Help with test results

I still have symptoms despite these ‘normal’ results. Will high iron mimic Hypothyroidism?Any comments appreciated

[greygoose]

Not to my knowledge. But, your FT3 is still low, and that's what causes symptoms. Your FT4 is also low, so you need an increase in dose. I imagine your doctor only looks at the TSH.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Thankyou so much for your quick reply and advice. The support and expertise on this amazing. I just hope I can convince my doctor who has never ever met me despite my requests over last 2 years.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

I wonder can anyone comment on why Medichecks report said everything was normal apart from iron please?

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Hidden

Medichecks said everthing is normal (apart from iron) purely because the results are within the reference ranges. That's all the look at, the comments come from one of their doctors who will have been NHS trained.

Your folate level is very low, it should be at least half way through range. A good B Complex such as Thorne Basic B containing 400mcg methylfolate will help there. (I wouldn't suggest Igennus Super B because to get 400mcg methylfolate with that one you would need 2 tablets and that would also give 900mcg B12 as methylcobalamin, and your B12 level appears fine,Thorne Basic B only has 400mcg methylfolate.)

Your FT4 and FT3 are both very low in range. I would try and make an appointment with a GP and ask for an increase in Levo, using the following information in support of this, from thyroiduk.org/tuk/about_the...

Dr Toft states in Pulse Magazine, "The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

Dr Toft is past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist.

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at [e-mail] print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

Ferritin can be raised due to inflammation or infection, maybe something was going on at the time of the test. If it continues to be raised on retesting, certainly discuss with your GP.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou for such great info to go to my doctor and stand my ground!

[shaws Administrator]

For someone to have hypo for thirty years and still undermedicated, I feel sorry for you. You have to ask for an increase in levothyoxine as the aim is a TSH of 1 or lower (not higher) with a Free T4 and Free T3 towards the top of the range.

Your folate is very low and I hope someone will come alone to tell you how to increase this. They will also inform you about your ferritin level. Do you supplement with iron?

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Thanks very much for your reply. No I don’t supplement with iron. I have tried to get in front of my doctor for tge last 2 years about it but I just get referred to a nurse to arrange a test which is always ‘normal’ so I decided to pay for this test privately.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

When we are diagnosed as being hypothyroid, the doctor - relying on the blood tests alone - wrongly believe (untrained) that if they are 'within the normal' range they don't need to take action at all. Whereas if we are already diagnosed, the aim should be a TSH of 1 or lower with both 'Frees' i.e. FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of the range.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

I am really grateful for your time and the solidarity I’ve found on this Forum. Why do doctors pretend to know or hide their lack of knowledge and condemn patients to a poor quality of life. Extreme Fatigue is a symptom that affects every strand of living and prevented me personally from having a full life on every level including sustaining relationships🙁

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Since the blood tests were introduced along with levothyroxine - around the 60's I believe - doctors have lost all expertise in clinical symptoms relying soley upon a blood test (if they even take one - none of mind did) - sometimes not even requesting a blood test as they don't know one symptom from another but give other medications for the symptom(s).

Lives can be ruined, relationships ruined, jobs lost as person unable to think clearly and cannot do what employed for. Too ill most of the time.

Considering that thyroid hormones are the driving force for our whole metabolism - head to toe - and need optimum hormones, one of our deceased doctors stated we are all in a parlous state due to the Guidelines. As he was a Virologist and being sent patients who had 'mysterious diseases' he found they had dysfunctional thyroid glands and stated we were all in a Parlous State due to the guidelines. He even organised a Conference and invited every Endocrinologist and one-by-one they didn't accept the invitation - the last withdrew the night before.

At present his devasted Staff have been working since his death to collate all of the Scientific Work he and they did about dysfunctions of the thyroid gland and hope to publish it when sufficient funds are raised. They hope it will change the whole of the medical profession's attitude to diagnosing/treating. We all hope so to. Thousands of us have had truly miserable times by being undiagnosed - despite clear symptoms: being given too low a dose to keep within a 'range': we need a TSH of 1 or lower but many endocrinologists and doctors don't permit this as they are convinced we will have heart problems etc. We're most like to develop these due to their Guidelines.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

You put the case for better training and understanding within the medical profession and the life changing effects of the condition so succinctly it’s hardly credible that the powers that be are complacently ‘resting on their laurels’ and I have a voice shouting inside WHO WROTE THESE PATENTLY MISGUIDED GUIDELINES! In addition, don’t like to jump to the conclusion that the lack of will to address the issue is not just a lack of training, but a case of indirect sex discrimination but that seems all too clearly the case to me, given that the majority of those affected are women. Perhaps it’s viewed under the amalgamous heading of “women’s ailments”. Given what you say about the Thyroid Gland driving the whole metabolic system, how come Endocrinology is such a ‘Cinderella’ specialism? Who in the medical profession is giving it such a bad press? Were the guidelines written so it was convenient to tag onto a general practitioner’s role, leading to ‘much harm’ being done by family doctors to their patients. I could go on....

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

I have read - more than once - that it is due to monetary exchanges between doctors/endocrinlogists to prescribe only levo. I am going to look for the most recent I read. Dr Lowe was one of them.

