Thyroid test interpretation

[crying_lightening]

Hi everyone.

Over the years I've felt like I could have an under-active thyroid, I have a lot of symptoms and when I took the symptom list to the GP, almost everyone was ticked.

I had tests a couple of years ago but they all came back 'normal', I fought for more tests and apparently these were 'normal' also, although I had noticed some deficiencies in calcium and I had previously had low vit D. I ended up giving up in the end as I felt I was being looked at as some hypochondriac.

I did pay for some private testing, but could never really interpret the results very well. I had help from a family member who works in the labs and she advised they were normal to lab specifications.

I'm now revisiting the possibility as I'm constantly fatigued, the brain fog I get is embarrassing, I'm constantly struggling to lose weight and my mood and anxiety is getting unbearable.

I wondered if I posted the private test results, whether anyone might have some insight to see if I should pursue this further and see if thyroid is causing these issues.

All tests through the GP has shown my TSH to be over 2.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Hidden]

Hi, I don't know much about a case like this, but want if possible to encourage you before our experts come along. Your results do seem normal, yet the symptoms seem those of hypothyroidism. Even the TSH isn't too bad, though could be lower (under 1 is best).

But there are cases where test results are good yet someone can still be hypothyroid. Maybe there is a resistance to the effect of the hormone, or too few T3 receptors?

Or could you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency? Do you have copies of those results? For example, older folk (like me) apparently need a much higher B12 than is usually counted as normal.

[Hidden]

Just looked it up:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyro...

Seems as if it could be a problem with your pituitary or with a mutation on cell T3 receptors. Since you have symptoms they need to be investigated further

[SlowDragon Administrator]

These results appear within range.....but you need vitamin levels tested.

When was vitamin D last tested? Do you take an ongoing maintenance dose of vitamin D? Or supplement Oct to April, as recommended by Government

Your antibodies are low, so Hashimoto's looks unlikely. But it is possible to have Hashimoto's and never have raised antibodies

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 when Thyroid is playing up. Or low vitamins can affect Thyroid or cause symptoms in their own right

Suggest you get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested by GP or test privately

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

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

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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[crying_lightening]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Jnetti I will have a look into that link, thank you for pointing it out.

Reallyfedup I've not had my b12 tested, I think I'll look into this as you've all mentioned it.

Slow Dragon, thank you very much for your detailed reply! My vit D was last tested 2 years ago, this was below range at 47.8nmol/L. I'm not sure what it was the time prior to that, but I have since been taking a Vitamin D supplement. To my knowledge (unless tested before I asked for result copies) I haven't been tested for B12, Folate or ferritin. I will look into having these checked, thank you.