Test Result Confusion - Help Appreciated

[Judat]

Hi, I wondered if anybody can help or point me in the right direction. For quite a while I have felt tired, dizzy, overweight and had difficulty shifting weight. I have also had spells of suddenly becoming freezing cold and not being able to keep warm. So, I ordered a TSH test in June 2017 which came back at 4.42 with a recommendation that I retest. I have only just got round to organising a test, and I have attached a photo of the results. I’ve got an appointment next week to see my doctor because my ferritin level is at 6 and thought I better let them know. However, I don’t know whether I should be pushing the thyroid also - I know the NHS levels are different to Thyroid UK’s view so don’t know whether they are okay or not!

Is there anybody out there that could advise me on these results (and if it might be worth paying to see an endocrinologist privately?)

Many thanks

[Spareribs]

Hi Judat - from what I can make out your Thyroid levels are in low range & TSH high range - you need an increase, per symptoms too.

ferritin/folate & vitamin D are low and B12 70 should be checked out for Pernicious anaemia - have a look at the PA site here on HU for more info. healthunlocked.com/pasoc

I'd hold on the private endo for now & see how you feel after your vitamin levels are optimised. J

[Judat in reply to Spareribs]

Hi, thank you Spareribs for taking the time to respond. I suspect my doctor will be fine to encourage folate, vitamin D and ferritin supplements but less keen to progress anything related to B12 or thyroid. Still, it’s good to start somewhere and maybe the thyroid and B12 results will improve once I start taking the supplements. 🙂

[ShootingStars]

Hi. Yes, you should be pushing for thyroid medication because you are hypothyroid. Your FT3 is barely existent, FT4 is much too low. Both should be in optimal range, where people report the least symptoms. Your TSH is too high. Good thing is, right now you don’t have thyroid antibodies, so the cause of your low thyroid is not autoimmune. Lucky you! 😊 Much more manageable if it’s not. Once stating meds, if on the correct dose, it will take only a few months for your levels to become optimal and symptoms to go away. If the right dose, you will start to feel better within a few days, maximum therapeutic effects are at 6 weeks. Labs are always done every 6 weeks after starting meds, with each adjustment, and until symptoms subside. If at 6 weeks your levels and symptoms have barely improved, your meds are probably not right. If 2-3 months have gone by and you’re not much better, then for sure your meds need adjusting.

Whether you need to see an endo is dependent upon how competent and how thyroid literate your doctor is. You may or may not need an endo.

[Judat in reply to ShootingStars]

Hi ShootingStars, thank you for your advice. I think I will find some official sounding sites quoting ‘optimal levels’ and use that to have a conversation about how I might be in range but it doesn’t mean I feel well. I appreciate you responding - it’s a bit of a minefield 🙂

[ShootingStars in reply to Judat]

Hi Judat, I don’t know if there are sites using that exact terminology, but their might be. I can think of one off the top of my head. Let me check. I’m on my phone right now. Hold on....

[Judat in reply to ShootingStars]

Hi, I’m sure with some digging I’ll be able to find something, and the supplements might clear the issue before I need them anyway. X

[ShootingStars in reply to Judat]

Hi Judat, Wouldn't that be so nice? Take some supplement, and you're cured. If that was possible, people would all be doing it, "clearing the issue". Everyone would be cured and hypothyroid patients wouldn't be taking replacement thyroid hormones. Unfortunately, hypothyroid is not an issue that is cleared until you're on the right level of thyroid medication. If you stop the medication, hypothyroid returns. In hypothyroidism, the thyroid is diseased and is no longer able to produce enough thyroid hormones T3 and T4, resulting in hypo symptoms. These thyroid hormone have to be replaced since your thyroid is not able to produce adequate levels of T3 and T4 on it's own.

Right now you have almost nonexistent FT3 and very low FT4. These low thyroid hormones lead to high TSH. This is hypothyroidism. Your symptoms are very common symptoms of hypo/low thyroid: freezing cold and unable to stay warm, tired, dizzy, overweight and difficulty losing weight.

Once you are on the right thyroid medication and when your levels are where they should be, all or almost all of your symptoms should go away.

[ShootingStars in reply to Judat]

You aren’t kidding! It is a mind field! I like how you say that!

😀