Test results

[lt1806]

Good Morning, I have previously posted my tsh results.I am currently on 50 Levothyroxine. Yesterday I received results for some further testing ordered by my go based on some of my symptoms.ie severe joint pain and discharge from nipples and eyesight problems. Can any one shed any light on these? Doctor has simply said satisfactory? Please see photo. Is there anything I should follow up?

[Peanut31]

Hi

I’ve found it hard to read the results despite me zooming in, but some of your problems,joint pain, etc can be a result of your thyroid condition.

I’ve looked on your previous posts and I see your still in the early stages of your treatment with 50mcg of Levothyroxine.

Make sure you increase your Levothyroxine after 6 weeks by a further 25 mcg.

I had very sore breasts on Levothyroxine.

Best Wishes

Peanut31

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Extremely common when hypothyroid to have low vitamin D - causes bad joint/bone pain

High prolactin is common side affect of hypo (especially autoimmune thyroid disease) - causes nipple discharge

Autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Eyes can be due to high thyroid antibodies or low B12

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 Thyroid antibodies are raised

Ask GP to test both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and vitamins ASAP

Thyroid levels will need retest 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

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)

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

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_...

NICE guidelines saying how to initiate and increase. Note that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

Dose of Levothyroxine has to be increased slowly in 25mcg steps until TSH is between 0.4-1.5 and extremely common that vitamins need supplementing to improve levels as well