blood results

[julietelew]

hi everyone, iv just finally had a t3 and usual blood results

i need advise i don't now what's good or bad. iv had 100 thyroxine for last 2 months before that i was on 50.

they are

T3 4.0

Tsh 2.4

T4 14.4

Many thanks in advance

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Julietelew

Can you please add the reference ranges for your results for us to be able to interpret them.

All we can say at the moment is that you are still undermedicated to have a TSH of 2.4 but we don't know where in range your FT4 and FT3 lie. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well.

[julietelew in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Sorry i'm unsure what i'm looking at do you mean the numbers in brackets

[cjrsquared in reply to julietelew]

Yes the numbers in brackets is the ‘normal range’

[julietelew in reply to julietelew]

T3 4.0 pmol/L (2.6 - 5.7)

TSH 2.44 mu/L (0.30 - 4.40)

T4 14.4 pmol/L (9.0 - 19.1)

hope that's what you mean

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to julietelew]

Your FT4 is 53% through it's range, FT3 is 45% through it's range. So your TSH is too high and your FT4/FT3 are too low.

I would ask your GP for an increase in Levo, 25mcg now, retest in 6-8 weeks, increase by another 25mcg if necessary and another retest 6-8 weeks later, until your levels are where they need to be for you to feel well.

In support of your request for an increase, use the following information from Dr Toft, leading endocrinologist and past president of the British Thyroid Association, who states in an article in Pulse Magazine (the magazine for doctors):

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)*."

*He recently confirmed, during a public meeting, that this applies to Free T3 as well as Total T3.

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at

[e-mail]

print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

You can also suggest he looks at Leeds Teaching Hospital pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

Thyroxine Replacement Therapy in Primary Hypothyroidism

TSH Level .......... This Indicates

0.2 - 2.0 miu/L .......... Sufficient Replacement

> 2.0 miu/L ..........Likely under Replacement

[julietelew in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much for all this information. brilliant

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As SeasideSusie says, your results suggest you are under medicated

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

Have you ever had TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested?

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Ask GP to test vitamins and antibodies

Recommended on here that 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

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_...

[julietelew in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks for reply, i havent had a antibodies test ever. i will try one of the companies you mentioned. again thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to julietelew]

Getting vitamins tested too is very important

Ask GP to test these and antibodies when you request dose increase

If they refuse getting private testing is next step