Thryoid result whilst pregnant as a reference?

[Big_hamster]

I'm getting some thyroid tests done by GP at the request of a psychiatrist - TSH and T4, psych wanted T3 aswell but GP said no (ho hum!)

I've only had my thyroid tested once before and I was about 4/5 months pregnant at the time 6 yrs ago and it was probably just TSH, result was apparentlay normal.

I know thyroid in pregnancy is different, what I want to know if whether that result can be used as a reference point for comparison to the tests I'm about to get done?

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Probably need to get tested privately

Low mood can often be due to being hypothyroid

Standard TSH test and FT4 will not pick up lots of cases

For full evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

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

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.

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results

[Big_hamster in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. GP is doing all the vitamin tests anyway.

Do you know if the result from pregnancy can be reliably used as a reference?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Big_hamster]

You need recent tests, not from 6 years ago.

Ask GP to test TSH, FT4, FT3 ( NHS lab almost certainly won't do this FT3 but it's essential) and also very important to test thyroid antibodies

You can have high antibodies and "normal" TSH and FT4. Doctors tend to ignore antibodies, they don't understand them. But having High antibodies can make you feel very unwell

Once you have results and ranges (figures in brackets after results) come back with new post and members can advise

[jezebel69]

I ended up with a psychiatrist as a result of severe depression. Thyroid undiagnosed. Apart from a few down times I am never depressed now. Sounds like you have a good psych....wish mine had been like that lol I got offered electric shock treatment (which I declined)

I dont know about pregnancy results but in retrospect my first bout of thyroiditis was during my first pregnancy. It wasnt recognised

[diogenes Remembering]

In pregnancy after about 20 weeks, you would expect TSH to be preferably less than 2 but not too low at less than 0.05, FT4 to be in the lower one third of the non pregnant reference range (oestrogens have made your cells more permeable to T4, so the FT4 level doesn't need to be as high) and FT3 also a little below the midpoint of its healthy nonpregnant range for the same reason but of course within range. I'm assuming you aren't on T4 but the same targets should apply if you are. In early pregnancy before 20 weeks, FT4 and FT3 are as they appear in nonpregnancy because the oestrogens haven't yet kicked in.

[Clutter]

Big_Hamster,

Pregnancy changes thyroid levels so you can't use those as a comparison. FT3 is rarely tested in primary care nowdays. Your GP may not be able to order it. If your psychiatrist can't order blood tests you can order a home test FT3 via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[Big_hamster]

Thanks for clarifying that, I thought that was the case re pregnancy thyroid tests.

My GP has ordered all the blood tests he is allowed to, so any others I would have to get done privately.

The psych was leaning towards a diagnosis of one of the milder bipolar disorders, but didn't want to commit to it before I had had blood tests done. We shall see! I shall try and remember to come back with the blood test results when I get them next week.