I'm a 26 y/o Male from the UK - my doctor tested my thyroid recently as I have host of symptoms that lead me to believe my thyroid may not be functioning properly.
TSH came back at 1.1 (0.3-5.5 Range)
FT4 15pmol/L (10-22 Range)
Do these values indicate potential thyroid issue? My GP said they're fine, but from experience GP's are totally uneducated on horomonal issues!
I am going to get a full thyroid panel done privately including antibodies and rT3. I am just curious to know if I might be on the right track, as I've been trying to figure out what's up with my body for most of my life (have never felt 'right')!
Don't want to get my hopes up thinking I'm on the right track, if I'm not. I know until full bloods come back no one can say yes or no for certain, but based on the above figures for a 26 year old male, does it look that it's 'likely' I'm on the right track?
Thanks!
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canyouhearmeaya
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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. This gives highest TSH 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.
Tsh is ideal and ft4 is often at this mid point. On the boards we always try and aim for slightly higher ft4 no around 17-19 but 15 is a typical result.
So these are not flagging a thyroid issue.
However you need ft3 done over any other test but the others are also important.
If ft3 is highish (because I doubt it will be low low) then this tells you what the ilkley issue is. Namely the absorption of the t3 at the cell level.
I see. I sleep 10pm to 6.30am; gave up caffeine 6 months ago and smoking 3 months ago.
I've had fatigue issues since childhood, dry skin, growing up the outer part of my eyebrows didn't exist. Low libido and slow bowels.
Whole food diet, no refined sugar, chemicals etc. Hydrate well, exercise often.
Recently I noticed I was getting insanely fatigued after eating brocolli and kale.. looking into it I realised these are goitrogens, which could be a problem for thyroid. As soon as I stopped consuming them, fatigue and brain fog improved very notice ly. However the main of my symptoms remain.
It is good that you sleep well. This is key for good hormone production.
If moderation of your adrenal hormones helped with the Ashwag then this maybe a clue.
I think the ft3 will really help fill in the gaps.
If you were to try some t4 medication and it helps then yes you need more thyroid. Very often more thyroid is not the issue, it’s the ability of the body to use what thyroid is there.
This maybe your key issue but a little more digging is needed.
One tip is not to throw lots of new tablets at the issue in the same time period. Just do one change and hold it for 4 weeks to see how it plays out. The same goes for any hormones you try. At the moment you will need to experiment to find out what your metabolism needs to help it work more effectively.
The best test for adrenals is the saliva cortisol test plus DHEA. Saliva is taken 4 x throughout the day and this will show if your adrenals are working as they should i.e. highest in the morning, tapering off throughout the day and lowest at night. You may find the following link of interest:-
Tomorrow is full bloods. One big reason I always started smoking again was to control my bowels, same with caffeine. Without caffeine and cigarettes my body and brain always feels like its working slower. Even after qutting caffeine for 6 months and smoking for 3, it's never "sped up" again, bowels continue to feel sluggish!
Ah I see, preventative. I guess until my results come in, I'm just guessing. Strangely, I want it to be my thyroid just to finally have an explantation!!
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