Should I be worried with these results?

[Smellydog99]

Hi, My results are TSH level 3.78, Serum free T4 level 13.8, Serum 25-HO vit D3 level 116.1. Are these fairly normal results? I saw a locum endocrinologist a few weeks ago and he just pretty much said ''youre fine''. I've tried twice to get T3 results and the phlebotomist cocked or and just redid another test. I have lots of digestion problems, and get really exhausted and candida continually. I was diagnosed with mild underactive thyroid years ago but at that time was worried about taking the medication. It's taken me ages to get to see this endocrinologist, can I trust this opinion without T3 results?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

First we always need ranges on these results. Please add before anyone can comment

Are you on Levothyroxine? If you are a TSH over 2 is too high. Should be under 2, often people need it around one

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

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 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

[Smellydog99 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for replying so quickly, just to clarify I'm not on any medication at all.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Smellydog99]

As you're on no medication then your TSH is showing signs that your thyroid is struggling, I expect it's quite near the top of the range. Diagnosis of primary hypothyroidism isn't usually made until TSH reaches 10.

If TSH is over range and thyroid antibodies are present (raised antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's), then an enlightened doctor may prescribe Levothyroxine because Hashi's gradually destroys the thyroid and eventually hypothyroidism is inevitable.

No comment can be made about your FT4 result because the reference range is needed, as SlowDragon mentioned. Ranges vary from lab to lab so we need the range that came with your result. TSH ranges are usually very similar so we can usually comment on that.

Your Vit D is OK if the unit of measurement is nmol/L, is that correct?

So a full thyroid/vitamin panel, as SlowDragon has suggested, will be useful to give a complete picture. If your GP wont or can't get them all done, then you can do a private test like hundreds of us here have to do. The best test is either of the following

Medichecks Thyroid Check Ultra medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Check Plus Eleven bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

Both can be done by fingerprick, or you can arrange venous blood draw at extra cost.

[Smellydog99 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks that's really helpful. My blood tests revealed a raised thyroid peroxidase antibody level at 115 iu/ml (normal range <34). My parathyroid level was 7.8 (normal range <6.9). My T4 was 13.8 pmol/L (range 12.00-22.00).

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Smellydog99]

Smellydog99

My blood tests revealed a raised thyroid peroxidase antibody level at 115 iu/ml (normal range <34).

Your raised antibodies mean that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where the thyroid is attacked and gradually destroyed.

Dr Toft (ex president of British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist) wrote an article in Pulse Online magazine (the magazine for doctors) which says that if antibodies present then patients should be prescribed levothyroxine to "nip things in the bud." Email Dionne at

[e-mail]

and ask for a copy which you can then show to your doctor. The information is in answer to question 2.

With Hashi's he antibodies fluctuate and cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

You can possibly help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. You have Vit D result so now you need B12, Folate and Ferritin.

Are you in the UK?

Can you clarify the unit of measurement for your Vit D test because if it's ng/ml then your level is far too high.

Are you supplementing with D3?

My parathyroid level was 7.8 (normal range <6.9)

This is obviously over range but not my area of expertise so I'm afraid I can't comment. You should discuss this with your GP, I believe calcium should be tested.

[Smellydog99 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi

I have been supplementing with D3 so I'll stop that now. It was 116.1 nmol/L. I do live in the UK. I'm on a strict gluten free diet and that has made a massive difference to my energy levels. Has anyone found a problem with maize too? It seems to cause me as many problems as gluten. I've contacted Dionne, thanks for that and I'll do some research. There's an awful lot to take in.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Smellydog99]

Sorry there's so much information, it can seem like an overload to start with. Just keep reading, make notes, it will all sink in eventually.

You don't have to stop Vit D, you just need an appropriate maintenance dose now, which may be 1000iu or 2000iu. We're all different in what we need as a maintenance dose, I tend to need 5000iu daily in the winter and 5000iu alternate days in the summer. That keeps my level within the recommended range.

Are you taking D3's important cofactors

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray

Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too (some of which can be obtained from food).

I suppose you could have a sensitivity to maize so if it causes problems then it's best avoided.