Some excerpts:-

Insufficient hormone levels have been shown to contribute to many disorders anddiseases--diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, fatigue, loss of muscle strength, osteoporosis, autoimmune diseases, cognitive decline, increased cholesterol levels, blood clots, increased belly fat, loss of libido, anxiety, depression, and some cancers. In addition to age-related losses, many persons have hormone insufficiencies or imbalances due to hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, endocrine gland failure, hormone resistance and metabolic disorders. Women are especiallyaffected by hormonal disorders because their complex hormonal system is adapted to produce and feed babies; not to optimize their vitality as in men.

Women have a much higher incidence of hypocortisolism than men (fatigue, aches, insomnia, anxiety,depression, hypoglycemia, low blood pressure, PMS/PMDD, allergies, and autoimmune diseases). They also have more hypothyroidism (fatigue, aches, cold hands and feet, dry skin, weight gain, constipation). Women then suffer complete ovarian failure at menopause. Women are being poorly served by the prevailing ignorance concerning hormones. .....and

"Because it still clings to the old disease-based Reference Range Endocrinology, and because of pharmaceutical corporation and FDA corruption, endocrinology is an ineffective, moribund specialty, dominated by hormone myths. Indeed, all of medical practice is now essentially a pharmaceutical disease-drug scheme. Medicine requires an entirely different conceptual foundation: it should first and foremost try to find the biomolecular causes of all symptoms and disorders, and should attempt to fix the problems by addressing the causes. In many cases all that is needed is to optimize the amounts and balance of important natural molecules--among them hormones and vitanutrients. I call the new endocrine paradigm "Restorative Endocrinology". See my E-book for much more detailed information and advice.

hormonerestoration.com/

Big Profits through ineffective treatment - why just test TSH and T4 and be told they are in the 'normal' range and don't increase if symptoatic and whatever else ails you is nothing to do with hypothyroidism. They never test FT4 and FT3 but prescribe other meds, i.e. anti'd's, pain relief, sleeping tablets and we could go on and on.

At least, through the internet and reading 'good doctors' who are more concerned with us gaining our good health than promoting levo as the 'perfect choice' as does the BTA and RCoP and people condemned (if you like and not too strong a word) especially those who do not or cannot return to good health and energy due to inept doctors' training and also endocrinology training.

It is definitely not a 'one size fits all' which they have been attempting to do. This is another reason and Dr Lowe - despite three yearly reminders - never did get one response before his accidental death. Many patients recover on NDT but they've withdrawn it from the NHS due to False Statements made - now we've had T3 withdrawn - an excellent excuste i.e. rising costs. How did the Pharma Companies - even with an additional two applying to serve the NHS - did the pricing all seem to be in the same vein. I think the majority on this forum are sourcing their own or attempting too but this should not be necessary in this day and age and we can send men to the moon but cannot provide optional thyroid hormones for patients.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

I am astounded at the breadth and depth of such a conspiracy which I am guessing is not applicable to those sufferers who can afford to go private? Surely anyone who commands the public ear and finds themselves at the receiving end of these guidelines would by now be shouting ‘foul’ from the rooftops and demanding change. It’s a condition touching all social groups so where are these hypothyroid game changers hiding (apart from yourselves who are doing the important front line consulting and advice that stops us all thinking we are hypochondriacs or mad!

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

PS Thankyou for attaching your eBook which will certainly aid my education on thyroid health. Good to have a “Thyroid Champion” on our side!

[ShootingStars]

Yes, to a degree. Iron overload can cause fatigue, just like iron deficiency can. High iron can also cause joint pain or body pains, exercise intolerance or poor exercise recovery.

The biggest concern with iron overload is risk of organ damage or organ failure. Then, what is the cause of your high stored iron and what can be done to reduce your levels so that high iron doesn’t cause organ damage or organ failure? Hereditary haemochromatosis, HFE gene, is a common cause and is an easy blood test. Other causes are liver disease, and several other rather rare diseases.

On top of that concerning finding, you are also hypo based on your too low FT4 and FT3. The right dosage of T4 supplementation will fix this. The cause of high iron will take some lab tests and then potentially lowering your iron levels.

[Hidden in reply to ShootingStars]

Thanks a lot for the feedback which helps me get my head around the iron question. You mention FT4. My tests only show FT3. Should Medichecks have tested FT4 as this was their Thyroid Check Ultra test which I assumed would cover all the relevant tests to check my thyroid function?

[ShootingStars in reply to Hidden]

Hi. You’re welcome. Do you have previous ferritin or complete iron panel results? Your level is very curious but not yet catastrophically high, but it is unusual to have such high ferritin without taking any iron supplements, By chance does your diet contain a large amount of beef or liver and also vitamin C? (C greatly increases iron absorption). Hopefully the cause is nothing too serious and can be easily managed.

On your Medchecks test, FT4 is listed as free thyroxine. That test includes basic thyroid function tests, FT3, FT4, and TSH, plus the two thyroid antibodies for hypothyroidism. They’ve got you covered.

[Hidden in reply to ShootingStars]

Have you received my reply to your queries? I thought I sent it but can’t see it😕

[Hidden in reply to ShootingStars]

No offal or red meat at all.

No supplements at all.

Iron rich food I eat regularly:

Small piece Salmon 1 or 2 week

Broccoli ditto

Spinach ditto

Tin tuna prob twice month

Otherwise healthy eating with no takeaways and very limited processed or convenience meals.

Full test several years ago when living in Eastbourne which showed high Ferritin and was sent to endo who said everything was ok.

[Hidden]

Thanks very much for support. I am going in person to docs to arrange an appointment and possibly have to fight to get past the gatekeeper receptionist😠

[Hidden]

Thanks Grincho - all very helpful tips!