Test results

[tmoxon]

HI I have just had my thyroid checked privately, the results are all normal but I just thought I would post on here just in case it flags up to someone knowledgeable anything that i need to watch for in future. Hope that is ok thanks

[Judithdalston]

Did you do these because you thought you had some symptoms of a thyroid disease? The current test show you have no autoimmune antibodies, ie not got Hashimoto's ( but even if you knew you had Hashi's sometimes you get results that are negative). Your TSH, FT4, FT3 , total T4 are within the range - but notice all but the TSH are in the lower end of the range, and TSH nearer the upper end. Unfortunately GB Gps tend not to diagnose hypothyroidism till the TSH is at 10, some countries would consider TSH nearer 4 would be treatable. Thus this is why I asked if you had an symptoms; members advise early diagnosed hypos to get their Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin tested, as getting their levels to upper part of ranges helps thyroid health, so might help you.

[tmoxon in reply to Judithdalston]

Hi thanks for taking the time to get back to me. I have had a look at all of the symptoms on the thyroid website and I think that there are so many of them that many if not everyone will have some, so its difficult.

The reason for looking into this is that i was diagnosed as a coeliac in 2011, instead of feeling much better when following a strict gf diet I haven't felt that well, so people suggested I get my thyroid checked.

The problem I have is that some days I feel well, others i can feel very poorly, have migraines, feel sick, still have tummy issues, feel foggy headed with my memory not being so good other times I can just feel a bit tired, all of which could simply be the coeliac disease.

I am pretty sure i had coeliac disease at least in my early 20's ( I was 48 when diagnosed by accident at an immunology clinic) as i had the rash associated with it, which was treated by our GP's as dermatitis, over the years I went to see our various GP's with things like hair loss, toe nails crumbling, stomach ache, headaches, I was put on steroids every summer when i had dreadful asthma. I went to see one GP and told him how fantastic the steroids made me feel, he just laughed and said i couldn't stay on them all of the time but when i think back steroids suppress your immune system which is probably why i felt much better on them. What I dont want to do is spend the rest of my life living with issues that may be caused by another autoimmune disease if I can sort it out and looking back when i went about the various issues none were investigated that well and i never followed it up, I simply learned to live with it.

Thanks again for your help I have posted my other vit and mineral results on the post below

[Judithdalston in reply to tmoxon]

See you have had lots of good advice re Vit/ min levels, and how to improve them . The two week gap is just so you can identify which one it is that may cause problems ( or notable 'overnight' improvements), not like those 'wait 4 hours' before taking 'meds' after consuming Vit D, iron or calcium tablets. I hope you manage to get a levothyroxin 50 mcg trial dose.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

These results strongly suggest you are hypothyroid

As you have coeliac disease, even though your antibodies don't seem to be raised, you most likely do have Hashimoto's

Suggest you take these results to GP and ask for an ultrasound of your thyroid to assess for autoimmune thyroid disease

Your FT4 and TT4 are both VERY LOW (they should be at least over half way in range) and your FT3 is struggling. Should be over 5.

TSH is unfortunately not very high, so GP will probably be reluctant to start Levothyroxine.

Suggest you get the list of recommended thyroid specialists from Thyroid UK

please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

See if there's one on NHS near you and ask for a referral

Can you add your most recent vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin results and ranges

I know you take supplements and have B12 jabs. It's extremely common for vitamin D to still be too low

Do you supplement magnesium? Or vitamin K2? Or a good quality vitamin B complex with folate in

[tmoxon in reply to SlowDragon]

HI SlowDragon

Thank you very much for all of your help I will send off an email today to Dionne.

Serum Folate was 9.9 range was 3.0 -20.0 classed as normal in 2012 in the last 3 years it has been 20 ug/L it doesn’t say what the range is and in the column for normal it says N/A. It has a graph which only goes up to 21 so it looks like its very high

Ferritin since 2011 it has fluctuated between 31 and 55 with the last 3 years it has been around 40ug range is 15 -300

Serum magnesium was 0.92 with range at 0.7 -1.0 in 2015

Vit d 2015 it was 44.7 then 2015 71.9 and 2016 80.9

My regular doctor retired so not sure who in the surgery to approach about this, a few years ago I went to see a GP who was recommended as being interested in thyroid issues. I mentioned to him that I had been told that the tests used on the NHS weren't very good and he dismissed that, sent me back to the immunologist who had discharged me after doing various allergy tests, none of which seemed to be worth much, they told me I was allergic to plantain which they said was a vegetable used in foreign countries, then said it was weed and then told me the test was flawed, gave me another one which tested for over 100 allergens and I wasn't allergic to anything ( however I did find out about the CD) . The GP who I thought was interested in thyroid issues advised that i could be someone who never found out why I felt and mentioned about giving me antidepressants. I came away from the appointment feeling like a hypochondriac.

After looking online and researching I found that i could be vit b12 deficient so although my level in tests was at the lowest level of acceptable in this country at about 250 i asked my normal GP if I could have the injections and have been given them since. I have had times where I have a really low in energy and feel clumsy and down and have gone for extra injections but to be honest haven't noticed an improvement after having them.

