Please help with Blood test results

[Koko04]

Hi there

I am currently trying to conceive and have had my Thyroids checks including vitamins. Can you please let me know if they are ok? My GP is not really helping so I am gathering as much information as I can. I have been taking vitamin D, C, B6 and Folic acid supplements. Many thanks!

[shaws Administrator]

Have you been diagnosed as having hypothyroidism/hashimotos?

[Koko04 in reply to shaws]

No I haven't just doing blood tests privately until I can see my GP again.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Koko04]

To get the best results from a blood test is to get the very earliest appointment, fasting (you can drink water) and if you were taking thyroid hormones you'd allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take it afterwards. Always get a print-out of the results with the ranges for your own records.

Doctors seem to take notice of the TSH alone. TSH means thyroid stimulating hormone and this rises as our thyroid gland begins to falter.

If you're in the UK, doctors seem to have been advised that we cannot get diagnosed until the TSH reaches 10. We could be quite symptomatic by then.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

It is best if you get a Full Thyroid Function Test (I doubt GP will) and if you wish to get a home private test I shall give you a link -just in case you want to. This consists of: TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Private tests are home pin-prick blood draw and it will be explained how to do this and members who've done so will advise if you put up a post if you decide to do this.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Koko04

Your TSH is over range.

TSH should be below 2.5 for conception and a successful pregnancy.

If you are diagnosed hypothyroid and on thyroid hormone replacement, your dose needs increasing to bring your TSH down to the correct level.

If you are not diagnosed (and over range TSH with in range FT4 is classed as Subclinical Hypothyroidism) then you need to take some evidence to your GP about where your TSH needs to be.

btf-thyroid.org/information...

This doctor is well known is thyroid circles, he is former president of the British Thyroid Association and is a consultant endocrinologist (now in private practice) :

markvanderpump.co.uk/about

markvanderpump.co.uk/blog/p...

Study about Subclinical Hypothyroidism and pregnancy:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Koko04 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much for your advise. I will have a look at all the links and armed myself with all this information! I have read somewhere that FT4 needs to be in the top 25% of the range is this true? Many thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Koko04]

"I have read somewhere that FT4 needs to be in the top 25% of the range is this true?"

I can't say for certain but I don't think so when talking about trying to conceive and pregnancy. I haven't seen it mentioned articles like those I have linked to. When someone is diagnosed with hypothyroidism and on levothyroxine, many patients feel best when their TSH is low (often 1 or below) with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges, but that is generally speaking, not specific to pregnancy.

[Koko04 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your replies.