Hello here are my latest lab results, I have symptoms of hypothyroid but I am also Peri menopausal.
TP0 Not checked 6 weeks ago
1000 kU/L
0-9
TSH 6 weeks ago was 4.67
1.81 mlU/L
0.34-5.6
FT4
10.00 pmol/L. 6 weeks ago was 7.00
7.5-21.1
Gp will do nothing, no Endo appointment, no medication as I am now in normal range.
So my question is, do I go back to them and try to address why the fluctuation?, do I have Hashimotos? Or do I just forget the doctors and try Selenium, and go dairy and gluten free? Or, do I just do nothing and assume my symptoms are down to ‘starting the change?’.
My symptoms are hair loss, dry itchy skin, fatigue, memory loss, tightness in throat, feel cold all of the time but also hot flushes!, no period for months at a time then all of the time.
Did you have both tests at the same time of day? TSH is highest early in the morning, and drops throughout the day. So, best if you can have the blood drawn before 9 am, and fast over-night.
Will the symptoms reduce if you lower your antibodies? There's not proof that antibodies actually cause symptoms. Nor is there any concrete proof that it is possible to lower them, because they fluctuate all the time, being highest just after an autoimmune attack on the thyroid. NB that it is not the TPO antibodies themselves that carry out the attack. They just come along afterwards to clean up the traces of TPO that leaked into the blood during the attack.
However, the measures that people take in the hope that they can actually reduce antibodies - going gluten-free and taking selenium - often have a positive effect on over-all health. The gluten-free diet because they were gluten-sensitive, and the selenium because it improves conversion. So, worth trying those things.
I doubt your doctor knows very much about thyroid, and doesn't understand the implications of those labs, and the need for testing the FT3 to get a more complete picture. It could be that, as well as having Hashi's, which causes your levels to fluctuate, you also have a problem with the pituitary. TSH is a pituitary hormone, and if the pituitary is damaged in some way, it will not be able to produce enough TSH to stimulate the thyroid to make enough hormone. One would really expect a higher TSH with an under-range FT4. But, without seeing the FT3, we don't really know what is going on. So, if I were you, my next step would be to get the FT3 tested privately - although best to test all three together, at the same time, with an early-morning blood draw.
Thank you greygoose, I did wonder about the timing of my tests, they were at the same time but having waited for my turn for nearly two hours the bloods were drawn closer to midday than morning. Also I didn’t fast this time as didn’t realise I had to. I only fasted for bloods 6 weeks ago as was told to by gp and they were checking my cholesterol. I may have messed things up 😬.
Well, fasting and having an early blood draw won't affect FT4, just the TSH. Unfortunately, that's all doctors tend to look at. So, don't give up on your thyroid, but next time try and get the blood draw before 9 am, and fast over-night.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are EXTREMELY common with Hashimoto's
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)
Your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
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