Abnormal blood results

[Angel07]

Can anyone explain why my TSH result says abnormal it is 0.26 mu/l and my T4 is 19.1.

[greygoose]

Can't tell you anything without the ranges.

[MaisieGray]

A result is 'abnormal' when it is outside the "normal" ie reference, range. Yours appears to be below the reference range used by the lab that tested your blood. But you need always to give ranges when mentioning results as they can differ from lab to lab.

[Angel07 in reply to MaisieGray]

My TSH result is 0.26 (range is 0.27 - 4.2) and T4 is 19.1 (range is 12 - 22). I take Levothyroxine 100 x 3 days a week and 125 x 4 days a week.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Angel07]

Angel07

So your TSH is 0.01 below range hence the "abnormal" comment. Your FT4 is well within range so there's no problem with your dose.

[Fredddy]

just ignore it - TSH doesn't matter anymore - only Free T3 and a little Free 4 - the first definitely and maybe the 2nd too - both in the upper half of the range 75% is optimal.

[MaisieGray in reply to Fredddy]

An abnormal TSH does matter, for a number of reasons. That Drs use the TSH result in a way that is far beyond how its creator intended and foresaw would be the case, doesn't mean it doesn't matter. It matters for instance, in identifying possible pituitary problems/secondary hypothyroidism such as that caused by a developing pituitary tumour; or tertiary hypothyroidism arising from hypothalmic disease - which itself can arise from anorexia & bulimia, surgery, head trauma, tumour etc. Transient central hypothyroidism can arise in different circumstances such as after treatment of hyperthyroidism with an antithyroid drug, radioiodine, or surgery, after the discontinuation of T4 therapy, and as a result of developing a severe non-thyroidal illness. It needs to matter to patients because it matters to many Drs, and they use it (inappropriately) to dose - therefore patients need to be sufficiently informed about it to be able to effectively debate it with their Drs. It's a piece of information in the bigger picture to be read most definitely in conjunction with FT3 & FT4, but its historical misapplication doesn't mean therefore, that it doesn't matter.

[m7-cola in reply to MaisieGray]

Thanks for this carefully written explanation.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have high Thyroid antibodies

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

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

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Point is, how do you feel?