The reason I mention about being given the vit b12 is I know how some people really struggle to be given this even when their level is very low and even though its cheap and is a water soluable vitamin so I am wondering if you aware how expensive it is to be prescribed the medicine you mentioned Levothyroxine and if its a dangerous drug etc.

I wondering whether the GP would consider it on a trial basis to see if I feel any better on it.

Thanks again

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to tmoxon]

So you have B12 injections - is that every 3 months?

How much vitamin D do you take? Is it tablet or mouth spray

What other supplements do you take?

[tmoxon in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi again, vitb12 every 2 months, although I have had them more frequently if I have felt very tired, i can ring up GP and ask for one and previously they have given them. Vitamin D - is adcal which has calcium as well as vit d and take it morning and night when I remember although i hate the taste. Iron is Ferrous Gluconate 300mg 2 a day. Shop bought multivitamin and mineral tablet. I have a big jar of magnesium and also some probiotics, biotin as well.

If I am honest I tend to take them more regularly when I feel well, as soon as I start to have symptoms I cannot face them. thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to tmoxon]

Multivitamin probably contains iodine, may not be good idea, especially if you do have Hashimoto's

drknews.com/iodine-and-hash...

Perhaps try a good quality daily vitamin B complex - this supports all B vitamins including folate. Eg Igennus Super B, or Jarrow B right

Also helps B12 stay higher between jabs

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Vitamin D - Aiming to improve to around 100nmol. Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function. Suggest you try 3000iu for 2-3 months and retest. It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there. Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Good vitamin D levels naturally improve calcium. You may not need calcium supplements




Also read up on importance of magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D




articles.mercola.com/sites/...




articles.mercola.com/sites/...




Ferritin is also too low. Should be at least 70 for good thyroid function. Eating liver or liver pate once a week should help improve. Or you need higher dose of ferrous fumerate (3 per day is typical. Taking vitamin C with each iron tablet)

Do you already take vitamin C with each iron tablet, this helps improve absorption

Getting all vitamin levels optimal with either just help your own thyroid function better, or if it's failing, then TSH will rise and medics will recognise you need Levothyroxine

[tmoxon in reply to SlowDragon]

Oh thank you very much, I looked into Iodine before as it can also irritate Dermatitis Herpetiformis

I have looked up the vit d spray and its on special offer at Holland and Barratt at the moment. To be honest I hate the adcal so this will be better.

Take on board about having vit c with the iron, I like tea and know this depletes it so try to avoid it if i can

thanks again,

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to tmoxon]

A good vitamin K2 Mk7 is by natural origins (can get online if not in health shops)

Natural calm magnesium powder is cheap and easy to use

Only change or add one supplement at a time and wait at least a fortnight to assess

[tmoxon in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thank you, I wasnt aware to wait for a fortnight, I have loads of different supplements, just noticed i also take Omega 3 fish oils as well. One multivitamin i have does have iodine so I wont take those and the magnesium is called Swanson Triple Magnesium Complex I got a huge bottle of those. I have a tesco vit B tablet so will start to take those

Sometimes on an evening I am sat with 5 or 6 bottles of supplements, knowing what to take and when isnt easy

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to tmoxon]

The Tesco vitamin B likely to be poor quality, not folate, but cheaper folic acid and cheaper B12

[tmoxon in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks i will see if I can get some better ones. Just to advise Lyn from Thyroid org got back to me with the private doctors, only one around here and consultation is 450 pound!!! so think I will try Gp

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to tmoxon]

Getting vitamins optimal and then retest again via Medichecks in 2-3 months

make sure to do test early as possible in morning and fasting

Have as busy a week as possible before test too.

[tmoxon in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for the tips the tests above were by Blue Horizon are the medichecks ones better ?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to tmoxon]

Sorry...no very similar. Sometimes Medichecks is cheaper, sometime Blue Horizon is

I have used both.

[tmoxon in reply to SlowDragon]

thanks for your help you have been really helpful

[Moonchild10 in reply to tmoxon]

They say iron ferritin levels are 'normal' when not.. Dr. Isabella wentz says levels should be between 90-110, I believe.

[tmoxon in reply to Moonchild10]

Yes unless you look at the figures yourself and question them they will say that anything from 15- 300 is normal on the test our doctors do so if you are 15 it may never be picked up as low

[greygoose]

Your results are in-range, but there's nothing normal about a TSH of over 3. You are hypo. Although I very much doubt you'd get a doctor to diagnose you in the UK.

But, continue monitoring your bloods.

[tmoxon in reply to greygoose]

thanks Greygoose its all a minefield when you are not knowledgeable on the subject.

[greygoose in reply to tmoxon]

It certainly is. And made even worse when you can't even trust doctors anymore.

[tmoxon in reply to greygoose]

Yes its not easy thanks again

[greygoose in reply to tmoxon]

You're welcome.

[rslnhwt]

Please look into central hypothyroidism.

Central hypothyroidism is when your TSH does not rise appropriately due to a problem with the pituitary or the hypothalamus.

You may benefit from also getting cortisol and sex hormones checked.

Best of luck.

[tmoxon]

Thank you I will look this up to see if i can see any connection