Help to understand if thyroid function is under active?

[Daylesmum]

Hi still trying to get to grips with understanding my thyroid health.I have been back to my gp today and asked for a full list of blood tests to be done( I copied the list from the full thyroid checklist on medical testing site) but whilst there I requested a print out from my last test. Please can anyone advise me on it?

Serum free triiodothyronine level(XaERr)5.65pmol/L(3.1-6.8)

Serum free T4 level (XaERr)13.4pmol/L(11.0-23.0)

Serum TSH level (XaELV) 5.6 mU/L (0.27-4.5)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

These results are from before you started on that tiny 12.5mcg dose of Levothyroxine presumably?

TSH is too high

FT4 is towards bottom of range

FT3 good, but likely to drop over time as TSH so high

Essential to test TPO and TG thyroid antibodies

Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

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

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

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

Thyroid blood tests should be done 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

[Daylesmum in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi I'm still struggling to understand the print out but the

Serum thyroid perioxidase antibody concentration(XabCy) 9 IU/ml(<34.0)

But there are no more results that I can make out that is specifically thyroid related.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Daylesmum]

So the TPO antibodies are negative as the result of 9 is less than 34

Unfortunately NHS won't test TG antibodies if TPO are negative

It's less common to be negative for TPO and positive for high TG antibodies, but it is possible

High TG antibodies can also be raised for other issues

healthline.com/health/antit...

Other relevant tests

Vitamin D

Folate

Ferritin

B12

Add results and ranges if they have been tested

[Daylesmum]

Sorry to be thick but I don't understand what you mean by the last post? All I know is from the checklist for under active thyroid I tick every single box bar 1 (which is husky voice) and I have done for years.

[greygoose in reply to Daylesmum]

@SlowDragon won't see your response because you didn't click on the blue 'reply' button - and the alert system doesn't seem to be working today!!! So, it would be a good idea to copy that response and post it directly under her response - if you see what I mean.

[Daylesmum]

Thanks slowdragon for alerting me to that.

Greygoose.. I'm sorry to be a bit thick,but can you explain what you mean by your last post,I'm very new to all this and don't yet understand the terminology and technical descriptions yet. Does it mean I may have a underactive thyroid? All I know is that on the checklist for underactive thyroid symptoms I tick everything apart from hoarse voice (although my husband seems to think my voice has got huskier over the years).

[Rmichelle in reply to Daylesmum]

You are HyPO-your tsh is over range and your ft4 is bottom which needs to be mid to higher range. You are on levo but whether you are on the correct dose i dont know as you need to discuss this further with more experienced forum users-when you want someone to respind back you need to press the reply tab as greygoose or slowdragon wont have got your messages also you do not have hashimotos disease as your tpo antibodies are negative- they are under the range < less than, hashis is a immune disease which attacks the thyroid destroying it over time making you hypo, i have this like many people.Try to absorb as much knowledge as you can about your illness as you are in charge of your own health and gps tend not to know alot about the thyroid. Im sure others will respond back. Xx😊

[Daylesmum in reply to Rmichelle]

Thank you Rmichelle,I am currently waiting for the results of further blood tests. I have got my Gp to do a full check (as from the checklist of the most comprehensive test medicheck do) the only one he couldn't find to request was rT3 (unfortunately) but he is also checking caeliac for me.

[Rmichelle]

Good you are getting tests done!!im also celiac. Xx😊