Advice please - blood tests - don’t know what they mean!

[Lorna19]

Hi. I have found out I have overactive thyroid. I was a bit shocked.

My levels are serum free triiodothyronine 6.7 pmol/L and serum free t4 18 pmol/L and serum TSH 0.05 miu/L

I don’t understand what they mean. Can anyone help?

[Marz]

Do you have anti-bodies ? - Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg ? Also what are the ranges for your results ?

You could be suffering with Hashimotos when the thyroid can be underactive and also overactive another time ....

[Lorna19 in reply to Marz]

Thanks for your reply.

I don’t know the answers to any of your questions.

I just don’t know what my results mean. I have been referred to endocrinologist.

[Marz in reply to Lorna19]

thyroiduk.org

The above link takes you to the main website of this Forum where you can read and learn everything about the Thyroid.

The ranges are the figures in brackets after the results - and as labs vary from town to town - it is important to post the ranges.

It is difficult to confirm you are overactive - indeed your FT3 is quite high - but is it over range ?

Going to an Endocrinologist - important to have full Thyroid results with ranges so you can ask the appropriate questions. Not sure what you are hoping to achieve with the Endo They usually specialise in diabetes - so check him/her out on on-line.

Could be an idea to have B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD tested too ....

Have you been prescribed any medication for your over-active thyroid ?

[Lorna19 in reply to Marz]

Hi I have found the ranges. Triiodothyronine range is 3.8-6 (mine was 6.7)

T4 range is 7.8-21 (mine was 18)

TSH range 0.35-4.7 (mine was 0.05)

I have high liver function too - don’t know if it’s related.

I have no medication as I have asthma and gp wants consultant to help. Should I not be seeing an endocrinologist then?

[humanbean in reply to Lorna19]

Your GP thinks your thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism). GPs in general don't treat hyperthyroidism, they refer patients to endocrinology. Once the endocrinologist has set your dose of meds the GP will continue to prescribe. You will be asked to return for further checks and blood tests every so often - not sure how often though. Your GP may do blood testing as well.

The problem that we have (i.e. patients on this forum) is that we know that people are sometimes misdiagnosed as hyperthyroid when in fact they are having a short-lived burst of the immune system attacking their thyroid. This alters the blood test results and makes them appear to be hyperthyroid. But once the short-lived attack is over the patient is hypothyroid.

Unfortunately, doctors often ignore the above info and treat patients as hyperthyroid for several weeks, and the patient then ends up severely hypothyroid.

But we simply don't have enough information to say whether you are truly hyperthyroid, or are just temporarily hyperthyroid. You would need to know your thyroid antibody levels, for a start. You could ask for testing for Graves' Disease (a form of hyperthyroidism). But really you may just have to wait and see what happens when you go on meds for hyperthyroidism.

Your current blood test results only show a mild case of hyperthyroidism.

Do you have any symptoms of ill health?

[Lorna19 in reply to humanbean]

I guess I should wait for my appointment with endocrinologist.

I have symptoms but put it down to being anemic, menopause, hysterectomy, etc.

Thank you for your help. I was just surprised when it came back abnormal as they were investigating why I have constant nausea.

[Marz in reply to Lorna19]

How is the GP treating your anaemia ? Raised Liver enzymes can be linked to Thyroid as can asthma by the way ....

Reading all the Replies - I still think you should have your anti-bodies tested to rule out Hashimotos - auto-immune Thyroiditis. the most common of thyroid issues.

[Lorna19 in reply to Marz]

I was anemic and had blood transfusions in November. I’m not now.

That’s good to know about the liver and asthma.

I will ask to have my antibodies tested.

Thanks for your help.

[Marz in reply to Lorna19]

😊

[humanbean]

Do you feel well? Do you have symptoms of poor health?

The person who gave you your results should have access to the reference ranges which are the levels that doctors refer to as "normal", and you need to know the reference ranges for us to help you.

[Lorna19 in reply to humanbean]

Hi thanks for your reply. My levels and ranges are above.

[humanbean in reply to Lorna19]

Yes, sorry, I was writing my post at the time you were writing your reference ranges.

[jimh111]

Lorna, These results suggest you are mildly hyperthyroid, producing too much thyroid hormone. This can produce a number of signs and symptoms including tendency to sweat, rapid heartbeat and weight loss. Another symptom is anxiety, so along with real issues it can affect your brain inducing a sense of anxiety. It's worth bearing this is mind if you start to feel distressed. The endocrinologist will carry our further tests and probably prescribe a medication to calm down your thyroid. It's important to let your doctors know how you are doing as there's a tendency for them to just look at the blood tests and not the patient.

[Lorna19 in reply to jimh111]

Thank you.

I have felt overwhelmed and anxious for a few years but just thought it was me.

I feel more informed now thanks everyone.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lorna19]

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate and B12

You say you are Anaemic. What has GP prescribed?

You need TPO, TG and TRab antibodies tested. But GP unlikely to agree, so either have to wait for endocrinologist or test privately

You say you feel sick, any other gut symptoms like bloating, constipation

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about antibodies

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

[Lorna19 in reply to SlowDragon]

I was anaemic but not now. I have bloating.

Thanks for your reply.

[greygoose]

It is most important that you get your antibodies tested, as others have said. GPs and endos tend to get very gung-ho when they see a low TSH and go straight for the hyper diagnosis without doing proper testing to back it up. I cannot stress strongly enough that you need to have your antibodies tested as soon as possible.

[Lorna19 in reply to greygoose]

I will get that done thank you.

[greygoose in reply to Lorna19]

You're welcome.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Need ranges to be sure, but doesn't sound like a real problem.

[Lorna19 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

They are above.

[greygoose in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I agree with you, Angel. Looks more like the tail endo of a Hashi's flare, to me, rather than Grave's. That's why Lorna needs those antibodies tested!

[Lorna19]

So glad need antibodies, Graves’ disease, cut d, folate and b12 testing?

Do I need anything else testing?

[Maya_83]

Hi..

Why would non stick effect ?? I have a few pans , now thinking of getting rid of them 😏

Thank you

[Maya_83]

Oh gosh... I've been using them on and off for a year now 😏. How did you know it was the pans ? What symptoms did you get?

Thanks