hypo symptoms but bloods say otherwise... - Thyroid UK

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hypo symptoms but bloods say otherwise...

b0b44 profile image
23 Replies

so i just got the results from my medichecks blood tests.. as previously posted i currently have symptoms of hypothyroid (having had RAI back in 2004 - low heart rate, sensitive to cold, tired, foggy etc etc

apparently it's not my thyroid as my tests are all normal (see below) - or should i still see a private endo as my GP has no interest and i doubt these bloods will change his mind! the dr from medichecks is saying there's no need as thyroid function is normal

any advice or thoughts would be really helpful as ever, thank you

Thyroid Function

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 2.39 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE 15.400 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

FREE T3 4.03 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

Thyroid Antibodies

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY <10 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 25.7 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

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23 Replies
Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake

It would be possible to raise your levothyroxine dose as your FT4 and FT3 are on the low side, this might aleviate symptoms. However, you also need to check vitamin D, ferritin folate and B12 as if these are low they can cause similar symptoms to hypothyroidism.

b0b44 profile image
b0b44 in reply to Nanaedake

thanks nanaedake... had my B12, ferritin and vit D tested very recently and all were at normal levels

i'm not taking any meds at all at the moment and have never been prescribed any since the RAI as my result have always been 'normal'

Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake in reply to b0b44

Well, in that case as your are not taking levothyroxine your results are normal, as you say. However, you say your vitamin results are normal but you've not posted them here. You could post them as they may be sub-optimal even if 'normal'. People will give you suggestions.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Your FT4 and FT3 are both on the low side. Your FT3 is definitely low, should be over 5. They suggest possibly hypo

With Medichecks you should also have a total T4 result???? Can you add it

Can you add your "normal" vitamin results and ranges. They are often not optimal

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting.

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

Is this how you did the test?

b0b44 profile image
b0b44

hi slow dragon - thanks again for your help

i think they have labelled the T4 test 'free thyroxine' (or is that something different again (i'm not medically trained!) - i am only guessing this as the range is the same for my T4 test from my NHS test - maybe they mislabelled it - will check with them tomorrow...

15.0 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]

from the same tests my serum ferritin level was 98 ug/L [30.0 - 400.0]

and my serum B12 level was 271 ng/L [197.0 - 771.0]

apparently i didn't have a vitamin D level test

the recent test (the set of numbers from the first post in this thread) were not fasting as i was not instructed to do so but they were done at 9 am and the conditions for the tests for the set of numbers above WERE fasting and also at 9 am

the medichecks doctor reviewed the results and sent the report below which i guess i should ignore!

Dear Robert,

Please see below my comments regarding your Thyroid Check Plus.

I have reviewed your medical history and note you have been treated in the past for an overactive thyroid but you are now experiencing symptoms of an underactive thyroid. I note you are not currently on any thyroid medication.

Your current thyroid profile is normal. Your thyroid stimulating hormone is in the normal range as is your thyroid hormones thyroxine and free T3.

Your thyroid antibodies reveal no evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease.

I hope you have found this information helpful.

Best wishes,

Dr Mari Thomas

(MBBCh)

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to b0b44

Your B12 is far too low - needs to be over 500 to avoid neurological symptoms. Suggest taking 5000 iu of sublingual methylcobalamin until b12 reaches top of range and then drop back to 1000iu (it's water soluble so you can't really harm yourself by taking too much). Did you get folate tested? That needs to be half way up range.

b0b44 profile image
b0b44 in reply to Angel_of_the_North

thanks so much again for your advice... i will check out sublingual methylcobalamin

i don't seem to have a folate test...

b0b44 profile image
b0b44 in reply to b0b44

ps found it online - is there a brand you can recommend - solgar is 5 times the price - is that because it's better???

b0b44 profile image
b0b44 in reply to Angel_of_the_North

ordered these

amazon.co.uk/dp/B01AG3V4Q4/...

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to b0b44

Looks fine.

b0b44 profile image
b0b44 in reply to Angel_of_the_North

thanks

just had vit D bloods in

53 nmol/L [50.0 - 120.0]

spoke to pharmicist at surgery who supplied me with a vit D spray

it's all starting to add up which is a relief to be honest

b0b44 profile image
b0b44 in reply to b0b44

i am off to see noted endo dr vanderpump in london next week!

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to b0b44

Hmmm, he's not very popular round here.

b0b44 profile image
b0b44 in reply to Angel_of_the_North

o gawd really!!?? i was recommended to him by andrew taft

b0b44 profile image
b0b44 in reply to b0b44

anyone else you would suggest - i'd be very grateful

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to b0b44

Do a search for him in the HU search box and try PMing anyone who has seen him in the last year. I think he is supposed to be clued up on central hypo, but very mainstream, levo-only in his outlook. But views change - look at Dr Toft on T3 as an example of changing views.

b0b44 profile image
b0b44 in reply to Angel_of_the_North

yeah i just did that... toft is actually the guy who recommended me to him so perhaps he's changed his tune (VdeP not toft!)

b0b44 profile image
b0b44

IGNORE LAST POST - PLEASE READ THIS ONE

hi slow dragon - thanks again for your help

i think they have labelled the T4 test 'free thyroxine' (or is that something different again (i'm not medically trained!) - i am only guessing this as the range is the same for my T4 test from my NHS test - maybe they mislabelled it - will check with them tomorrow...

i had the T4 done on the NHS a couple of weeks ago - it was...

15.0 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]

..and from the same tests my serum ferritin level was 98 ug/L [30.0 - 400.0]

and my serum B12 level was 271 ng/L [197.0 - 771.0]

apparently i didn't have a vitamin D level test

the recent test (the set of numbers from the first post in this thread) were not fasting as i was not instructed to do so but they were done at 9 am and the conditions for the tests for the set of numbers above WERE fasting and also at 9 am

the medichecks doctor reviewed the results and sent the report below which i guess i should ignore!

Dear Robert,

Please see below my comments regarding your Thyroid Check Plus.

I have reviewed your medical history and note you have been treated in the past for an overactive thyroid but you are now experiencing symptoms of an underactive thyroid. I note you are not currently on any thyroid medication.

Your current thyroid profile is normal. Your thyroid stimulating hormone is in the normal range as is your thyroid hormones thyroxine and free T3.

Your thyroid antibodies reveal no evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease.

I hope you have found this information helpful.

Best wishes,

Dr Mari Thomas

(MBBCh)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to b0b44

Medichecks Results normally read in this order

TSH

Free Thyroxine

Total thyroxine (T4)

FT3

TG antibodies

TPO antibodies

Can you add the result for Total thyroxine

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to b0b44

Your B12 is low. Though your GP unlikely to agree

Have you had folate tested?

Vitamin D you can test via vitamindtest.org.uk £29 NHS postal kit

Low vitamin D is extremely common and needs testing

b0b44 profile image
b0b44

just rang mdichecks and within the last month they have changed to only providing the FT4 - labelled free thyroxine - and no longer provide a total T4 reading - which explains why I don’t have it!

b0b44 profile image
b0b44

the NHS test I have posted from bloods taken a couple of weeks ago is also a free T4 reading so I still don’t know what my total T4 amount is

serum free T4 level (XaEer) 14.5 pmol/L. (12.0 - 22.0)

b0b44 profile image
b0b44

update : doc has offered to refer me to an NHS endo as he agrees the results are on the low side but it will take months so am going private - he did agree to get my vit D test done tho so not all bad - as expected he was fairly dismissive of the idea of any need for further tests but suggested we monitor it...

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