok, so you have thyroid antibodies or Hashimotos thyroiditis. It looks like your thyroid meds need an increase. You could check selenium levels or supplement as it helps to lower antibodies and is needed for the process of conversion from T4 to T3.
Your high antibodies mean that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it.
You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.
Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
If these are your results whilst taking 25mcg Levo then you need an increase. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges.
According to the BMA's booklet, "Understanding Thyroid Disorders", many people do not feel well unless their levels are at the bottom of the TSH range or below and at the top of the FT4 range or a little above.
Dr Anthony Toft wrote the booklet, he is past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist. The booklet is available from local pharmacies and Amazon for about £4.95.
Also -
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)."
If you would like a copy of the Pulse article, email louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org.uk print it and highlight question 6 to show your GP.
**
Serum vitamin B12 level 337 ng/L [190.0 - 800.0]
Serum folate level 5.9 ug/L [3.0 - 17.0]
B12 below 500 can cause neurological problems, it's recommended to be at the very top of it's range, and for us Hypos even 900-1000. Folate should be at least half way through it's range (10+ with that range).
Check for signs of B12 deficiency here b12deficiency.info/signs-an... and if you have any post on the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum here on Health Unlocked for further advice healthunlocked.com/pasoc If not then you could supplement with sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges 5000mcg daily, and when the bottle is finished buy the 1000mcg dose as maintenance. When taking B12 we need a good B Complex to balance all the vitamins, buy one with methylfolate rather than folic acid.
Thanks for the reply lots of Information I've looked at the book by Dr Toft it was published 2008 is the information still relevant as I would take it to my Dr who said normal no further action this Dr I've never even seen before who doesn't know me don't want them to say it's all differant now!!
Your going to need to read up and learn all about Hashimoto's. Your GP will only treat the low thyroid hormones and not look for the cause.
Hashimoto's often affects the gut causing LOW stomach acid. Symptoms are almost identical to high stomach acid, but the treatments are very different
As you can see from your own vitamin results Hashimoto's also affects these. Your going to need to supplement as SeasideSusie has explained in excellent detail
But you also need to look for the root cause, usually gluten intolerance, but it may be dairy (instead or as well)
GP unusually may be aware that a thyroid disease can be connected to the gut and gluten as you have had coeliac test.
Only a tiny percentage are coeliac, but the majority still find changing to strictly gluten free diet reduces symptoms
Masses of info about Hashimoto's at The Thyroid Pharmacist website eg
Tbanks for the reply I only got the tests as it was a locum Dr she said my original T4 was low it's only gone up by 1 so in my eyes that would still make it low? So how can a differant Dr who doesn't know me decide all the tests are normal no further action I just don't have the energy I'll read all the information on the links! x
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