Hi everyone, I’m due for a check up at the Endo this month, and this time would like to go armed with test results. Besides the normal TSH, T4, T3, vits etc what is the best overall test to do privately ? I suffer with high cholesterol as well and fed up with being told to go on statins !
Also suffering with stomach problems due to H-pylori, being on antibiotics retesting for it today. Another reason I would like a comprehensive test done.
Thank you
Oh forgot to say, I don’t have a thyroid removed 14 years ago, due to massive nodules non cancerous
This excerpt from your above post "fed up with being told to go on statins ! " just goes to show, again, how inferior their training is with regard to hypothyroidism and its clinical symptoms.
A higher cholesterol level is one of the clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism. It reduces as our dose of thyroid hormones increase. You probably have other symptoms too - and all should be relieved when your on an optimum dose for you, i.e. a TSH of 1 or below and a FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of the ranges.
Also B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate should be checked too. Deficiencies also cause symptoms. An excerpt:-
In a large 2014 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, 60 percent of people with a new diagnosis of hypothyroidism and hyperlipidemia had a resolution of their elevated cholesterol levels once their thyroid function was restored. Of those who were treated with levothyroxine, 75 percent did not need lipid-lowering medications within a year of hypothyroidism treatment. This percentage may be higher yet, considering that not everyone in the study had their cholesterol levels rechecked after the restoration of their thyroid function.
From the effects of thyroid replacement on lipids, it can be deduced that the treatment of hypothyroidism most likely lowers heart disease risk, but there is more evidence this is true as well, as levothyroxine has been shown to have positive effects on intimal thickness of the carotid artery (an indirect measure of heart disease risk).
Due to this evidence, professional societies such as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists have made recommendations to all physicians who care for people with lipid abnormalities.
Anyone who has a new diagnosis of hyperlipidemia should be screened for hypothyroidism before lipid-lowering medications are recommended. If a diagnosis of hypothyroidism is made, people should be monitored to see if levothyroxine therapy improves cholesterol levels.
verywellhealth.com/combatti...
A Full Thyroid Function Test is:-
TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.
Antibodies: an excerpt:-
Patients with antibody-negative Hashimoto’s thyroiditis had a milder form of hypothyroidism at the time of diagnosis. This could represent an earlier stage of the disease or simply a less aggressive form of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This study suggests that treating patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and positive thyroid antibodies is important to prevent the development of overt hypothyroidism.
"naturalthyroidsolutions.com...
Well, if you've had your thyroid gland removed, my advice (and I'm not medically qualified ) is that patients who have no thyroid gland should be given a T4/T3 combination. Several Research Labs have found that a combination works well - even for those who do have a thyroid gland.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
All blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take it afterwards. This keeps our TSH at its highest as that's all doctors seem to take notice of. Despite the fact that a FT4 and FT3 is more informative.
verywellhealth.com/combatti...
Thank you for the info, i have watched my cholesterol go up and down over the years, mostly up it’s now at 7.8 highest its ever been, while my TSH as per Endo says an excellent TSH at 0.63mU/l.
Free thyroxine is 25.2 pmol/l
Serum Ft3 at 4.4 pmol/l
Anti thyroid peroxidase antibodies negative 6iu/ml
Serum Calcium 2.29 mmol/l
But since taking antibiotics I feel there is a change in my health, so was wondering if they could have effected my tablets?
I am still not well which is also why we are retesting the H-Pylori
But I have an appointment but what for? He has not asked to do bloods?? Which is why I feel I should be armed or it’s a waste of time, just to tell him feel crap and maybe tablets out of wack?
Nellups
We always need reference ranges with results, as they vary from lab to lab. However, from these we can see something isn't right:
TSH at 0.63mU/l.
Free thyroxine is 25.2 pmol/l
Serum Ft3 at 4.4 pmol/l
I've never seen a reference range for FT4 on the forum with a top limit higher than 24 so I am assuming your FT4 is over range. Your FT3 is going to be nearer the bottom of the range. It is very obvious that you don't convert T4 to T3 very well.
The ratio of your FT4:FT3 is 5.72 : 1 and good conversion takes place when the ratio is between 3:1 and 4:1
Do you have results for
Vit D
B12
Folate
Ferritin
H-pylori can cause deficiencies of vitamins and we need optimal levels for thyroid hormone to work properly and conversion of T4:T3.
So you need those vitamins tested, if any low levels or deficiencies they need addressing, then once these are optimal if you still have a high FT4 and low FT3 then your conversion problem needs addressing, possibly by the addition of T3 to a lower dose of Levo.
Hi seasidesusie, my T4 will be higher due to the lower suppressed TSH, it’s always been like that the endo explained it to my Doctor as well stating it’s normal with the suppression, but the T3 is a different matter did wonder if that could be half the problem, did ask about T3 and that I would pay privately for it if needed, he didn’t say no BUT he hasn’t said yes either !
I don’t have these ranges as the endo hasn’t given me the whole results. I’m used to dealing with my own results as lived in France up to last year and always had my blood results sent straight to me sooo different here
I fully understand about suppressed TSH and high FT4 - I had this myself for years, since I started keeping a record of my results it shows over range from 1995 (20 years after I started on Levo). After seeing the most prominent private thyroid doctors who tried to help with NDT/ T3 + NDT/ T3 only and nothing made me well, it's only since doing all the tests advised here in 2015, and optimising nutrient levels and adding T3 to reduced amount of Levo have I now managed to find the right balance of Levo and T3 which keeps my FT4 and FT3 where they need to be for me. TSH is still suppressed but hormones levels are correct for me. Adrenals are still being addressed.
I find it very unfortunate that GPs and endos don't seem to understand the importance of good levels of FT3, it's keeping many hypo patients ill.
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