Just checking test redults

[janey28]

Still suffer coldness, tiredness, weight issues, flaky nails etc and fairly low bp- I am fairly active 62 yr old. these are my recent test results

Do they look ok?

Serum free T3. 5.1

TSH. 0.02

Serum free T4. 15.6

Appreciate advice

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Can you add the reference ranges please Janey, we need to know where FT4 and FT3 lie within their ranges and as ranges vary from lab to lab we can't interpret your results without them.

[janey28 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Serum free T3. 5.1 (3.3-6)

TSH. 0.02 (0.34-5.6)

Serum free T4. 15.6 (8-18)

I’ve not been diagnosed with Graves. Was initially hypo and had iodine treatment in 2010

Thx

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to janey28]

You wouldn't have had radioiodine treatment for hypOthyroidism, that is underactive thyroid. RAI is given for hypERthyroidism, overactive thyroid.

Your thyroid results are good. I would be looking g at vitamins and minerals SlowDragon has mentioned.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Plus do you know if you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too

[janey28 in reply to SlowDragon]

No one had mentioned Hashimotos

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to janey28]

If you had RAI that's hyperthyroid, presumably Graves

Low vitamins are common if we are under medicated

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

Private tests are available and thousands on here forced to do so

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 and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

 please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Also request list of recommended thyroid specialists.

Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many. Note especially his comments and views suggesting current inadequate treatment following thyroidectomy or RAI

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

[janey28 in reply to SlowDragon]

Not been tested for those since 2010 just after the radioiodine- they were out of range then

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to janey28]

Suggest you do full private testing then if GP won't