My fingerprick blood results have arrived and they are disappointing in terms of a definitive diagnosis of thyroid issues.
I've been falling apart for over 20 years (since age 19) and would genuinely not be here now if it wasn't for my 8 year old girl.
I have every single thyroid symptom in the book yet my bloods are consistently 'normal'. There was a blood test drawn a year ago whereby my FT4 level exceeded the higher end of the range yet no action was taken.
Could these symptoms be due to a pituitary tumour? Would this not reveal itself in blood tests? Could this be the reason why my thyroid tests keep coming back as 'normal'?
I took this home test at just after midnight. Results are as follows:
TSH = 1.73 mlu/L (0.27 - 4.3 normal range)
FT4 (17.3pmol/L) (12 - 23 normal)
FT3 (5.42pmol/L) (3.1 - 6.8 normal)
T4 (101.0nmol/L) (64.5 - 142 normal)
TPEX <9.0klu/L (0 - 34 normal)
TGAB = 10.0ku/L (0 - 115 normal)
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Poppet2308
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I have had issues regarding my eyes for years (the left eye in particular) which appears as though it's shifted position and looks odd/weak/bigger iris in general.
My GP patronises me and insinuates it's Body Dysmorphic Disorder and, when I insisted on being referred to a specialist, he made out as though I was being vain.
This is in spite of it being a noticeable change that both old photographs and family members can verify.
I've explained about the pituitary below. If you have problems with your eyes, you should maybe see an ophthalmologist. I don't think a thyroid problem would make your eye change position.
If you had a pituitary tumour, you TSH would be low, but your Frees would also be low. Your Frees are pretty good, there. And, if your TSH was over-range a year ago, then it's not likely to be a pituitary tumour. But, what were your Frees a year ago? Your doctor should have retested you three months after the elevated TSH, to see if it was still elevated, and not caused by some sort of infection.
I'm not sure, but I don't think the TSH is at it's highest, just after midnight. But that would affect your FT4.
Sometimes, yes. How many times have you had your antibodies tested? (I presume that TPEX is TPO antibodies, yes?)
Antibodies vary, so one negative test doesn't rule it out. You should have them tested at least three times.
TSH and the Frees can jump around when you have Hashi's - I don't know how much you know about the disease - and sometimes they can be very high and look like you're hyper - a Hashi's 'hyper' swing. And then the can go very low. And, in between they can be euthyroid (normal). The end result, of course, is hypothyroidism.
Antibodies themselves can cause symptoms, when they're high. And, symptoms can predate abnormal blood test results by quite a long time. But, in your labs above, there is nothing to arouse suspicion on any level.
Hi Greygoose I don’t understand blood tests myself & im wanting a friend to have bare min tests (to to lack of funds) to see if she has thyroid issues. I’m going to suggest to her what Poppet has here but wondering why TPO is not included?
Without rereading the whole thread, I think I'm safe in saying that Poppet's labs were done by the doctor, and doctors don't understand antibodies, so rarely test them. However, we on here consider antibodies to be crucial to understanding thyroid status.
As far as I'm concerned, the bare minimum to get a full picture is :
TSH - a pituitary hormone, that rises when thyroid hormones are low in the blood, and decreases as blood levels rise. It is essential for diagnosis primary hypo, but doesn't tell you if you have Central hypo.
FT4 - thyroid hormone. T4 is the storage hormone that has to be converted into T3, the active hormone. And the test you need to measure that is the Free T4, which is the form of T4 available for use by the body. TT4 (Total T4) is of no use whatsoever.
FT3 - thyroid hormone. T3 is needed by ever single cell in the body. Some is produced by the thyroid, but most comes from conversion from T4. As not everybody converts very well, it is essential to test it along with the FT3, in order to see how well you convert. As with T4, it is the Free hormone that needs testing, not the Total.
TPO antibodies - if these are over-range, it means you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - or Autoimmune Thyroiditis, and UK doctors prefer to call it. And, there's no ifs or buts or maybes, if they are elevated, you have Hashi's, so don't be put off!
