I thought thyroid bloods were meant to be taken early morning?
If so why was this reading still raised in the late afternoon?
There is a circadian rhythm so it will be highest at some point, then go towards it's lowest point, then rise to it's highest point again. We always say do tests early morning because that's usually the most convenient time when it's at a reasonably high level. Have a look at the first graph in this thread and you will see that TSH is highest at midnight to 4am then lowers until 8am, then there is a bit of a rise at 9am (the time we say to do the test, no later) then it lowers, with the lowest point being 1pm. Then there's a gradual rise untill 5pm, a slight dip at 6pm then it continues to rise until midnight again. So your blood being taken at 4pm, it was on the rise
It's another of those non-specific tests. Common at higher levels, amongst people with hepatitis or cirrhosis, ie liver issues, but lower levels are also found with connective tissue diseases, and chronic infections for instance. I think a titre of 1:40 would generally be right at the very bottom of a positive result range.
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
Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done in early morning. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
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
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
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A TELLING OF BY FASTING BLOODS NURSE THIS MORNING.
General worries prior to NHS endo appt that might not go anywhere given I am euthyroid.
TSH up to 10.7 - am I now officially hypothyroid re NHS???
Latest thyroid blood results
Self medicating?
