Blood results to interpret please

[Dee8686]

Ok, so my nhs bloods and private bloods always conflict (under investigation) however I would like advice on my nhs blood results, should these be the ones that are correct. They consistently show elevated tsh and lower frees. I am just interested to know what people think. (The reasons for being off and on meds is because my private bloods indicate a pituitary issue. Please just comment on what these nhs tests infer).

Off 25mcg levo for 3 weeks.

29/3/18

Tsh 9.2

T4 12(9-19)

T3 3.4 (2.9-4.9) then put on 2 x 5mcg t3 as private doc going by private tests.

18/5/18

Tsh 5.7

T4 13 (9-19)

T3 3.5 (2.9-4.9)

Taken off meds again as private testing indicates pituitary issue. Off

Meds for 3 weeks.

08/06/18

Tsh 6.6

Ft4 15 (9-19)

Ft3 3.5 (2.9-4.9)

So I know everything is a little muddled as my private tests are COMPLETELY different to every single test above (no comments needed as being investigated, thanks) but should the NHS tests be the ones that reflect accurate thyroid blood work for myself...

* would these results reflect Why I feel so unwell? Housebound fatigue, headaches, insomnia, aching arms and legs (like I’ve had a workout), no energy.

* should these be the tests I go by, despite being on t3, does it show that the dosage was just too small to make a dent with symptoms? (Felt no different starting t3).

* should these tests be the ones to go by, how much t3 might be needed to get t3 to where it needs to be and tsh down?

Thank you for reading. I know it’s an odd post but to me, if I didn’t have 2 sets of results tonlook at that imply completely different treatments routes, then it might be straight forward!

[Judithdalston]

So you were on levothyroxin ( 25 mcg) for how long? Then after 3 weeks without it, you had first set of bloods done by NHS. 3 weeks is a short time, T4 will probably still be in your system( depending how long you were on it before), even if only a small dose. These results show you needed Thyroid 'meds', but why were you not just put on more levothyroxin? 25 mcg is a starter dose for the elderly or those with heart problems. Then you were given 2x5 mcg T3 pills, to be taken without T4, did you take these for about 6 weeks? Second lot of tests again suggest undermedicated. So then another 3 weeks without any thyroid meds., but once again you might have some T3 left in system. Because you have swopped from T4 to T3 'meds' you can't really compare the results with each other, the T3 would not raise the FT4 result for eg. June tests show you need thyroid meds to get from low but 'within range' to upper part of these ranges for whether T4\T3, and TSH of 1 or under; while with the T3 it should have been allowed to be raised gradually to get the FT3 result to say 3.9- 4 or above.

Basically it looks like you have never had the time to let the T4 nor the T3 doses to take effect, neither have doses been increased before being swopped to another intervention. Why?

Were your private and NHS tests under exactly the same conditions ie time of day, excluding meds/ supplements/food etc for same time? Were private bloods done by pin-prick or syringe withdrawal- some suggest pin- prick can 'alter' results?

[Dee8686 in reply to Judithdalston]

Thank you - yes all blood draws were same. I realise perhaps not long enough but private tests keep throwing up worrying results which are now being looked into.

[greygoose]

I would say those tests don't indicate a need for T3. But certainly a need for a higher dose of levo. 25 mcg is not even a starter dose. Why not try a combo as you're already used to taking T3? Continue with the T3 and add back the 25 mcg levo?

[Dee8686 in reply to greygoose]

That’s what I’m thinkinh should these be the right results,

Thanks gg.

T3 was originally given on the basis of what the private tests indicated originally.

[greygoose in reply to Dee8686]

You're welcome.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Those results look like primary hypothyroidism and you should be on levo. If done when you were on levo - you were very undermedicted. Were all tests done at the same time of day, fasting? And what indicated a pituitary problem? With a TSH over the range , you are very unlikely to have central hypo. 25mcg is a starter dose for a child or person with heart problem, not an adult. Did you take a B vitamin, multivitamin, or hair and nails supplement that might contain biotin at any tine before these labs or privates ones? Biotin can give weird test results.

[Dee8686 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

No biotin or anything. My reaukts are a mystery but now being looked into as I possible have an antibody that is interfering with the assays. Will update everyone on this when I have results of

Course. Thank you- doc

Originally put me on 25mcg and I never questioned it. Only 8 years later when I got poorly.