Blood results

[Looneytunes]

My result shows normal but I feel cold all the time and fatigued. Any suggestions?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just TSH and FT4 doesn't tell you enough

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

You are unlikely to get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP, but you might get the vitamins tested

Always get actual results and ranges on all tests

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 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

Link about antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Hidden]

I’m always freezing cold and fatigued but I have Sjögren’s as well as Hypothyroid so guess it’s the two combined for me. I take an extra 25mcg Levo every few days (150mcg) and this seems to help ease things. They won’t increase my dose because of suppressed TSH but this is daft because my FT4 and 3 are both near the bottom of range. So I white lie and say I’ve lost box of 25mcg online when ordering repeats. Sure they guess what I’m up to but I don’t care!!

[shond2015]

Looney tunes Hi there

Blood tests for thyroid are unreliable and flawed as they are unable to detect what is going on with the hormones within the tissues. You can have plenty of hormone sitting in the blood stream and your gp will then interpret this as everything fine....he/she will say you are within normal ranges. However, its a lot more complex than this: your hormones may just be sitting in your blood - totally inactive. ( rather like having a tank full of fuel in the car...but the car still won't drive). If this is the case, though your blood tests will show normal - you will feel awful. First thing I would do if not doing already, is take your temp and pulse first thing when you wake up in the morning and again when you go to bed at night. write the readings down and after about one week, take your readings to your gp. if your readings are low...this is further indication that you may be hypo which they should know.

Good luck. Shon D

[SilverAvocado]

Loonytunes, you are being told these are 'normal', because they are within range. But most people need to be high in range on freeT4 and freeT3 to feel well. Your freeT4 is in the lower half of the range, so it's unlikely you're getting enough freeT3 (your body needs to turn the T4 into T3).

These results are actually pretty poor, and we don't even know the freeT3, so things could be even worse. There's plenty of room here for a dose increase.