Hi All
I have been given
Ths level as 4.42
T3 is 11
I have no idea what these mean in terms of whats what is a normal range?
I have hypothyroidism symptoms especially onset of depression
Chronic fatique, carpet tunnel in fingers, sore joints (these are my main bug bears)
Waking up without a breath, panic attack?
I can feel a bit unsready on my feet and here but not here (my head)
Thank you for any advice in advance.
Helly.
Hi HellyLlewelly, welcome to the forum.
First of all, do you have a diagnosis of hypothyroidism? And are you on thyroid hormone replacement? We need to know that because that affects the interpretation of your blood test results.
I take it you were given these results verbally? Stupid docs! Results don't mean anything without the ranges, but either doctors don't know that the ranges vary from lab to lab, or they don't want you to know! It's best to ask for a print-out, because they the ranges will be there, in brackets, after the results. If you live in the UK - and I take it you live in Wales with that screen name? (But, I could of course be wrong! lol) - then it is your legal right to have a print out. So, just ask at reception. Then we can really start giving advice, and not just guessing. 
Thank you GREYGOOSE!
No diagnosis just the initial results to be repeated next month:
The Dr was ringing me about my other medications so I asked him for these results over the phone..
He mentioned:
Range from 4.6 for the THS level
Mine was 4.42
He said something about a range of 12? Regarding T3 I believe so this wasn't off the scale of abnormal...mine was 11?
Im Northern Irish
Llewellyn is the husband's family
Name
A range has two numbers. FT4, for example, (not FT3, they don't test that!) is very often 12 - 22. So, if yours was 11, it's very much under-range, meaning that you probably are hypo.
It doesn't really matter about the range for the TSH, because a TSH is always a TSH (don't ask me why, but it is ). And yours is right up the top of the range. Although, if your doctor is like most of the NHS crowd, he'll want it nearer 10 before he'll deign to diagnose! But, in the real world, you are hypo at 3.
Having said that, he is following protocol by asking you to retest next month. Many things can cause a TSH to rise, so the retesting gives time for any other possible causes to right themselves, and the TSH to go down. If it's still high, then it must be caused by a thyroid problem.
However, it probably never even occurred to him that these possible 'other things' that cause TSH to rise, do not cause FT4 to drop. That is a thyroid problem. But, one thing you're going to find out is that doctors know next to nothing about thyroid. So, if on retesting, your TSH has dropped, but your FT4 is still below range. Don't hesitate to point this out to him as strongly as you can, because that just isn't 'normal'. In a euthyroid (truly normal) person, it would be just under mid-range.
What time of day did you have this test? When you go back to retest, get the earliest appointment you can - before 9 o'clock - because that is when the TSH is highest. And, fast over-night - have your breakfast after the blood draw.
Northern Ireland is still in the UK, so you should still be legally entitled to a print-out of your results. Don't forget to ask for them after the retest - although doctor has to see them first before the receptionist will give them too you - then you can post them on here. In a new post, of course.
Thank you greygoose
Is just under mid range T4 in normal thyroid function about 16? Ie 12 -22 so 16/17 is about what normal should look like. Im sure he said Im 11.
At 11 he was giving me the impression I was not significantly underactive anyway hence to wait a month is fine?
I dont think GP's really know in depth on anything hormone related..he recently told me he could test my hormone profile (Im on hrt post total hysterectomy) but couldnt interpret it so reffered me to hrt clinic (Im in surgical menopsuse .)
I just looked up my stats online
4.42 - tsh and 11 - T4 and the advice given to the user was that she is underactive.
I have an extremely hard time caring for a disabled child, I had so much ongoing with him yesterday at the Drs I couldn't ask for my print out.
My Dr is extremely good and an affible person but not a multidisciplinary specialist so his advice is ofter very basic.
- How am I meant to survive out a month of this, Christmas too, my head is currently pulsating like BP type headache, Im constantly tired, my nails are crumbling like paper, I have joint aches ongoing, carpel tunnel in my fingers.
I am also being treated for depression for the first time in my life.
Any help you can give is invaluable to me thabk you GreyGoose
Helly.
Yes, 16 would be considered euthyroid. But, when you are taking thyroid hormone replacement, you would probably need it higher than that. In that range. BUT, you mustn't assume ranges, because they vary from lab to lab, and you need to know the range used by the lab that analysed your blood.
However, as I said, the TSH doesn't need a range. And 4.42 is a grey area. Not many NHS doctors would diagnose you at that level, they prefer to wait until the TSH reaches 10. Rediculous, I know, but that's the way it is, I'm afraid. And, they rarely take symptoms into consideration, because they don't know the symptoms.
I'm afraid I don't have any help to give you. You could try taking some supplements, see if they help. But, you absolutely need to get vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin (iron) tested before supplementing, so don't take any of those. You could try vit C, magnesium, selenium, zinc. But, not all at once. You need to leave about two weeks between trying each one. Sorry, I can't tell you any more than that.
