Thyroid Test Results - what do they say? - Thyroid UK

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Thyroid Test Results - what do they say?

clarabelle17 profile image
5 Replies

Can anyone shed any light on my recent Thyroid test results please? They are all within "normal" range. Am taking 75mcg of Levo - I hadn't taken any Levo when I had the test done. Normal ranges in brackets. Tia.

Thyroid Function TSH - 2.7 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)

FREE THYROXINE *23.000 pmol/L (12.00 - 22.00)

FREE T3 4.43 pmol/L (3.10 - 6.80)

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 12.200 IU/mL (0.00 - 115.00)

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 16.7 IU/mL (0.00 - 34.00)

I Am feeling exhausted most of the time, have been on the 75mcg for quite a while, but even when on a higher dose, I felt rubbish. Have Fibromyalgia as well, but things can all merge, and don't know why I feel exhausted. All my vitamin levels are "normal" except Vitamin D, (40 - normal range supposed to be 75-150) but am addressing that. Vit B12 364 (normal being 181-910). I don't really like increasing Levo, as the side effects over years aren't good, and I think my Osteoporosis has been caused by Levo - can't prove that though.

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Osteoporosis can be due to low FT3 as well as high FT4

Your TSH is too high but so us FT4

Your FT3 is too low. You're a poor converter

What were folate and ferritin results and ranges

Your vitamin D and B12 need improving.

Vitamin D is deficient. Aiming to improve to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better . Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function. Suggest you supplement 2000iu 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

Local CCG guidelines

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

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

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

healthy-holistic-living.com...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

Do NOT supplement any vitamin K if you take any blood thinning medication including aspirin

drsinatra.com/vitamin-k2-su...

B12 is likely too low. Especially if folate is low as well, they work together

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial

Were you originally diagnosed as having Hashimoto's, with high thyroid antibodies?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet, or tried it?

Only add one supplement at a time and wait at least ten days to assess results before adding another

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take early morning, on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime.

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like HRT, iron, calcium, vitamin D or magnesium at least four hours away from Levothyroxine

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, 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)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

 please email Dionne at

tukadmin@thyroiduk.org

Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many otherwise we need high FT4 and suppressed TSH in order to have high enough FT3

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

clarabelle17 profile image
clarabelle17 in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks SlowDragon - lots to take in there! I have started with taking Vit D, Vit K and Mag Glycinate, and I do take my Thyroxine first thing, and then no food for one hour. My Ferratin was 28ug ( normal range 10-291), and Folate was 5.1 ( should be >5.4), so that came back as "abnormal".

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to clarabelle17

Ferritin is far too low. GP should run full iron panel

Eating iron rich foods plus vitamin C or orange juice. Liver or liver pate once a week should help improve

Folate is below range. GP should prescribe, but they only prescribe cheap folic acid. So you may be better taking your own good quality vitamin B complex instead

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...

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Getting all vitamin levels optimal is first step

Only add one supplement at a time and wait at least ten days to assess results before adding another

Retest full Thyroid and vitamin testing 6-8 weeks later

You should be able to increase Levothyroxine higher once vitamins are optimal

Low vitamins suggest gluten might be problem too

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to clarabelle17

Do you allow a 24 hour gap between levo and blood test? Also do you get the earliest possible appointment? If not your results could be skewed.

clarabelle17 profile image
clarabelle17 in reply to shaws

Yes, I did allow 24 hours, and got an early test, i read that on here :-)

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