Blood Test Results Help Please

[Dramlouie]

Just got my blood test results back and....after requesting T3 for my 6 monthly check up, it wasn't done. Dr said it would be done if the lab thought the results needed it! My endo won't be pleased. My Mum had this problem and had to endure 4 blood tests to get her T3 tested. I take NDT Thiroyd.

Red Blood Cell Count 5.15 (3.8-4.8) last result was 4.83

Serum Alkaline Phosphatase 117 (35-104) last test was 124

Ferritin 50 (13-150) last result was 65

Vit D 86 (50-120)

T4 12.3 (12-22) last result was 14.3 but reduced by endos assistant as I was having palpitations and endo wasn't at the review!

TSH 0.01 (0.27-4.2)

T3 at last blood test was 5.8 (3.1-6.8)

I have very stiff joints, arthritis in hip, tinnitus, brain fog, needing glasses now, aches, tender down outside of both legs, thinning breaking hair, weakness, no strength to what muscles I have left, most have turned to flab and fat. I am 62. Feeling very old.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received as I am fed up with feeling this way and not getting anywhere with doctors.

[Judithdalston]

It seems like ‘snap’ re. many of your symptoms, after 13 years of undertreated hypothyroidism I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia. You do need your FT3 tested ( not T3, that is the active hormone replacement not the ‘free’ hormone available in your blood) ; even when asked labs refuse to do it if the FT4 is in range! Your FT4 has been low at 12.3 but your FT3 has been very good, so you don’t seem to have a conversion problem. See you have had some vits/ mins tested, but your ferritin has gone down to low, needs to be about 80. What about folate and vit B12? Do you have Hashimoto’s as this can mean poor gut absorption and consequently low nutrient levels? Sorry can’t help you with other tests altering slightly. Palpitations etc can equally be caused by hypothyroidism and over medication - perhaps the endo assistant should have tried a dose increase rather than decrease! If you can’t get all your bloods done by NHS perhaps worth looking at private lab. like Medichecks to do appropriate thyroid, vit/ min tests.

[Dramlouie in reply to Judithdalston]

I had an antibodies test 2 years ago and it was 198, can't remember what the normal range is but it was high. The dr said we all have antibodies and won't test again. Feeling ignored and treated like a hyperchondriac. I asked if I had Hashimotos and was given vacant stares. Its diabolical the treatment we are given.

[Judithdalston in reply to Dramlouie]

Can you find out what antibody test you had? You will see on forum references to two thyroid antibodies: TPO and TgAb. TPO is the usual NHS one for thyroid ‘problems’, tho it is possible to just have the TgAb raised. Drs. rarely acknowledge the antibodies because they can’t do anything about them...you could try gluten free, even dairy free diets, for say 3 months to see if the antibodies improve. Also Hashimoto’s disease is not a term used in U.K., its thyroid autoimmune disease or thyroiditis, so perhaps he didn’t recognise the name, and you frightened him by knowing something about it! But yes it looks like you have Hashimoto’s in which case low vit d, b12, folate and ferritin are common. Hashi is also characterised by peaks and comparative troughs of thyroid hormone as the antibodies attack the thyroid gland and deposit hormones into the blood system, so your TSH plus FT4 etc can fluctuate.

[Dramlouie in reply to Judithdalston]

I don't know what test it was unfortunately. I am trying to at least cut down on gluten where I can ie bread pasta. Whilst looking through my records for my antibodies I found a test that Dr P had done some years ago and I was very low on progesterone. I didn't see him again as he became unwell. I am not taking folate so shall add that to my repertoire of supplements! Thanks