Thyroid and ferritin : New member not sure what... - Thyroid UK

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Thyroid and ferritin

Jlc86 profile image
17 Replies

New member not sure what results mean could anyone advise

TSH 5.1 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 15.7 (12.00 - 22.00)

Ferritin 25 (30 - 400)

2 months later

TSH 0.89 (0.2 - 4.2)

2 months after that

TSH 2.3 (0.2 - 4.2)

Ferritin 48 (30 - 400)

CRP >5 (<5)

Thank you

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Jlc86
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17 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Were your thyroid tests done at the same time of day both times? Had you eaten or not before them?

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested?

Jlc86 profile image
Jlc86 in reply to SeasideSusie

Done at same times of day and hadn't eaten and antibdies are TPO 34.9 (<34) and TG >1200 (<115) thanks

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jlc86

Your high antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's, which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in test results and symptoms. Hashi's isn't treated, it's the resulting Hypothyroidism that is.

You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin which is a protein thought to trigger antibody attacks. Supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

Over range CRP can mean inflammation somewhere in the body, or infection. That can also raise ferritin, so that might be why ferritin is higher on the last set of results.

However, ferritin needs to be a minimum of 70 for thyroid hormone to work (our own or replacement), better is half way through it's range.

As you have TG antibody results, was that an NHS or private test? It's extremely rare for NHS to do a TG antibody test.

Jlc86 profile image
Jlc86 in reply to SeasideSusie

TG antibody test was private

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jlc86

Did you have any other tests done when the TG antibody test was done?

Have you seen your GP about your results?

Jlc86 profile image
Jlc86 in reply to SeasideSusie

I haven't had any private tests done except for the TG antibody one, others done on NHS. Haven't seen GP yet, is he likely to treat?

Thanks

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jlc86

If your latest TSH is 2.3 then no, I doubt your GP will treat.

Most doctors wait until TSH reaches 10 before diagnosing and treating Hypothyroidism. However, a few enlightened ones will recognise that having positive antibodies means autoimmune thyroiditis (their term for Hashimoto's).

What you really need is current results for

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO and TG antibodies

Blood drawn as early as possible in the morning, no later than 9am, after an overnight fast, to give the highest possible TSH.

Plus a list of symptoms you may be experiencing - you can get a list here, print it and tick off any that apply thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Then a copy of Dr Toft's article in Pulse magazine in which he says

"The combination of a normal serum T4 and raised serum TSH is known as subclinical hypothyroidism. If measured, serum T3 will also be normal. Repeat the thyroid function tests in two or three months in case the abnormality represents a resolving thyroiditis.2 But if it persists then antibodies to thyroid peroxidase should be measured.

If these are positive – indicative of underlying autoimmune thyroid disease – the patient should be considered to have the mildest form of hypothyroidism.

In the absence of symptoms some would simply recommend annual thyroid function tests until serum TSH is over 10mU/l or symptoms such as tiredness and weight gain develop. But a more pragmatic approach is to recognise that the thyroid failure is likely to become worse and try to nip things in the bud rather than risk loss to follow-up."

You can get a copy of the article by emailing louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org and I think it's question 2.

Jlc86 profile image
Jlc86 in reply to SeasideSusie

Also just seen these on Patient Access

TSH 27.3 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 10.2 (12 - 22)

Free T3 3.4 (3.1 - 6.8)

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jlc86

I don't know what Patient Access is, if that's your results online we don't have it in Wales where I live.

If those are your results, when are they from?

Jlc86 profile image
Jlc86 in reply to SeasideSusie

Patient Access is where I access my online test results. These were done by GP

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jlc86

But how recent are they? If they are your latest results they will immediately get you a diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism with a TSH of 27.3

If they're not your latest results you need to ask why you didn't get a diagnosis at the time. They can be your basis for a diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis due to fluctuating results (being over range at one point) and high antibodies.

Jlc86 profile image
Jlc86 in reply to SeasideSusie

These were done a week ago I only just found they were done

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Jlc86

So they seem to be your latest results.

Go and see your GP ASAP and show him

TSH - 27.3

Positive thyroid antibodies.

Autoimmune thyroid disease

Job done!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Likely to have low vitamin D, Folate and B12

Have these been tested?

Assume you are not on any thyroid medication?

Jlc86 profile image
Jlc86 in reply to SlowDragon

Yes they've been tested, not currently on medication

Thanks

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Jlc86

Post results and ranges if you have them

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

We already know you have high antibodies. What you need is a new set of results as listed above, preferably with an over range TSH, to present to a doctor along with a list of hypo symptoms and the Dr Toft article in support of diagnosing you with autoimmune thyroid disease and prescribing levo.

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