I am new and worried about results, GP wants to speak to me about them Monday. What do they mean please. Not diagnosed.
Spent a year before on antidepressants and high TSH before it went low again. I have felt ignored and doubted by doctors before this result. Thankyou
TSH 37.9 (0.2 - 4.2) not 3.79
Free T4 10.3 (12.0 - 22.0)
Free T3 2.8 (3.1 - 6.8)
Ferritin 26 (30 - 400)
Chloe_J Your results confirm hypothyroidism. Your GP will prescribe Levothyroxine. Unless you are elderly or have a heart condition, you should be started on 50mcg (if he wants to start you on 25mcg, ask why, you should start on 50). You will need retesting with increases of 25mcg every 6-8 weeks until your symptoms abate and you feel well. 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 when on Levo.
When having thyroid tests, always book the very earliest appointment of the morning, fast overnight (water allowed) and leave off Levo for 24 hours. This gives the highest possible TSH which is needed when looking for an increase in dose or two avoid a reduction. This is a patient to patient tip which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.
Always take your Levo on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after food, with a glass of water only, no tea, coffee, hot chocolate, milk, etc., for an hour as absorption will be affected. Also, keep Levo away from other medication and supplements by 2 hours, some need 4 hours.
I'm in the States and it seems that endos and GPs are working from the same book - I had a GP tell me that she didn't know why I wanted my fre T3 to be tested, that they only look at TSH to prescribe meds. I have Hashi's with >900 for antibodies and, yes, my TSH was through the roof - but come on... wouldn't you want a big picture to see if T4 was even being converted? But I digress, Thank you for your advice. I was never informed about the length of time between dosing or what I should do before testing again.
Your high TSH strongly suggests your are hypothyroid. The fact you say level has been going up and down means it likely to be autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's
Ask your GP to test thyroid antibodies to confirm this
Your GP should start you on Levothyroxine, and, unless frail or elderly, usual starter dose is 50mcg
This needs to be taken on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour. Many take on waking but may be more convenient to take at bedtime
Bloods should be retested after 6-8 weeks. Likely need further increase but we have to step up slowly
Your ferritin is too low so you will need supplements
Be good if your GP can test vitamin D, folate and B12 too
Read up about thyroid on Thyroud Uk - home of this support group
Thankyou antibodies tested.
Thyroid peroxidase antibody 68.5 (<34)
Negative?
Also have pernicious anaemia
Complete blood count showed
Mean corpuscular volume 77.1 (80 - 98)
Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration 386 (310 - 350)
Haemoglobin 120 (115 - 150)
Platelet count 257 (150 - 500)
Haematocrit 0.42 (0.37 - 0.47)
GP said nothing indicates iron deficiency anaemia so no treatment started thankyou
Chloe_J
GP said nothing indicates iron deficiency anaemia so no treatment started thankyou
Your GP is an utter idiot. Low MCV and raised MCHC suggest iron deficiency anaemia, and the below range ferritin hinted at it. Please go and see a different GP and get this sorted.
As for ferritin, which I apologise for not noticing before, this needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work, preferably half way through range. You need an iron supplement and ideally an iron infusion which will raise your level within 24-48 hours, so I would ask for one.
You can also help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...
**
Also have pernicious anaemia
Is this being addressed? Are you having B12 injections. The best place for advice is the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum healthunlocked.com/pasoc/posts
**
Thyroid peroxidase antibody 68.5 (<34)
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. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.
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.
Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...
stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...
hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Thankyou I have B12 injections once every 3 months and I will post on other forum now
Yes that antibody level means you have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Over 90% of hypo cases in the UK are Hashi's. This is an autoimmune condition and many of us feel better (and get less antibody attacks) by having a gluten free diet.
You will probably need a few raises in doses until you feel much better and it's helpful to read up as much as possible on autoimmune hypothyroidism on the main Thyroid UK site which has loads of information.
This is a condition where you need to know what's going on and stick up for yourself as some doctors are not too in the loop, so to speak. If you collect your blood results (and the ranges in brackets) you can always post them up here for advice and you will get into the swing of it. You are legally allowed your blood results under Data Protection.
Try not to stress too much, it will take a little time. This condition can make you feel anxious and down and a bit foggy in the head but it will go when you are optimally medicated. If you feel anxious can someone go to the doctors with you to give you some moral support maybe?
Thankyou unfortunately I have no one to take with me to appointments. My boyfriend distances himself from my health problems and my parents live 10 miles away and are both disabled
Thyroid results :(
thyroid / vitamin results 
Thyroid results
Thyroid results
