Results from usual GP tests- better or worse?

[Mumsie22]

Just joined as not heard of this group before.

I’m on 100 mg levothyroxine, upped from 75 mg a few years ago. No tests done for 2 years so booked myself in and had them done in May as loosing hair and shiny lower legs.

Tried looking up old results but cannot see any.

My results are t4 16.7 from my scribbled notes I think I’ve gone up from 12.7 to 12.9 to 16.7.

Tsh 2.9 was 3.6. Are they getting better or worse ?

I try to avoid gluten but am not 100% focused in this.

Should I get blood tests done privately and then when done where do I go with results?

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Mumsie22

If you are in the UK then we are legally entitled to a print out of our test results. Pop along to your surgery and ask for one, don't accept verbal or handwritten one as mistakes can be made. Make sure the reference ranges are included as we can't interpret results without the ranges from the lab that did the tests (the vary from lab to lab).

Your FT4 increasing is the right way to go, TSH should decrease as FT4 increases and it looks as though your TSH has increased for some reason. To be able to compare results accurately, the tests must always be done under the same conditions and we always advise here that when booking thyroid tests, always book the very first appointment of the morning and fast overnight (water allowed) . This gives the highest possible TSH which is needed when looking for a diagnosis, an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction. TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. It can also lower after eating. Also, take your Levo after the blood draw because if you take it before then your FT4 will reflect this and show higher than what is normally circulating. We usually advise 24 hours between last dose of Levo and blood draw so if you take your Levo in the morning then delay until after the test, or if you take it at night then delay that dose until after the test. These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.

It may be a good idea to get a private test because the NHS doesn't always do the full thyroid panel. And it's always useful to check our nutrient levels as low levels of vitamins and minerals can cause their own symptoms and stop Levo working properly.

Ideally we need

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid Antibodies - TPO and TG

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

You can get all those done with one test from Medichecks or Blue Horizon, with a fingerprick option or venous blood draw at extra cost.

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

[Mumsie22 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks, I have this years results. I’ll get blood tests done you have suggested as also have ulcerative colitis and think they are related .

Youngest daughter also recently diagnosed with MS and to me looks to be lots of similarities.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum Mumsie22

You can learn a lot from members and will educate your GP also - if he/she listens.

First : All blood tests for thyroid hormones have always to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and the test and take afterwards. This keeps the TSH at its highest as that's all doctors look at and if it somewhere in the range they'll say you are fine.

I think it would be beneficial if you had a Full Thyroid function test i.e. TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. If doctor will not do them (I don't think he will) ask for B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate if you haven't had them before.

I shall give you a link and we have two labs that do home pin-prick finger tests and make sure arms/hands are warm on day of blood draw.

Medichecks and Blue Horizon are the labs.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

When you give results they always have to the the ranges quoted (ranges are in brackets after results). Labs differ and so do ranges and it enables members to respond.

Once diagnosed the aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with FT4 and fT3 towards the upper part of the ranges.

[Judithdalston]

Without ranges, or units, it is rather difficult to tell how good , or bad, these various results are, or even confidently compare them. Suggest you get print outs rather than scribbled notes. If your doctor so rarely checks even your TSH levels, probably unlikely he/ she would order other related tests, especially FT3, so might be worth getting private lab test for full thyroid results ( TSH, FT4, FT3, Total thyroxin), ever had thyroid autoimmune antibodies (TPO and TgAb) tested for Hashimoto's disease, if not test, or important Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin? Many of us have private blood tests from Medichecks or Blue Horizon....then post results on forum for advice.