October test results

[sueanddave]

Thyroid function test serum level 0.56 mIU/L (0.30- 4.50) Serum free T4 level 14 pmol/L (10.0-22.0) Tell patient normal. Why do I feel terrible?

[Marz]

Have been reading your post/thread of eight months ago. Are you able to have Private Testing through Thyroid UK so you can have all the correct testing done ? I see you suffer with Vitiligo which is auto-immune - so you need to check for Hashimotos by having the Thyroid anti-bodies tested - TPO & Tg.

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

The above link takes you to the main website of Thyroid UK and the information about Home Testing Kits that can be sent to your home.

Tests needed - TSH - FT4 - FT3 and TPO & Tg anti-bodies. ALSO B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD.

[sueanddave in reply to Marz]

I'm thinking of having a private test done.My GP keeps prescribing Sertraline for depression as she thinks it will help my depression

[Marz in reply to sueanddave]

Depression is a Hypo symptom .....

[sueanddave in reply to Marz]

I know but my gp says it has nothing to do with thyroid

[Marz in reply to sueanddave]

nortonsafe.search.ask.com/w...

The above link takes you to some Research Papers about Low Thyroid and Depression. Ask your GP - why do they treat serious mental illness with T3 ? EVERY cell in the body has a receptor for T3 - trillions and trillions of them. The brain has the most and the gut the second highest amount. Time to treat yourself methinks I live in Crete and take care of myself having learnt so much from this Forum and from reading ..... and reading !

[Marz in reply to sueanddave]

kellybroganmd.com/antidepre...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your FT4 is too low in range, this shows you need dose increase. But because TSH is low GP will not be keen

Highly likely you have low vitamin levels

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Plus essential to know if you have high thyroid antibodies

If you can't get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, 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)."

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