Opinion on Thyroid/Hormone results

[AJ-AJ]

Hi

Would it be possible to get an opinion on my Thyroid/Hormone results.

I have several symptoms (more noticeable over the last year) and thought they may be Thyroid/Hormone related (some include: fatigue/low energy, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, hair loss/thinning, low libido/weak erections, feeling cold).

I have had Hormone/Thyroid tests done (repeated several times). My GP refused to give a Vitamin D blood test when I asked a while back so I got these done privately/online. (Medichecks, Bluehorizon....)

I have attached them. It could be that everything is normal or/and the symptoms are caused by something else however I would like to rule these out first. I have attached just the Testosterone and Thyroid results however some of the tests also included (SHBG, Oestradiol, Lipids, LH, FSH, Prolactin.........)

Thanks

Male, 23

Other medical issues: Vestibular neuritis

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

AJ-AJ

Have you had all those thyroid tests done under the exact same conditions so they can be compared accurately?

When booking thyroid tests, we advise:

* Book the first appointment of the morning. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.

* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.

* Leave off Levo for 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then leave that off for 8-12 hours. Take after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.

Most of your TSH results are 4+ but there is one at 2.11 and I'm wondering why such a difference? I see the reference range is very slightly different but so slight it wouldn't make any difference to the result.

I think you need Thyroid antibodies (TPO and Tg) testing, along with Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin, to give a complete picture. Did you do these when you had the Medichecks/Blue Horizon tests?

[AJ-AJ in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi

Thanks for reply

Yes the results from the first and second test were different hence reason why I got it tested several times.

All the tests were done fasted. A 9-12 hour fast is fine, correct?

The tests were done in the morning however the time that they were taken may have been slightly different 9am vs 10am. Also the test that says 2.11 TSH was done through werlabs.co.uk and may have gone to a different lab. I'm not sure how much difference these would make. Is there a particular time you recommend to get the test done or is it generally recommended to just get it as early as possible in the morning?

I think it is probably best to get the test done again and get Thyroid antibodies (TPO and Tg) testing, along with Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin, like you recommended as these were not included in the test.

I will try and just use medichecks or blue horizon. I used werlabs (which no longer exist) on the second test as I had a discount.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to AJ-AJ]

Fasting from the evening meal/supper the night before the test is sufficient, delaying breakfast and drinking water only until after the blood draw.

No later than 9am is recommended for thyroid tests.

The different lab shouldn't really matter. If the reference range is different then you just work out the percentage through range where the result lies; however, the difference is range is so slight it doesn't matter in this case - 0.27 and 0.3 at the bottom end of range, top of range is the same.

What is interesting is that the werlabs result for FT4 is only 49% through range with a lower TSH, whereas the others are at the top of the range with a higher TSH. One would expect a higher TSH with a lower FT4.

If I were you I would go for the full vitamin/mineral bundle, best value and includes all the important tests, either

Medichecks Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT or

Blue Horizon Thyroid plus ELEVEN

Either can be done by fingerprick or venous blood draw (at extra cost).

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's)

Essential to test B12 and folate as possible cause of dizziness

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Very common that these are too low with Hashimoto's