Help with my results please! : Hi everyone, I've... - Thyroid UK

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Help with my results please!

Gingerandco profile image
6 Replies

Hi everyone, I've never been good at reading my results so I turn to you all for help😬.

TSH 2.90 T3 3.0 T4 9.9 MAK 125.0 TAK 12.0

25-OH Vit D3 16.9

VitB12 233

Folic acid 7.2

Ferritin 40

I dread what my doctor is going to say...... that everything is ok and keep to the dosage that I'm on 50 mg Euthyrox ( levothyroxin).

Just so fed up being tired, hair falling out and all the rest that goes with this illness😣.

Best wishes to all

Margaret

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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Gingerandco

Can you please add the reference ranges for your results, as they differ from lab to lab we need the ranges from the lab that did your test. They should be at the side or your results, possibly in brackets, eg

TSH: 2.5 (0.2-4.2)

Also, please say the unit of measurement for Vit D, it should be either ng/ml or nmol/L

There are a couple that are very obvious but best to put all information in one reply to keep it together :)

Also, what are MAK and TAK?

Gingerandco profile image
Gingerandco in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi seasideSusie,

Sorry I'm new to this kind of thing🤦‍♀️. And rather nervous. Ok here I go. Ferritin 40 ( 15-150 ) folic acid 7.2 (10.9 -84.5 ) Vit B12 233 (145 -569 )

TSH 2.90 ( 0.27-4.29 ). T3 3.0 (2.0-4.4)

T4 9.9 (9.3-17.0) Anti-thyroperoxidase (MAK) 125 (<34.0) Anti-thyroglobulin (TAK) 12.0 (<115.0) 25-oh Vit D3 16.9 ( 30.00-100)

I can see that I'm deficient in folic and vit D it's just the rest are confusing me. Especially the Anti-thyroperxidase as it's high and all the others are normal----ish

Kind regards,

Margaret

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Gingerandco

Gingerandco

Don't worry, we were all new once :)

On 50mcg Levo

TSH 2.90 ( 0.27-4.29 ).

T3 3.0 (2.0-4.4)

T4 9.9 (9.3-17.0)

Your TSH is too high for a treated hypo patient, generally we feel best when TSH is 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo. Not set in stone, of course, as we are all individual.

Is your T4 result Free T4 (FT4)? I think it may be from the range, in which case it is very low.

Is T3 Total T3 or Free T3 - if it's Total T3 it's not much use, we need to see FT3, but it's bound to be low because your FT4 is low.

You need an increase in your Levo.

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist wrote in Pulse magazine (the doctors' magazine)

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at tukadmin@thyroiduk.org print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

**

Anti-thyroperoxidase (MAK) 125 (<34.0)

Anti-thyroglobulin (TAK) 12.0 (<115.0)

Your raised TPO antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's, which is where the antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

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

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies and we can see this in your results.

**

25-oh Vit D3 16.9 ( 30.00-100)

I think this may be ng/ml and if so then the Vit D Council recommends a level of 40-60ng/ml so you need to supplement to raise your level.

If it's nmol/L then the result is even worse.

I don't know where you live but you could ask your GP if he is willing to prescribe D3 but to be honest we are often better off buying our own. If you let me know if it's ng/ml or nmol/L I will be able to suggest a dose of D3 and the important cofactors that are also needed.

**

Ferritin 40 ( 15-150 )

For thyroid hormone to work (that's our own as well as replacement hormone) ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range. You can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

**

Vit B12 233 (145 -569 )

Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency - check here b12deficiency.info/signs-an... If so you will need further testing as you may be B12 deficient or have Pernicious Anaemia and may require B12 injections.

I have read (but not researched so don't have links) that BCSH, UKNEQAS and NICE guidelines recommend:

"In the presence of discordance between test results and strong clinical features of deficiency, treatment should not be delayed to avoid neurological impairment."

And an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

folic acid 7.2 (10.9 -84.5 )

Folate and B12 work together, yours is under range therefore you are deficient. Your GP should prescribe folic acid. Do not start folic acid until further testing has been done about your B12 and B12 injections started (if required).

Folate should be at least half way through it's range, although I've never actually seen a range as wide as yours before.

**

Please check out the post by SlowDragon towards the end of this thread as it gives information and links about addressing gut/absorption problems healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

The gut needs healing so that nutrients can be absorbed so that you can optimise your vitamin and mineral levels, and then thyroid hormone will be able to work.

Gingerandco profile image
Gingerandco in reply to SeasideSusie

Yes they are free T3 and 4. Phew the Vit D is in ng/mL lol and I've been given before D-cure 25.000U.I once a week it's taken orally. Didn't really make a difference.

I live in Luxembourg so maybe that's why the range is so different. I really appreciate you helping me. Sometimes it feels so lonely when I can't talk to anyone about having thyroid problems. So just keep it all to oneself.

So thank you 😊

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Gingerandco

The Vit D Council recommendation can be seen here

vitamindcouncil.org/i-teste...

Scroll down to

"My level is between 10 and 20ng/ml"

and you will see that to achieve 50ng/ml you should take 5300iu daily and for 60ng/ml you should take 7400iu.

Your 25000iu once a week is only 3561iu daily so I would increase this for now.

As you have Hashi's then an oral spray will be better as it gives best absorption as it bypasses the stomach. BetterYou do one that is 3000iu. If it's not available to buy in Luxembourg then go the BetterYou website and they post overseas.

Retest after 3 months then when you've reached the recommended level you'll need to find your maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less and maybe more in winter than summer, it's trial and error so we need to retest twice a year to keep within the recommended range.

When taking D3 there are important cofactors needed

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and Vit K2-mk7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissue where it can be deposited and cause problems. Magnesium helps D3 to work and comes in different forms, check to see which form would suit you best

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, 4 hours away from thyroid meds. Magnesium is calming so best taken in the evening, 4 hours away from thyroid meds.

**

So both your free Ts are low, and along with your quite high TSH you should have an increase in Levo, hopefully your GP will agree, use the Dr Toft article to support your request for an extra 25mcg.

Gingerandco profile image
Gingerandco in reply to SeasideSusie

Thanks SeasideSusie,

I'm going to send him a e-mail now, asking for follow up blood tests for the B12 and folic acid ( if there are any).

Fingers crossed that he is open to my request of tests and increase in meds!

Thanks again 😃😅

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