Help with results please

[lisa_59]

Hi can someone help with my blood results please. My Serum TSH level is 0.05 & my Serum free T4 level is 25. I used to be able to understand this, but I've forgotten. I know I'm overactive.

TIA

Lisa

[greygoose]

Glancing through your past posts, I see you were hypo thyroid. In which case, it's unlikely you have Grave's. Has your endo actually tested your Grave's antibodies - TRAB or TSI? I think you're more likely to have Hashi's.

[lisa_59 in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose , I've always been hyper. I was tested for graves in the summer & it came back positive. Am I correct in saying I'm only slightly over? The serum tsh level 0.05 is low what does that mean.

Many thanks for you quick response

[greygoose in reply to lisa_59]

I thought you said something about your TSH being 5.5 in one post…

So, you had a TRAB or a TSI test? The reason I insist on asking is because endos often don't seem to know the difference between Grave's and Hashi's.

The TSH on its own doesn't mean very much at all. It should always be tested in conjunction with the FT4 and FT5 because so many things can affect it - like the time of day the blood was drawn. You haven't given a range for the FT4, so I can't comment on that. But, it doesn't look very high for someone with Grave's.

[lisa_59 in reply to greygoose]

I have no idea how they tested for Graves. I asked for a print out of my results today & all it says is Serum TSH 0.05 below low ref limit & Serum free T4 level 25 above high reference limit

[lisa_59 in reply to lisa_59]

That should be S TSH = 0.05 Serum free T4 = 25

[shaws Administrator in reply to lisa_59]

Just because TSH is very low, it doesn't mean we're hyperactive unless we have already been diagnosed as hyper.

Some doctors seem to think that if diagnosed hypo and TSH goes below one that we've become hyPER but we haven't. If we inadvertently take too much thyroid hormones, we will feel 'hyper' i.e. fast pulse etc but we're still hypo.

[lisa_59 in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaws so do my results indicate I'm hyper or hypo?

[greygoose in reply to lisa_59]

Without the ranges and an FT3 test and a TRAV or TSI test, no-one can say.

[lisa_59 in reply to greygoose]

ok Thanks for your help anyway

[greygoose in reply to lisa_59]

You know you are entitled to all your results, and that includes ranges.

[lisa_59 in reply to greygoose]

I'm sure I used to get a more detailed report when I was first diagnosed about 4 years ago, but I lived in Northamptonshire and had access to my notes online. I now live in Co Durham & it's a whole new ball game

[greygoose in reply to lisa_59]

Yes, a lot of surgeries are dragging their feet on that, I've heard. Being a cynic, I think that a lot of doctors would rather you didn't know your own results in case you understand them - because they often don't!

[lisa_59 in reply to greygoose]

Lol Well I've got a new endo as my last one was too far to travel to. My appointment has been cancelled...so they can't be too worried or it's just the NHS at the moment

[greygoose in reply to lisa_59]

Probably more like the NHS at the moment. I don't think they ever worry about patients.

[lisa_59 in reply to greygoose]

you are spot on there. I've just complained about the way my 82 father has been treated - absolutely disgusting, but that's another story

[lisa_59 in reply to lisa_59]

82 year old lol

[Valarian]

Definitely need to see the ranges Lisa, because FT4=25 varies between being definitely over range, to high, but within range. That said, your TSH is pretty low, so your body certainly doesn't think it needs more thyroid hormone. Also, FT3 could be over range, even of FT4 is within.

Looking back through your posts, I can see what Greygoose means - about three years ago, you mentioned a TSH of 5.5 - however, at the same time you said that you were still on 20mg of carbimzole, so looks as if you were over-medicated rather than hypo.

Are you on any thyroid medication at the moment ?

[lisa_59 in reply to Valarian]

I'm supposed to take carbimazole, but my stomach wont tolerate it . When I was first diagnosed I was extremely hyper & felt very ill. I then went through a stage for about 18 months with normal results. It was only because I moved house the new practice did their MOT and it was picked up, but I feel ok