Can anybody interpret thyroid results?

[KateCora]

My GP just said "normal" but I'm feeling anything but. I think I may have gone hyper, instead of hypo. I suddenly have shortness of breath and I think I'm reading here that my Free T4 is on the high side?! Free T3=2.67

[Marz]

Please can you add ranges 😊

[KateCora in reply to Marz]

I asked for ranges. Free T3= 2-4.4

Free T4= 12-22

Tsh= 0.27- 4.20

Thanks x

[KateCora in reply to KateCora]

What do you think, Marz? Any further advice?

[Hashihouseman]

Looks as if you’re not converting T3 so well, or that if you’re taking t4 replacement it’s too much and the excess is suppressing conversion to T3.......

[KateCora in reply to Hashihouseman]

Yes, thank you! I do feel I have conversion issues.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Would suspect low vitamins, especially ferritin can cause breathlessness

What's the range on FT3, result sounds low

TSH is probably too high, suggests you are under medicated.

Do you have Hashimoto's? Also called autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

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

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT3 and FT4, plus vitamins

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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.

If on Levothyroxine, don't take 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)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances too, especially gluten. So it's important to get antibodies tested if never been done

[KateCora in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi there! GP said my antibodies were 73. I couldn't see where they had shown up on results tbh! I have hashi's. I'm undermedicated. I'm only on 15armour. ;(

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to KateCora]

So low vitamins are common

Are you gluten free?

[KateCora in reply to SlowDragon]

Totally gf!

[Hashihouseman in reply to KateCora]

no one should say your TSH is off unless they know your personally normal range, rather than lab range or whatever is in vogue within that range. It could be that free t3 is the thing you need to focus on, not TSH....?

There’s research and published professional opinion out there which states that Hashimoto diagnosis needs significantly higher antibodies than you seem to have. Are you on 1.5 grains of desiccated? If so it begs the question why you need so much given your high T4. Maybe you don’t need any T4 and have a conversion issue not classic hypothyroidism or Hashimoto?.....

Maybe you need a selenium supplement and/or a gene test for deiodinase function?

Maybe you would do better with a small t3 only supplement, if anything?..,,

[KateCora in reply to Hashihouseman]

Hi there!

Thanks for reply. I am only on quarter of a grain. 15mg. And I have literally only been put on it. I'm also taking selenium. I wasn't taking any iron, so have begun tdy! I have Paul's book on T3only buy haven't tried it.

[Hashihouseman in reply to KateCora]

Ah! Ok I read it as 1.5 grains!!! Even so your free T4 is already in the upper part of the lab range, it may be normal for you but getting t3 from desiccated will increase T4 further and that could be a bad thing....? If you could try t3 only in an appropriate dose and see if it alleviates your symptoms together with reasonable blood test results it may show you a way forward.

[KateCora in reply to Hashihouseman]

OK! Thanks for this. I'm not clued-in yet to reading labs myself. I know I do very badly in T4only, so perhaps that is a pointer.

[KateCora]

No, I asked for those but they weren't done. I'll follow up. Thank you!!

[KateCora]

Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful and reassuring