Oh, and you don't need to ask the doctor for your print-out, just ask the receptionist.
Thank you greygoose
All of that has been a great help.
I guess I just have to wait and get the next set of bloods done.
When you say a grey area, do they make a diagnosis of Underactive thyroid based on 1 result being off ie just the tsh or do they go on multiple factors ie TSH off the T4 off etc etc?
Its a nightmare because Im battling so much, I dont quite know what I am up against, if its my thyroid if its my bodies hormones being gone (hysterectomy noth ovaries) or if its my new hormone patches throwing things off kilter.
I will try those supplements if the are not already in my Womans Menopause Daily Vitamin.
Thanks alot for your help.
Helly.
Oh, lord! Don't take a multi-vit! Total waste of money, and could do more harm than good. What's in it?
How they diagnose depends on the individual doctor. None of them really know what they're doing, so it's pot-luck really, getting diagnosed. But, mainly, it's the TSH, I'm afraid. And the way you feel is probably a combination of things, rather than one thing wrong.
Are you sure about those figures for TSH and T3? They are very odd. We also need reference ranges to make sense of them but with a T3 of 11, you should not be hypothyroid. Do you mean T4? That would make more sense. Do check those, get reference ranges and post again please, so that members can properly help you. (You really need TSH, Free T4, Free T3, thyroid antibodies and various vitamins and minerals but first start with the ones you have already)
I will do this perhaps Ive taken them wrong he is a very FAST speaker is my doc.
Thank you.
I will get the print out at 3pm as my son is due there for an examination!
Thank you.
Helly.
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
At the next test ask GP to test thyroid antibodies and these vitamins
Low vitamin levels are EXTREMELY common when thyroud is playing up.
Feeling unsteady on your feet can be due to low B12
Aches and pains low vitamin D
Carpel tunnel, often due to hypothyroidism
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)
If 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 .
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...
Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
My Mother was diagnosed in 1979 with Hasimotos it was only the 3rd recorded case in Northern Ireland at the time!
My sister was found to be underactive at 39, same age I am now!
Its just us 3 ladies in our family.
---
Thank you for your very detailled reply.
My vitamins and minerals came back unremarkable?
Celiac too unremarkable.
Im very tired most of the day and have a bit of a pulsing in my temples today.
I honestly dont know how Im going to get through to the 19th December when my testing is due again.
I have copied the ^^ you asked to get tested so I will pass it to my Dr.
Right now Im 4.42 - tsh he gave me a range from 4.6
11 - T4 he gave me a range of 12-22 I believe
His comment was that Im not significantly out of range.
Thank you for any help or advice you can give me.
Much much appreciated.
Helly.
Do you have actual results and ranges for the vitamins
Your FT4 is BELOW range
You need FT3 tested but NHS refuses
INSIST on Thyroid antibodies being tested next time
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
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)
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
I will do all of this SlowDragon
Thanks for the info and the links too. I have many of the hypothyroid symptoms.
I just want to be hitting a better pace in the new year, feeling energised from sleep.
Ive been having panic attacks in my sleep so its not rejuvenated sleep Im getting.
Thank you for all the stats, info and specific criteria to get checked for.
Helly.
Thank you
My Mum was one of the 1st patients in northern ireland to have a dx of Hasimotos! She was in her early 20's...I am 39 and just had a total hysterectomy in March.
.....
I didn't get the print out unfortunately, yesterday my son was very ill during his appointment (hes also severely disabled) so it threw me to ask for one.
He definately quoted me:
I was an 4.42 with a range starting from 4.6?
I believe he may have said T4 (Id previously said T3 to him?)
At 11 and quoted me a range from 12 to 20something......
I asked was I significantly underactive to which he said no I was "just under range"
I know I havnt given you ladies what you need to help me properly sorry I just have such a hard time dealing with my own health issues my son is all consuming 24/7 special needs child I often forget to get what I need for myself.
Helly.
Is the tsh the result the most often read off (main one for my diagnosis of Underactive) as both the Doc and his nurse/ receptiomist read me that I was a 4.42. Dr then said 4.6 was the start of the range?
Im so sorry I lack the right information its so stressful taking a child with sensory issues to the Drs, its a full on restrain job with 3 people assisting, I just forgot to get the print out I was too flustered after it.
🤧
Helly.
Even if I wasnt hypothyroidism at the time I carried him etc?
Is it a string congenital link?
Were very interested in all of this as we are having him genetics tested atm.
Thank you.
Helly.
Thanks Hidden
Im feeling like poop on a stick.
I can hardly keep my eyes open, I could sleep for days and had been blaming my hysterectomy on the way Ive been feeling. Every time a new bone in my body aches Ive been thinking its my HRT.
I dunno why given my situation my Dr thinks a month on another blood test is acceptable.
Im on 75mg pregabalin x 2 daily and an anti depressant for the 1st time as the depression came over me like a cloud.
Ive never experienced a loss of hope like it in my life.
Thanks for your input.
Helly.
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