help please with test results

[Padstow]

they are t.s.h 3.8 [ 0.30- 4.20 ]

T3 3.8 [ 4.0 - 6.80 pmol ]

did not have T4 done but was 13.4 last time

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Difficult to know what to say without further information.

Are you diagnosed and on any medication?

How come FT3 tested and not FT4? Standard tests are TSH and FT4, rarely is FT3 tested in primary care.

[Padstow in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi,

yes i've been on thyroxine 150 mgms for 23 years but come off it now and then as it has no effect on symptoms. I last took it 2 years ago, blood tests are the same whether I take it or not.

I asked for a blood check and t3 to be included but the nurse got all confused and put that I didn't need t4 testing !

The t3 has been just out of the normal range, but the gp has told me it is stable and to take the thyroxine.

Do these results seem low ?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Padstow]

Well, your FT3 is certainly low, you can see for yourself it is below range. T3 is the active hormone that every cell in our body needs. It should be near the top of the range, as should your FT4 and TSH should be around 1 or below. Your TSH is very close to the top of the range.

Your GP is correct, you should take thyroxine.

The fact that your tests are the same whether you take it or not could mean that you are not absorbing it which could mean an absorption problem. Have you ever had any tests for malabsorption or coeliac disease?

Vitamin and mineral levels all need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work. Have you had these tested?

I think you really should have a full thyroid panel, including antibodies plus vitamins and minerals:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

TG antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

And if Ferritin is low then:

Full blood count

Iron panel

If your GP won't won't do them then I would do a home fingerprick blood test with Medichecks or Blue Horizon

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Padstow]

Your TSH is too high for someone with Hypothyroidism. It should be under 2. The Pituitary Gland needs to be protected from overworking in producing too much TSH.

Your T3 is too low, as you can see it is under range.

Don't understand stopping your Levothyroxine as it is needed.

If would help if you could also ask your GP to do blood tests to check some nutrients levels:

Vitamin D; Calcium; B12; Folate and Ferritin to find out if you have any deficiencies that need prescribed supplementation.

Ask for T4 test also. But you need your Levothyroxine.

[LAHs]

Agree with most of the above. A TSH of 3.8 would have me in a coma! I think you will find that if you reduce your TSH to <1 you will feel well. But like others have said above, get your vitamins and minerals up to par (I would add Selenium to those lists), you will then know where your problem lies thyroid, pituitary or conversion (of your T4 to T3).

[Padstow]

Thanks everyone,

I have been taking thyroxine 100 mcg and these are my latest results

anti ttg - 1.2 ku/l

[Padstow]

sorry to continue levels are 0.00 - 10.00

tsh - 0.77 0.30 - 4.20miu/l

t4 - 17.7 12.00 - 22.00pmol

t3 - 4.7 4.00 - 6.80

do you think I could benefit from t3

[amasufindme in reply to Padstow]

Building on what others have posted to you... especially the lovely SeasideSusie.

A trial of LT3 may be beneficial for you, after all you have explored the monotherapy LT4 with no symptomatic relief for so many years. I am on combination therapy LT4 75mcg/ LT3 20mcg -which is a new dose as my TSH was suppressed and HPs get uppity about that. Cognitively the change was brilliant for me going onot LT3, but I am still finding my set point aka euthyroid state so fatigue plague's me. We are all beautifully different in our biology. Have you had your DIO2 gene tested?

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

... to show any conversion issues. I am DIO2 gene heterozygous showing an impaired conversion ~66%. In addition it would be useful to do a Medichecks rT3 &T3 to get ratio...as well checking out your adrenal functionality as the HPA and HPT axis are intertwined re Dr Barry Durrant Peatfield.

Best wishes

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Padstow]

Before considering T3 you need to know that your nutrient levels are optimal, if they aren't then adding T3 is a waste of time. Optimal nutrient levels are the building blocks which have will enable thyroid meds to work. If they optimal and your conversion still isn't good then that's the time to consider add g T3.

At the moment you need to test

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

And possibly

Iron panel

Full blood count

And in the meantime, to help conversion you should supplement with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily.

[Padstow]

thank you, do you know what the anti ttg means, and is it normal.

I have been taking these vits and minerals since you last suggested it.

[amasufindme]

Hi Padstow,

"anti ttg - 1.2 ku/l" looks like it means Thyroglobulin antibody, but I am not familiar with those units - you need to know the range that has been given for this value. It is useful for you to have the thyroid peroxidase antibodies tested too, which has already been mentioned by others in this thread. I use Medichecks

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

Elevated antibodies can indicate the autoimmune disease Hashimotos thyroiditis.

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 2012 and have slowly been adjusting my diet ...going gluten free, diary free (see profile) supplementation etc.. My recent results after a year on a modified Paleo diet are now in range:

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 108.000 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 13.7 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00