T4 25, TSH 0.28 advice wanted please

[Bramverlie]

Hi I’ve been under active for the last five years. Currently I’m taking 200mg of thyroxine daily at night time.

My latest blood results have come back as TSH of 0.28 and T4 of 25. GP says I’m boarderline? Retest in 12 weeks.

Would someone be able to advise what this could mean please? I also have Crohn’s disease, and have B12 every 8 weeks.

Finely I am thinking of paying for a private blood test in order to actually find out what my T3 levels are. I’m exhausted, sleep half a day, sleep get up back to sleep to re energise and so on throughout the day.

Also doing slimming world and just can’t loose any weight.

Looking forward to your help please xx

[Wildbird]

I imagine it means that your GP thinks that you are borderline “hyperthyroid “ even though that’s very unlikely. You have not included the reference ranges, so it’s difficult to gauge his conclusion. I am surprised that the laboratory did not test your free t3 level, as then we would know more. I can only hazard a guess, while your tsh is low, it is not suppressed. At least they are waiting three months for a retest, many people find themselves on a dose reduction when their GP decides that they are hyper, even though they are not!

[Bramverlie in reply to Wildbird]

I’ll pick my results up later. GP on holiday for two weeks, so this was the message from the receptionist x

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Bramverlie

My latest blood results have come back as TSH of 0.28 and T4 of 25. GP says I’m boarderline?

Bordlerline what? Did your GP explain any further?

We need to see the reference ranges for your results to be able to interpret them, but at a guess I'd say your TSH is just within range and your FT4 may be over range. It doesn't make you borderline anything. Your GP may be thinking your FT4 - if over range- is too high and is thinking you are overmedicated.

It really is a good idea to test TSH, FT4 and FT3 at the same time to see how well (or not) you convert T4 to T3. Your symptoms that you mention suggest you may not.

Conversion relies on optimal nutrient results (as well as our bodies converting the T4 to T3), so it would be a good idea to also test

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If you can't get all the tests done with your GP, then one of our recommended labs offer tests that cover everything, they can be done by fingerprick or venous blood draw if preferred (at extra cost):

Medichecks Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT medichecks.com/thyroid-func... (on special offer at £79 at the moment which is a bargain).

Blue Horizon Thyroid Check PLUS ELEVEN bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

Both tests include the full thyroid and vitamin panel. They are basically the same test but with the following small differences:

For the fingerprick test, Blue Horizon requires 1 x microtainer of blood (0.8ml), Medichecks requires 2 x microtainers (total 1.6ml)

Blue Horizon includes Total T4 (can be useful but not essential). Medichecks doesn't include this test.

B12 - Blue Horizon does Serum B12. Medichecks does Active B12.

Serum B12 shows the total B12 in the blood. Active B12 shows what's available to be taken up by the cells. You can have a reasonable level of Serum B12 but a poor level of Active B12. (Personally, I would go for the Active B12 test.)

[Bramverlie in reply to SeasideSusie]

I’ll pick my results up later and put them up for you to look at. They never check T3 which is why I’m looking to do it private. Also would a brand change cause this change? Just noticed I’m on teva now. X

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Bramverlie]

It's always best to stick to the same brand when you know you do well on it. Retesting should be done 6 weeks after changing brand to make sure there's no problems.

Teva is a brand many members don't get on with and have had some serious side effects. I don't know for sure, but I think it's unlikely that it would have the effect of increasing your FT4 to such an extent as the active ingredient - levothyroxine - would have to be the same amount as other brands, it's just the fillers that are different.

[Bramverlie in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ok thanks for this. But will make a note to mention it when gp gets back x