Help needed.

[Sarahsilman]

Hello need some help. I had a thyroid test done which came back high. Underactive but when I had second blood test was told the bit between my thyroid and brain was within normal range. What’s this mean. I’m tied all the time my body hurts I’ve put 2.5sr on in 2 years. HELP.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

"was told the bit between my thyroid and brain was within normal range"

Not quite sure what that means.

Can you post your test results, with reference ranges, so we can try and understand what's going on.

If you don't have the results, ask at your surgery's reception for a print out, we are legally entitled to our results here in the UK.

[Sarahsilman in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi. Just got what they where.

In June 2027.

TSH 4.82

T4 11.1

In July TSH 4.91

T4 10.2.

Don’t know what any of it means.

Just they wouldn’t put on tablets

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sarahsilman]

You really need up to date tests. Presumably those are from June/July 2017. You haven't included the reference ranges but your TSH is way too high and who knows where your FT4 lies. My lab's range for FT4 is 7-17, we often see on here 9-19 and 12-22. Please supply up to date results and reference ranges.

Also, are you in the UK?

And a full thyroid panel is needed for proper interpretation, so that's

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies

Thyroglobulin antibodies

And testing nutrient levels is also important so that's

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

Also, thyroid tests should be done at the first appointment of the morning after an overnight fast. For diagnosis we need the highest possible TSH. TSH lowers throughout the day and after eating.

[Sarahsilman in reply to SeasideSusie]

My T4 is 9-19. Range but mine is 10.2 most are from 10.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sarahsilman]

So back in June/July last year you had a high (possibly over range) TSH and low in range FT4.

most are from 10.

If that is FT4, how high did it go?

As I said, you need up to date tests to include FT3 and thyroid antibodies. And vitamins/minerals will help as well.

It's not really possible to base anything on tests that are 8-9 months old.

[greygoose]

'the bit between my thyroid and brain' is the TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. The TSH is highest first thing in the morning. It drops throughout the day. It also drops after eating. So, did you have both tests early in the morning and fasting?

So, on the first test, your TSH was high - do you know how high? Do you have a number and a range? That would mean that your pituitary (a gland in the brain) was trying to tell your thyroid to make more hormone, because it has sensed that there wasn't enough thyroid hormone in the blood.

The protocol is that after a high TSH reading, you wait a few months and test again, to see if it's still high. Quite a few things can cause the TSH to rise, not just low thyroid hormone in the blood. You could have had some sort of infection, for example. And, if on the second test, the TSH has dropped, they presume that your problem is not low/under-active thyroid after all!

However, there are several problems with this protocol, caused by lack of understanding of the thyroid by the majority of doctors. The first one being that you need to do the tests under the exact same circumstances to be able to compare them. Doctors really, really do not understand that!

Secondly, just testing the TSH is unreliable. They should do other tests to be sure. Did they do any other thyroid tests, like FT4, FT3 or TPO antibodies?

It's extremely important to ask for a print-out of your blood test results, every time you have a blood test. You need to know exactly what was tested and exactly what the results and ranges were. You need to keep your own records. On the back of the print-out, note your symptoms and any medication you are taking. This will be invaluable in future.

If you live in the UK, it is your legal right to have a copy of your results. Just ring the surgery and ask them to print you a copy, saying that you will pick them up at the receptionist's convenience. Then, if you post your results on here, we'll be better able to help you.

[Sarahsilman in reply to greygoose]

Hi. Just got what they where.

In June 2027.

TSH 4.82

T4 11.1

In July TSH 4.91

T4 10.2.

Don’t know what any of it means.

Just they wouldn’t put on tablets

[greygoose in reply to Sarahsilman]

Well, that doesn't make any sense! Your second TSH is higher than the first, yet the diagnosed you with the first one, and retracted the diagnosis with the second? Crazy!

Anyway, I explained the TSH to you. The FT4 is a thyroid hormone, a storage hormone, which has to be converted into the active hormone, T3. The NHS will rarely test the FT3, I'm afraid.

That FT4 looks low, but we really can't tell without the range. We always need the ranges to interpret the results, because they vary from lab to lab. Did you get the ranges?

[Paula101]

Welcome to the forum.

Firstly, to get the best idea of what's going on with you, you need to post any results that you have, with their ranges.

The ranges are a guide in how low, high, under/over medicated you are. Equally you can tell if you at good place/optimum level within your range.

It could be a high TSH result or high antibodies results. But can't say until we get your post.

Stick with this forum & you'll be very well looked.

Add some health history to your bio & you'll get lots more advice as we'll get a bigger picture.