Need help understanding my latest bloods please.

[DoeStewart]

Hi everyone, just had my Medichecks results back and don't know what to do next? I wonder if someone would look at them and tell me what they think please.

July 2018

TSH *0.159 ( 0.27 - 4.20)

FREE THYROXINE 16.500 (12.00 - 22.00)

FREE T3 4.27 (3.10 - 6.80)

THYROGLOBIN ANTIBODY <10 (0.00 - 115.00)

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 10.00 ( 0.00 - 34.00)

ACTIVE B12 58.100 (25.00 - 165.00)

FOLATE(SERUM) 4.84 (2.91 - 50.00)

25 OH VITAMIN D 53.6 (50.00 - 200

00 )

BIOCHEMISTRY

INFLAMATION MARKER CRP, HIGH SENSITIVITY *9.63(0.00 - 5.00)

FERRITIN 64 (13 - 150)

I HAVE HAD 7/8ths thyroid removed 30 years ago. I currently take 100mg Levo daily.

Previous results on 100/75 alternate days - tests through GP

April 2018

TSH 0.43 (0.30 - 5.50)

T4 19.7 (11.5 - 22.7)

RESULTS THROUGH GP AT 100MG LEVO DAILY

JUNE 2018

TSH 0.27 (0.30 - 5.50)

T4 21.1 (11.5 - 22.7)

I am confused that my TSH and T4 have both reduced?

Any help and comments greatly appreciated

Thank you.

[Judithdalston]

Your post seems to have been missed, I'll start it off! Were the 2 variations of doctor's tests and your Medichecks one actually taken under same conditions ie early morning say before 9 am, without levothyroxin for previous 24 hours , fasting? They were obviously different labs as have different ranges- so these variations, plus change in dosage of levothyroxin, do make it difficult to compare all 3 tests with each other. As your levothyroxin dose goes up your FT4 should rise and TSH go down - this is what happened with your doctor's tests between April and June. A pity your doctor only tests T4 and TSH , and does not do an active FT3 test too. The Medichecks gives a better idea of your thyroid health: you could do with a levothyroxin increase of 25 mcg , if not more, to get your FT3 to at least halfway thru the range, 5+. The t4/free thyroxin could rise to 19 +. You convert T4 to T3 well. Your vits/ mins are low: vit D should be 100-150; B12 near top of its range; folate is very low and like ferritin should be at least halfway thru their ranges. Have you missed off ferritin results- normally in this Medichecks test- the inflammation marker can relate to ferritin levels? None of these vits/ mins results are bad enough for your doctor to give you supplements but you do need them to optimise your thyroid health. Look up SeasideSusie's previous replies to posts on supplements- doses, brands etc.

[DoeStewart in reply to Judithdalston]

Thank you for replying. I have now edited my post with my Ferritin results of 64 (13 - 150). So sorry, missed this one off. The June tests taken by GP I forgot and took my Levo as normal and as you can see my TSH was lower than April and T4 was higher. All other tests were taken as per guidance from this site.

My GP surgery will not test T3, even if phlebotomist writes it on my blood form, the lab just do TSH and T4 which is why I resorted to private testing to have better idea what is going on and hopefully receive some guidance from the very knowledgeable people on this site.

[Judithdalston in reply to DoeStewart]

Ok, ferritin bit low, should be over 70 but even 100-130 for menstruating women. June test would therefore have more F T4 in your blood and as a result lower TSh, which is what happened but difficult to tell how much of this is a result of upping levothyroxin, or not leaving 24 hours between bloods and dose- can but guess. So probably best to go by Medichecks test.

[DoeStewart in reply to Judithdalston]

Yes I understand June test skewed because of me taking Levo beforehand - wasn't thinking. The GP wanted to drop my dose of Levo back to 75mg due to THS going below scale in June but I dug my heels in, I certainly won't get an increase with these Medicheck results.

[Judithdalston in reply to DoeStewart]

Could try some self medicating - chopping up some spare 100 mcg pills into 4!

[DoeStewart in reply to Judithdalston]

That's a good idea but when I run out I will be snookered??

[Judithdalston in reply to DoeStewart]

Not necessarily as even with raised dose your results may be within doctor's 'normal ' range, so he / she will prescribe higher dose.

[DoeStewart in reply to Judithdalston]

If I'm taking more won't my TSH go even lower? Dr wanted me to drop dosage after last GP test as it was below the range?

[Judithdalston in reply to DoeStewart]

So he is only going by TSH and not even FT4?Yes your TSH would go down but it is the FT3 at 5 plus that is likely to make you better; I'm not sure what will happen to your results compared to June when levothyroxin was taken before test. If your doctor doesn't understand the importance of FT3 and not TSH, then many of us have gone DIY to try to get better....could that be an option for you?

[DoeStewart in reply to Judithdalston]

Yes it would be an option for me to DIY- I wouldn't have a problem with it. All the GP's I have seen over the last 30 years are only interested in TSH. Isn't this your pituitary telling your thyroid gland to release T4? How can mine release anything when I only have 1/8th left and I don't think that's doing anything now?. I have never had test for T3 before this Medichecks one, even Endo I saw for overactive thyroid all those years ago was a diabetic specialist - honestly I give up.

[Judithdalston in reply to DoeStewart]

Yes, I saw a diabetic endo without realising it- ironically in ignoring the obvious conversion T 4 problem he made me a medication dependent diabetic!

[DoeStewart in reply to Judithdalston]

Oh my goodness that is awful. I wish people would leave us alone unless they know what they are talking about. I had a period of about 10 years where my health was good, I was taking 175mg Levo per day. All of a sudden, the GP had me lowering my dose every 3 months as my TSH too low and T4 above range. I ended up on 100mg/75mg alternate days, I have been so ill for months. I unfortunately was also one of the poor sods given new formulation Teva - my goodness, thought I was going to die. I am fed up being messed about by the medical profession and have just started to try and improve my health by myself with the advice from people like yourself.

[Judithdalston in reply to DoeStewart]

Yes I got Teva too, but very sympathetic pharmacist, nothing to do with surgery, swopped it after felt odd after 3 days and odder by 3 weeks, and has written on all my repeat prescriptions 'Mercury Pharma' levo only. It was him who thought I should try T3 too, not a doctor! Good luck DoeStewart...

[DoeStewart in reply to Judithdalston]

Yes my pharmacist too has put on my records Mercury Pharma so I know I'm not getting Teva again. I had 6 weeks of them until the penny dropped. I filled in a yellow card as well. Thank you for all your help and advice. Keep well.