Hypothyroid? Newbie

[lasmith311]

Hi this is my first post here. I recently had a bunch of blood tests due to gallbladder issues and they also checked my thyroid. Something like a serum thyroid function test is what they did. It was checked last year and It was 4.5 which they said was satisfactory but they'd need to recheck which they have just done. I got a call to go back and speak to them about it. Which I did yesterday. Apprently my blood test showed that I have hypothyroidism (they didn' tell me what the levels were this time) but my hormone level is normal so they weren't sure wether to start me on treatment but did prescribe a low dose of tablets to see How i get on as I do have alot of the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Can anyone shed any light on why my result would come back as hypothyroidism but my hormone level was normal? Anyone experienced this before? Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What dose have you been prescribed, 25mcg or 50mcg?

First thing is, ideally to get hold of copies of actual results. You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results. You need to keep good record of how results change on each dose

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up. They can make nominal charge for printing but many will do so for free (£10 max and can not charge at all after May 25th 2018)

You are looking for results and ranges for TSH, FT3 and FT4, plus have you also had thyroid antibodies tested

Also helpful if had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested, results and ranges

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 common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get tested.

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...

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.

[lasmith311 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks just posted a reply below

[lasmith311 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok I've called the doctor again with a pen and paper and these are the results...

Serum 3T4 -14.1 pmol/l

Serum TSH - 10.88 mul

Antithyroid Peroxidase Antibody - 262 kiu/l

What do these mean for me? The doctor didn't really explain very well I left feeling quite confused lol they gave me 25mg tablets to see How go with them and retest in 3 months x

[cjrsquared]

The doctors have probably only measured TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone and ft4, circulating levels of the storage hormone thyroxine. TSH is produced by the pituitary to stimulate the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones, as your thyroid fails it has to be pushed harder and harder in order to produce the same amount of ft4 until eventually despite more and more TSH, the levels of ft4 fall below ‘range’. It is also important to recognise that in range doesn’t necessarily mean optimal. Most hypothyroid patients feel better with ft 4 in the upper third of range and TSH around 1.

It is also important to know if you have autoimmune hypothyroidism, also known as hashimoto’s disease, this is tested for by a blood test for thyroid peroxidase antibodies. In this case the body produces antibodies which attack the thyroid and kill it. There is a lot to learn about this.

It is a long process to learn about hypothyroid disease but sadly many medics are not very knowledgeable. It is important to get copies of your blood tests and the ranges ( different labs have different machines with different ranges) and a note of how you felt at that time. If your thyroid levels have been tested in the past when you were well that can be very helpful as a starting point of what ‘normal’ may be for you.

Good luck on the journey.

[lasmith311 in reply to cjrsquared]

Thanks just posted a reply below

[lasmith311 in reply to cjrsquared]

Ok I've called the doctor again with a pen and paper and these are the results...

Serum 3T4 -14.1 pmol/l

Serum TSH - 10.88 mul

Antithyroid Peroxidase Antibody - 262 kiu/l

What do these mean for me? The doctor didn't really explain very well I left feeling quite confused lol they gave me 25mg tablets to see How go with them and retest in 3 months x

[lasmith311]

Deleted my previous comment lol as I've got them written down now..

Ok I've called the doctor again with a pen and paper and these are the results...

Serum 3T4 -14.1 pmol/l

Serum TSH - 10.88 mul

Antithyroid Peroxidase Antibody - 262 kiu/l

What do these mean for me? The doctor didn't really explain very well I left feeling quite confused lol they gave me 25mg tablets to see How go with them and retest in 3 months x

[cjrsquared in reply to lasmith311]

It will be free t4 written as ft4, it means the amount of storage hormone in the blood. Ideally you need the ranges as well, but you have positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies which means you have hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. Your TSH is above 10 so you will be feeling unwell.

25 mcg is a sub therapeutic dose and you should be going back in 6 weeks ( as it takes that long for blood levels to stabilise) for another blood test and then have a rise of 25 mcg, then another blood test in 6 weeks, with another rise and so on until you feel well or your TSH is around 1. It often takes 6 months to reach an optimal dose.

You need to read and learn about autoimmune ( hashimoto’s) hypothyroidism as it is not straight forward. It is also important as slowdragon recommended to look at vitamins and iron levels so the body can convert levothyroxine ( the storage hormone) into t3 the active hormone at cellular level.

It can be overwhelming at first, but hopefully once your levothyroxine is increased you will improve.

[lasmith311 in reply to cjrsquared]

I thought that when they said 3t4 but when I was writing it out and saying it back to her she said that's 3 not free. :/ unless the lab wrote it as 3 meaning free I'm not sure. Why don't doctors acknowledge hashimotos!? Thanks for your help I feel alot better about it all now and am understanding it alot more

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Really you also need the ranges on these (each lab has different ranges)

But range on TSH is typically 0.4 - 4.5 approx

So your TSH is above range

FT4 typical range is 10-22

TPO antibodies range is typically a result ABOVE 34 is high

Ring receptionist on Friday and ask for printed copy of results AND ranges

High antibodies means the cause f being hypothyroid is due to autoimmune thyroid disease, also called Hashimoto's

25mcg is a very cautious dose to start on. It can make you feel worse as it's enough to turn down your own thyroid production but not enough to offer support. Hence normal starting dose is 50mcg

Have you had vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin tested? If not ask that they are, either at next appointment or when bloods are retested after 6-8 weeks on 25mcg

What brand on Levothyroxine have you been prescribed? Many patients don't get along with Teva.