Low normal T4, normal TSH, breastfeeding

[Sarahm_9]

Hi all I'd like some advice and thoughts on my situation if possible please.

I have a 3 year old and 4 month old who I have never been able to breastfeed fully, I can only meet about 60% of their needs and have to top up with formula. My lactation consultant suggested getting my thyroid checked after exhausting every other possible reason for low milk supply. I've lost the piece of paper I wrote my results on but they are roughly (taken at 2pm):

TSH 1.7

T4 13.2 (12-22)

Could the low normal T4 indicate a minor problem??? I read this on Thyroid UK website but GP won't consider a trial of thyroxine to see if milk supply increases. Interestingly the australian breastfeeding website states anecdotally some individuals with thyroid problems only have a full milk supply when T4 is in the top of the range and overt hypothyroidism is known to cause low milk supply.

I also possibly have some hypo symptoms including always cold, low heart rate (resting 50-60bpm), low blood sugars (last hba1c 29), terrible memory but have always been this way that I can remember so could just be me.

Sorry for the long post. Any thoughts? Should I go private?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies plus vitamins

GP should test vitamins. Each pregnancy puts high demand for vitamins on our bodies.

Private tests are available

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 ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

You can test vitamin levels at same time if required if GP unhelpful

cheapest test for just vitamin D is vitamindtest.org.uk £28 postal kit

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

[Sarahm_9 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. So does that basically mean you can tell nothing from my current results?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sarahm_9]

No not really

FT4 is on low side but TSH would/should be higher.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to SlowDragon]

You could have central hypo caused by problems during the birth (but you might always have had it - GPs don't recognise it)

[silverfox7]

FT3 is really essential to to find out what is happening so we all can suffer from that not being routinely tested as that is the important active hormone so even if we have a much higher FT4 reading than you we may still not be converting it to the active T3 which every cell in our body needs. Thyroid Uk who run this forum have a good site you may wish to look at

[Sarahm_9]

Just wanted to say thanks to all who replied. I've bought a thyroid blood test so will re post if anything interesting comes up on it.