Blood test results - help please!

[bertikus]

Morning all,

I've been feeling unwell for a while: generally tired, headaches, dizziness from time to time, anxiety, dry and itchy skin and having palpitations also. I've been to my GP and had a blood test done beginning of January. I think this only tested TSH but the reading at this point was 2.5.

As I'm a curious person, I decided to get a private test done. Results back this morning as follows (with reference ranges):

TSH 1.47 (0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 6.22 pmo/l (3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine 19.9 pmo/l (12 - 22)

Thyroglobulin antibody <10 kU/l (<115)

Thyroid peroxidase antibody <9 kU/l (<34)

Serum folate 9.81 ug/l (>3.89)

Active B12 89.7 (37.5 - 188)

25 oh vitamin D 47.7 nmo/l (15 - 175)

Ferritin 68.7 ug/l (30 - 400)

Obviously my vit D is a bit below range but everything else appears to be in the 'normal' range. However, I'm interested to know about whether my free T3 and T4 being close to the top end of their respective reference ranges indicates anything?

(Also, my mother has a thyroid condition and is medicated. I'm not completely sure but suspect my mother's condition was hyperthyroidism which was treated to destroy the thyroid and replace with medication)

[greygoose]

Your FT4 and FT3 are high for someone not on thyroid hormone replacement, and don't really correspond with your TSH. At what time of day did you do the blood draw? My first thought on seeing these results was 'Hashi's', but your antibodies are low. These levels are something to keep an eye on, and see how they evolve.

Your vit d is low, yes, but that's not unusual in the winter - especially in the UK. But, your vit B12 and ferritin are also rather low. And a ferritin that low could make you very tired. Do you eat liver? Eating that once a week could bring your level up to something more acceptable.

[bertikus in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for the reply! I did the test at about 10am. I had wanted to do it a bit earlier than this but (a) I have IBS-D and had to wait for my 'morning rush' symptoms to pass and (b) I had some trouble with the finger prick getting enough blood and inadvertently ended up taking my time.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to bertikus]

Would suggest you get work on improving vitamins

Perhaps consider trying strictly gluten free diet. Can do wonders for IBS

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test FIRST. or buy online for under £20

Then retest thyroid and vitamins in 2-3 months

[bertikus in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi there, I've had a coeliac test on the NHS a few times and that's always been negative (I've had IBS since I was 15 but wasn't actually diagnosed by doctor until I was about 25ish. I'm now 32).

Interestingly, since this bout of feeling unwell I've noticed a significant slowdown in my IBS symptoms.

I'll work on improving those vits though!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to bertikus]

Thousands on here find they test negative for coeliac but benefit, sometimes significantly from being strictly gluten free

Coeliac is only one form of gluten intolerance

[greygoose in reply to bertikus]

Well, your TSH would have been lower at 10 am than at 8 am, but perhaps wouldn't make that much difference as your TSH is euthyroid. But, it's always best to get TSH tested as early in the morning as possible.