Medichecks results

[Padders12]

Following my post last week and greygoose great advice I did another blood test through medichecks.

I did a fasting test first thing in the morning. Here are the results -

TSH 4.49 mIU/L (0.27-4.2)

Free T3 5.24 pmol/L (3.2-6.8)

Free Thyroxine 14.5 pmol/L (12-22)

So looks like my TSH is worse now. I guess my next step is to make an appointment with my GP. I have symptoms but very hard to know if due to my B12 issues or down to thyroid.

Reading through some of the other posts on here I am concerned my GP will not want to treat as my TSH levels aren’t at 10.

Do you have any advice on what to take to my GP appointment to increase the likelihood that they will treat?

Many thanks,

Padders12

[jimh111]

Your thyroid blood test results are fine, the numbers do fluctuate, especially TSH. This doesn't exclude hypothyroidism, I was hypothyroid with much better results. It will be difficult to get your doctor to prescribe thyroid on a trial basis but this is what is needed.

[Padders12 in reply to jimh111]

Oh! I presumed that as my TSH is out of range that the results were not fine. I will see what the GP says!

[Nanaedake in reply to Padders12]

There can be various factors that might cause thyroid function to struggle and this can be temporary. For example, have you ruled out other deficiencies such as vitamin D, low iron levels. You need everything to be optimal before concluding it's a thyroid problem your FT3 is actually very good and this is the active thyroid hormone.

Subclinical hypothyroidism generally returns a lower FT3 reading I believe.

You really do not want to take thyroid hormone if you don't need it. It isn't a quick fix even if you do need it. It can take months to adjust and then it takes vigilant management to maintain stability.

[Padders12 in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks for your reply. My vit d, folate and b12 have previously been low. I am supplementing and injecting b12. My iron has always been good. I have just done a nutrition check with medichecks to see how my levels are now. Just waiting for the results.

I am just searching for answers about why I am still struggling!

[Nanaedake in reply to Padders12]

It takes months to get better from low vitamin levels as your body takes time to heal from deficiencies. However, if you have optimised all your vitamin levels and results come back good then you could ask your GP for more blood tests based on symptoms.

[Padders12 in reply to Nanaedake]

I have been taking the vitamins for 12-18 months so hope they will be better. I have checked magnesium this time as had not checked that before. I was also wanting to check I am not over supplementing as have developed new symptoms. Will be interesting to see what the results say!

[jimh111 in reply to Padders12]

The high TSH could be a sign of a failing thyroid but the symptoms would be very mild and yours are more substantial. Hence I would say the main problem is not your thyroid gland underperforming. That doesn't rule out hypothyroidism (although it does for most doctors). There could be other issues such as endcrine disruption affecting your thyroid hormone action, unfortunately doctors have little knowledge of this. The best you can do is make a list of your signs and symptoms, see how well they match hypothyroidism and if they do ask for a trial of levothyroxine - more than 25 mcg.

[Padders12 in reply to jimh111]

I have checked the symptoms and have many of them. The only problems is the symptoms are the same for many illnesses! I am clutching at straws! Will see what me GP has to say 👍

[NWA6]

Sorry I don’t know your history and I apologise if you’ve already covered some of what I’ll say. Did you do an antibody test? How do you feel? Is this why you are looking for answers in the thyroid category? If B12 issues are unresolved it would be best to resolve them first.

It is always best to open a dialogue with your GP even when you don’t think they’ll respond positively on the first or subsequent visits. This is because you will build up a documented history of ailments that you consistently returned to the GP about. GPs will quite often only action any testing once they see that this is your 3rd/4th/5th return visits complaining of the same symtoms. Whilst this is very frustrating it is best practise in most cases to ensure that everyone gets tested and treated for the correct ailment and that rarely anyone gets the wrong treatment.

[Padders12 in reply to NWA6]

Hi Paula6,

Thanks for your reply. I didn’t do an anti body test this time but did do it in 2018 and the results were good. Greygoose did suggest I get them done again at some point but as I had already ordered a ‘nutrition check’ didn’t order the test with antibodies as it includes what I would be testing with the nutrition check. The tests aren’t cheap, are they 😬.

I was eventually diagnosed with B12 deficiency in 2017 although had a blood test in 2010 which showed in was low in B12 and folate. Unfortunately the GP in 2010 reported my results as normal so went undiagnosed with fatigue, balance problems, etc (too many to list). In 2017 things took a turn for the worse and I started to experience numbness and tingling, kept falling over ,needing to sleep 12+ hours a day, brain fog, memory problems etc. My B12 levels were 111 at that point. I argued for loading doses and was given them and then put on 3 monthly injections. Needless to say these weren’t enough and I now SI. I take folate, vit d and broad spectrum multi vitamin. Despite regular SI and feeling better than I was I still don’t feel great. This led me to query whether there was something else going on.

I have lost faith in my GP practice as a whole but they are the better practice in the area! It’s hard to keep fighting when they just don’t seem to care and you are exhausted. I swear they just think I am a hypochondriac!

I will go and see them with my long list of symptoms and see what they say!

[NWA6 in reply to Padders12]

The fight is indeed hard 😢 You have my sympathy

[Nanaedake]

Have you had thyroglobulin antibodies levels tested or any other antibodies? The NHS generally only does TPO when related to thyroid disease. If you are very symptomatic the GP could rule out other factors with more blood tests to exclude other autoimmune conditions. As you are already B12 deficient, you could ask GP to rule out coexisting autoimmune conditions.