Can anyone give their thoughts on my results?

[twinkletoes123]

Hi there,

Long long story short:

I am recovering (if that is the word - this is my 21st day in bed) after what has been a horrendous mixture of headaches, migraines, extreme lead like fatigue, restless sleep, joint pain, inflamed and bloated body. However this is the 'crash' after 18 months or so of feeling crap more often than well.

I have had three blood tests so far. Two on the NHS which I don't know the results for yet and one private one because I wanted to check out my thyroid in a bit more detail . I want to rule things out properly as well as find out what is wrong with me.

Would anyone who knows about this be able to give me their thoughts?

Free T4 15.2 Range 11.0 - 26.0

TSH 0.98 Range 0.35 - 4.50

Free T3 4.0 Range 3.9 - 6.8

Many thanks

[greygoose]

Need a bit more detail, I'm afraid. Do you have a diagnosis of any sort? Are you taking any thyroid hormone replacement. The answer to that last question affects the analysis of the results.

[twinkletoes123 in reply to greygoose]

Hello,

No diagnosis. Not taking anything. Just trying to find out what is wrong.

[greygoose in reply to twinkletoes123]

Well, you Frees are a little low - especially the FT3 - and that's not reflected by your TSH, which is low normal. But, if you've just had some kind of bug - which your symptoms sound a lot like - that could account for the low Frees. I take it you did this blood test after you started feeling ill? Were the NHS tests done before you started feeling ill? Or what is the time-line on all this? Be interesting to see the NHS results.

[twinkletoes123 in reply to greygoose]

Hi there, the timeline is I rang the docs on the first day I felt really pants and they couldn’t get me a blood test for two weeks. So I went private for this one just to find out if it was my thyroid. That took six days to come back. I had the nhs blood tests this Tuesday and I go on the 12 April to get those results.

From what I read on the internet low t3 is due to inflammation.

Migraines, inflammation in my body and low t3 I guess all go together.

I need to wait and see from the docs on 12 April.

I am following a low inflammation diet and taking different supplements. My skin flared right up but has gone down and so I am taking that as forward progress. I am starting to feel back to my usual ‘substandard’ normal but I do not want to go back to where I have just come from if I can change things. And I must not settle for this twilight life I had become accustomed and resigned to - if there are things I can do to help.

I think the other poster was replying to me about the book.

Thanks for taking time over this grey goose.

With best wishes

[greygoose in reply to twinkletoes123]

Inflammation can indeed cause low T3, but so can a whole host of other things. I think your FT3 is low because you don't have enough T4 to convert to T3. With that FT4, I wouldn't expect the FT3 to be any higher. But, they are still both where you would expect them to be in someone who isn't on thyroid hormone replacement, and don't indicate any type of thyroid problem.

Have you had any antibody tests done? How about nutrients? Vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin. If your nutrients are low, it will give you hypo-like symptoms.

[twinkletoes123 in reply to greygoose]

Hi there, I know that I had a range of tests requested on my nhs blood test. I think I have to keep on with my current supplements and diet changes and wait until my next appointment to decide where I go next.

I am glad to hear that you don’t think it’s my thyroid. It was something I also wondered about.

Thank you

[greygoose in reply to twinkletoes123]

Well, that's not exactly what I said. I said your labs don't indicate a problem. That doesn't mean that there isn't one. Especially as you haven't had your antibodies tested.

[Alma1956 in reply to greygoose]

As astart read a book by Dr A Toft very informative snd understandable

[greygoose in reply to Alma1956]

I'm sorry? What do you mean? Why should I read Dr Toft's book?

[Alma1956 in reply to greygoose]

It says a lot about hypothyroidism Although he practised in scotlamd snd retired in 2009 he is considered to be an authority on thyroif issues.

[greygoose in reply to Alma1956]

Yes, I know who Dr Toft is, and I don't think he's all that much of an authority. I was just wondering why you think I should read is book? I'm not the one asking questions. Or was your comment intended for the OP?

[Alma1956 in reply to greygoose]

Oops that says it all

[Margar in reply to Alma1956]

Yes ...Grey goose is very knowledgable and has been a great support to us. I always value her input.