New blood test results - what do they mean?

[Sealegs72]

Hello, I had a recent blood tests at my gp and it has revealed worrying results with my thyroid which don't make sense. My serum free T3 was 6.2 pmol/L, my serum free T4 was 22.4 pmol/L and my serum TSH was 0.02 mlU/L (this was last checked in May 16 and was 4mU/L so I was told normal) So I'm told by my GP that this might indicate hyperthyroidism? However I have none of the symptoms of hyperhyroidism and in fact have the opposite as have seen quite a bit of sudden weight gain ( I have always been slim (55kg) and am suddenly struggling to lose weight) and severe constipation as well as exhaustion. Is there an explanation for this? I have been on lofepramine a tricyclic antidepressant for 18 years and wonder if this could be a contributing factor? I have also been a blood pressure meds for a few years (Losartan) and this together with beetroot extract keeps the BP under control .

[Sealegs72]

ps I've never had an issue with my thyroid levels before so am not on any thyroid meds at all

[NWA6]

Your levels look perfect 🤗 If you put the ranges in that’ll be helpful. Certainly not ‘hyper’ You’d need an antibody test to determine either Hashimotos or Graves. That might be needed if you are having ‘hypo’ symtoms, weight gain, constipation, exhaustion. Although hyper and Hypo symptoms can mimic each other.

[Marz]

Sounds as if it could be Hashimotos - so the tests required are for the anti-bodies - TPO & Tg. NHS only do the first one ... When you have auto-immune thyroid then it is possible to swing from Hyper to Hypo ...

How are your vitamins and minerals - B12 - Folate - Ferritin and VitD ?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sealegs72

It's not possible to interpret your results without their reference ranges.

A normal healthy person could have a TSH up to 2. Their FT4 may be mid-range or a bit higher.

Your TSH is below range - that's the only one we can say with any certainty.

Your FT4 at 22.4 - who knows, ranges we see here are 7-17, 9-19, 11-23, 12-22, and others. There's a chance that it may just be at the top of the range or it could be over range, or it could be very over range.

I imagine your FT3 is near the top of the range, or maybe slightly over, too.

As Marz says, it could well be autoimmune thyroid disease, aka Hashismoto's, which is where the immune system attacks the thyroid, this brings fluctuations in test results and symptoms, and ofter begins with a "hyper" type episode which would show as low TSH and high FT4/FT3. Antibodies need testing.

Your GP may or may not agree to antibody testing, and if he does then only Thyroid Peroxidase will be done (TPO). Both antibodies need testing so for a full picture my suggestion would be to do a private thyroid/vitamin panel with one of ThyroidUK's recommended labs:

Medichecks Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT medichecks.com/thyroid-func... You can use code TUK20 for 20% discount before the end of May, thereafter code THYROIDUK for a 10% discount on any test not on special offer.

or

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.)

[Sealegs72 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you Susie, I will do one of these tests and see what results that brings as a starting point

[Sealegs72]

Thank you both for replying so quickly. Reassuring you don't think its hyper, the normal ranges on the tests show T3 as 3.1-6.8 and mine was 6.2 and on the T4 is states normal range 12-22 and mine was 22.4. It's the tsh thats worrying. I don't know about the vitamins and minerals as they didn't test that. The blood test was actually to test for the menopause as they said I have menopause symptoms but they tested thyroid at the same time and this is the result. I've been referred to an endocrinologist but the first available appointment on the NHS isn't until August! I might buy one of those online tests from blue horizon that I've read about to have it all tested which might help to see if it is one of the conditions you've suggested. I have also read today about adrenal fatigue causing thyroid issues and I have many of the symptoms of this so maybe that is the cause?

[Marz in reply to Sealegs72]

It would be good to have the anti-bodies tested !

[greygoose in reply to Sealegs72]

Essential to have the antibodies tested! Otherwise, you have no idea what you're dealing with.

[Sealegs72]

Oh and the blood test revealed that I'm not going through menopause at all which is good given that I'm only 46! I wonder if all the symptoms are linked.

[Marz in reply to Sealegs72]

Probably. 😊

thyroiduk.org - click onto link above to view the many signs and symptoms

[Marz]

Did you manage ti do the FULL Thyroid testing ?