Need advice on blood test results and what to ask for next!

[Moonglo]

Hi, I’m new to this. I’m trying to get answers while I wait for a scan.

I found a lump in my throat back in January, and my GP referred me for blood tests and a scan, believing it to be “thyroid-related”. I won’t get to see the Endocrine dept at the hospital until 19 Feb and the blood test only tested for TSH, which came back “normal”.

I’ve since learnt that I should have asked my GP for the exact value, and that testing TSH isn’t enough. So I paid for a private blood test, but now can’t interpret them! Can anyone help? Please let me know if I’m missing something, it’s so darn complicated!

Thyroid Function Tests

Free T4 - 15.1 pmol/L (Ref range 11.0-26.0)

TSH - 1.80 uU/m L (Ref range 0.35-4.50)

Free T3 - 4.4 pmol/L (Ref range 3.9-6.8)

Symptoms: it’s too early to find a pattern, but here they are so far:

Ongoing: hoarseness

16 Jan: pain/ache in back of neck

17 Jan: woke up with aches in shoulder/arm/ear/lower neck

20 Jan: back of neck tenderness

25 Jan: extreme tiredness after a walk (had to nap on the train home and then for approx an hour at home), inflamed/achey sensation in ear canal/tendon on neck

26 Jan: aches continued, felt like tooth/jaw ache

**28 Jan: woke up breathless - tight chest, difficulty clearing throat. Cleared with Halls sweet but chest still felt heavy. Went home from work after lunch and slept for the rest of the afternoon. The breathlessness has happened before, before I was aware of the lump.

2 Feb: R shoulder/neck feeling inflamed/tender inside

**4 Feb: Felt dizzy at work when standing up and walking a short distance (this happened twice that day, and once previously). Dizzy with heavy limbs, feeling I’m going to pass out. Rash (not itchy or red) on back of neck also appeared in the afternoon. I still have the rash today.

I’ve marked the symptoms that have particularly alarmed me with **.

I keep hitting a brick wall wherever I turn, so I’d like to arm myself with facts, so I can demand what else they should be testing in case the scan is “normal”.

Thanks

[Edith25]

Dear Moonglo, You really do need to go back to see your GP. I am not a Doctor but some of your symptoms sound like Angina you can't mess around with your health. I also had similar thyroid issues and was eventually diagnosed with multi nodular goitre. I had a partial thyroidectomy. They removed half of my thyroid. I have never needed medication for this, and I felt amazing after the operation. But now have heart problems. So please write down your symptoms let the Doctor read it and show him blood results he or she will explain everything to you. All the best let me know how you get on Edith

[Moonglo in reply to Edith25]

Thanks Edith. I’ve written to my Dr so I plan to follow up.

Wow, I’ll look into the angina 😔

[Marz]

Testing anti-bodies to rule out Hashimotos would be good - Anti-TPO & Tg. NHS rarely do both ..

[Moonglo in reply to Marz]

Thank you, now on my list!

Any reason why Hashimoto specifically?

[Marz in reply to Moonglo]

Because Hashimotos is the biggest thyroid issue leading to an under-active thyroid ...

[KittyAO]

Hi Moonglo

Sorry you are not feeling well. May I suggest you look at the thyroiduk.org website. Its full of helpful information, including a symptom checker and details of tests. You will also learn from the helpful responses to concerns from others on this forum. You may also need to know if your vitamins are optimal (Vit D, Vit B12, folate and ferritin).

Hope all goes well at your appointment.

[Moonglo in reply to KittyAO]

Thanks KittyAO I have checked that site and this forum but I’m getting confused - I seem to have a few symptoms of each type of thyroid issue, so I’d rather check properly. My frustration is that none of the medical options are taking me seriously. I also spoke to nhs111 who sent me back to my GP.

Ive seen others advise about the vitamin etc tests, so they’re on my list! Thanks x

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

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

Low iron or ferritin can cause breathlessness

Dizzy low vitamin B12

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. 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 all 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 BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

[Moonglo in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon, the symptoms associated with the vits sound interesting.

I paid a private hospital to do my bloods, but I’m aware this test was limited. I already looked into the companies you suggested but wasn’t too sure that a home finger prick test would be enough, particularly if you pay so much for it. But I feel reassured that there are intravenous options.

[Hidden in reply to Moonglo]

When I had my last blood test by Medichecks I ordered the nurse who came to my house for £39. My test was Ultra which gives you all things you require. You order the nurse on the Medichecks site she also posts off the results for you too.

[Moonglo in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, useful to know!

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Moonglo]

Yes I pay £25 extra for private blood draw

Getting vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin, plus both thyroid antibodies tested are next step

[Moonglo in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you 😊