Blood test results

[SpongeTeddy]

Any ideas on this blood result. The doctors wondered why I was concerned about them. She said they wouldn’t cause me and thyroid related symptoms. I’m also a type 1 diabetic. I had to pay for these results as they were only checking my TSH LEVEL.

[bluejoppo]

Did you have your tsh level checked at the same time? Or what was it when gp took it?

[SpongeTeddy in reply to bluejoppo]

Thyroxine T4

My result -75.00 nmol/L

normal range 59-154

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

My result - 3.01 mlU/L

normal range 0.27-4.2

Free thyroxine (T4)

My result - 14.60 pmol/l

Normal range 12-22

Free thriiodithyronie (T3)

My result - 4.30 pmol/L

Normal range 3.1-6.8

[greygoose]

Well, those results aren't much good, because there are no ranges. We cannot interpret blood test results without the ranges because they vary from lab to lab. But, given that your antibodies is marked in red, I take it that they are over-range, meaning you have Hashi's.

Have you been diagnosed with anything? Are you taking thyroid hormone replacement? If so, how much?

[SpongeTeddy in reply to greygoose]

Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (tpex) 312 iu/ml

Normal range 0-34 iu/ml

Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (tgab) 428 iu/ml

Normal range 0-115 iu/ml

[greygoose in reply to SpongeTeddy]

Yes, you have Hashi's, I know. But what about the ranges for the other results - TSH, FT4 and FT3?

[SpongeTeddy in reply to greygoose]

Sorry I thought I’d put those on..... They have all come back normal other than the antibody tests which I posted. I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid in 2017, I am 25mg of thyroxine. My doctors only test for TSH which is why I’ve ended up paying for the full thyroid test. Non of my doctors have suggested Hashis, should I be concerned?

[greygoose in reply to SpongeTeddy]

Yes, you have. I didn't see those.

Well, your TSH is much too high - but that's not surprising on only 25 mcg levo. It should be brought down to 1 or under.

Your FT4 is very low, and your FT3 is just under mid-range. Most hypos need them higher than that.

Do not be fooled by the word 'normal'. All it means is 'in-range'. But, the ranges are far too wide, so it's where they fall in the range that counts. These levels are obviously not 'normal' for you, or you wouldn't have symptoms. So, you really need and increase in dose.

Doctors tend to ignore antibodies/Hashi's because they don't know anything about them. Not even endos. They think it's unimportant because the treatment is the same - granted, but, where they come unstuck is that they don't know how Hashi's behaves, and are therefore not prepared for the fluctuation of hormone levels and either accuse their patients of not taking the levo, or of abusing the levo! When it's really all down to the Hashi's. How much do you know about Hashi's?

[SpongeTeddy in reply to greygoose]

It's true the doctors don't know much, I just got blanks today when speaking about it with the doctor. She didn't look at my notes and her mobile phone was ringing on vibrate constantly whilst I was with her. I'm getting confused because I don't really know what I'm talking about, and if I don't know and they don't know I'm completely stuck. All they look at is the normal ranges and wonder why I'm there. I've done a bit of research on Hashi's but only a bit, but I haven't been diagnosed with it from the GP. My weight is increasing and my hba1c isn't terrible but could be better, from what I've read the thyroid could be causing this. I have a frozen shoulder again, joint pain in my thumb, water retention which is chronic, food intolerances, restless leg syndrome, fatigue, heat intolerances, I feel the list is getting longer 😂😂😂 I'm on insulin and take thyroxine.

[greygoose in reply to SpongeTeddy]

You don't need validation from the GP to know you have Hashi's. The numbers tell you that.

Why is your doctor keeping you on half a starter dose of levo? That's why you're getting worse instead of better. You absolutely need an increase in dose. Can you see another doctor? Because you cannot stay on 25 mcg much longer - the longer you stay on it, the more difficult it will be for you to increase. And, as you have Hashi's, your hypo will be getting worse all the time. It's really time to put your foot down.

[SpongeTeddy in reply to greygoose]

Can I take you with me to the doctors please 😂😂😂. I will try and speak to someone tomorrow, ask is they have a doctor that knows more about the thyroid than I do. Thank you so much to chatting with me, it helps a lot.

[greygoose in reply to SpongeTeddy]

You're welcome. And I would come with you if I could, but I'm rather a long way away.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

High TG antibodies likely due to your Type one Diabetes

healthline.com/health/antit...

High TPO antibodies indicates likely to be due to autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's)

healthline.com/health/antit...

You need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

"The immune system recovery plan" by Susan Blum explores gluten with type one diabetes too

[Angel_of_the_North]

Where are the ranges? 14.6 might be low for free T4 but impossible to tell without ranges. You obviously have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashis). You conversion of T4 to T3 is OK, but you don't have much T4 to convert. You won't get treated in the UK unless you have several over range TSH tests as well as the high antibodies and hypo symptoms. Many doctors haven't read the guidelines properly and think they have to wait until TSH >10 for everyone

[SpongeTeddy in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thyroxine T4

My result -75.00 nmol/L

normal range 59-154

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

My result - 3.01 mlU/L

normal range 0.27-4.2

Free thyroxine (T4)

My result - 14.60 pmol/l

Normal range 12-22

Free thriiodithyronie (T3)

My result - 4.30 pmol/L

These are my results....

[SilverAvocado]

Hi SpongeTeddy, reading you're original post I thought you had no diagnosis and weren't taking any thyroid replacement, and things still look bad!

But once we are on thyroid replacent we usually need higher doses than a healthy person would make with their own thyroid. You are taking far too little hormone. As others have said it's where you are in the range that matters, you need to get your freeT3 up to the top part of the range.

As you are diabetic this is particularly important, because diabetes and hypothyroid are related illnesses that feedback on each other, being hypothyroid also messes up your sugar metabolism !