Tg antibodies - these can also be over-range when you have Hashi's. Or, they can be over-range when the TPOab are within range, but it still means you have Hashi's (although they can be elevated due to other things). The NHS 'believes' that it is rare to have raised TgAB, with normal TPOab, so therefore refuses to test the TgAB when screening for Hashi's. They are wrong!
So, hope that little explanation shows you why they are all important, and not just the TSH and FT4 as the cost-cutting NHS tries to pretend. They all tell you something different, but are all necessary to build up the complete picture.
Nutrient testing is also important, but that can wait until later.
Awesome thank you - very in-depth explanation. In gratitude 🙏🏼
I’m still to get my head around all the detail. I tend to put a big picture perspective together, connecting unseemingly related dots, which I’ve done over a course of years which makes sense to me, but one needs all the detail to validate the research. So thx again
If your friend does decide to test then it is essential to follow good testing protocol. Thyroid hormones fluctuate in a cycle so to get the best results always fast overnight with plenty if water only and also leave any medications or supplements until after the test. Always have the earliest appt or by 0900 at the latest, the same goes for fingerprick tests you do yourself. Medichecks and blue horizon often have discounts and offer similar tests.
OK, so, stranger and stranger! But, you cannot compare tests unless the blood is drawn at the same time, and fasting. The ideal time - and the most practical for most people - is between 7 and 9 in the morning, after having fasted over-night. You cannot compare a blood draw taken at midnight with one taken at 10.25. However, it is strange that it was higher at 10.25 than at midnight. Who knows what they both would have been at 7 am!
Shall I purchase another and fingerprick at 7am? I'm willing to do anything to sort this. I cannot continue this way - it's having a detrimental effect on every single aspect of my life and as a Mum.
With such a significant downward shift in ferritin, it potentially could have been a higher number due to inflammation which subsided when you tested again. Have you ever had a crp test? And other autoimmune antibodies tested? And have you had a full blood count and iron panel? Your b12 could be higher and you may want to check an active b12 test. Then cortisol would be something that could also look like hypothyroid. All these elements mentioned help with thyroid function. You may be deficient in some vitamin or mineral, Bs and magnesium being common culprits. Take care and look after yourself.
I started with headaches, etc, about 5/6 years ago. My GP sent me away, probably advised paracetamol. 12 months later I went back to see another GP who suspected it was my pituitary. After an MRI a small benign tumour was detected & unbeknown to me at the time it was pressing on my optic nerve which caused a blind spot. The tumour was removed & my eye tests proved that the blind spot was gone. Unfortunately, the symptoms that I first started with have always been underlying. I am going to see my Endo next week because I'm still unwell & know that I have a thyroid problem, like so many of you out there. We know our bodies. I need medication to get me balanced & well. My blood tests always come back "normal". I had a short synacthen test recently because of low cortisol.
Why don't these doctors do further tests & put us on medication sooner?
Anyway, I don't know if this is of any help to you. Maybe suggest an MRI scan.
Thanks Heather. I'm going to insist on an MRI scan. My doctors disgust me.
I've lost 70% of my hair, I can barely stand let alone walk (chronic fatigue), I have cluster headaches virtually daily, chronic migraine 2-3 times a week, my circulation is shot (absolutely freezing all the time), my skin has visibly thinned, my eyesight has deteriorated, home tests show a low level of FSH (I'm 41), my libido is non-existent, I have permanent joint pain, flu-type feeling all over my body, my eyesight developed blind spots out of nowhere for 50 minutes the other day. I could go on and on.
This has destroyed my life and looks like my fertility also. I will insist on pituitary investigation
I'm sorry you are so poorly. Why, oh why are you not getting help? I believe we have to put seeds in the doctors' minds as to what it might be. GP's only have a limited knowledge of these problems which is why we suffer for so long. A specialist is definitely what you need to investigate further.
Thank goodness for sites like this to make us realise that we are not alone & give us as much help as they can.
I thought I would have thyroid problems because of my symptoms, went and got tested for my thyroid and I had a really excellent thyroid! I found out that I was actually adrenal fatigued, and insulin resistant. I found a great doctor on YouTube Dr. Eric Berg, who has all kinds of ways to test if you were adrenal fatigue, and also ways to help you get over it. Check out his Channel
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