Results from medichecks

[sueoathall]

Hi I've posted recently about my test results from G. P.

It was suggested that I get a private test from medichecks, which I have done. I'm posting results that I've received today to seek advice. Having spent £47 I'm not sure I'm much the wiser!

So results are TSH 0.012 range 0.27-4.20mu/L

Free T3 6.74 range 3.10-6.80pmol/L

Free T4 14.6 range 12.00-22pmol/L

Thyroglobulin 12.4 range under 115

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies 19 range under 34.

I've been taking 4.75 grains of NDT and did not take any 12 hours prior to taking blood sample.

The report from Medichecks says my dose is too high but I'm struggling to know why I feel awful and whether to go back to taking levothyroxine. Any advice please?

Many thanks

[MaisieGray]

Wasn't it suggested that you needed to test ferritin to rule out a low level as the possible cause of your symptoms; which is not included in this package of tests.

Neither antibody result indicates an autoimmune cause for your hypothyroidism; whilst your low in range FT4 and suppressed TSH are typical of T3/NDT results. Whether your low FT4 and high in range FT3 'suit you' can only be deduced by trial and error, and of course not everyone gets on with NDT. The options are to add in T4 to see if you are a person who needs more FT4 - presently your level is only 26% in range - and/or reduce the NDT slightly, because your FT3 being 98.38% in range might be too high for you, and adding some T4 might increase it further depending on your conversion of T4 to T3.

[sueoathall in reply to MaisieGray]

Thanks for replying. No ferritin test not suggested. I'm not overly impressed by the results. So should I reduce the NDT and add some levothyroxine? If so, by how much? Thank you

[MaisieGray in reply to sueoathall]

In your last post Bad Hare wrote "Maybe ask your GP to test for ferritin as well as iron. Ferritin is the storage protein that carries iron in our blood. We can have excess or deficiency in both or one or the other". In your post the day before that one, Seaside Susie wrote "Was ferritin tested this time? If not it really needs to be done, low ferritin can cause fatigue". Also important is to test B12, vit D, calcium and folate as we need optimal levels of each. A good comprehensive set of tests is medichecks Thyroid UltraVit, or similar. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with your latest results, but these things are individual. Some people's FT4 falls even lower than yours when using T3, and they're fine, whilst others wouldn't be, for instance. Others would give their right arm to have high in range FT3 ..... Fine tuning dosage can take a bit of tweeking to get it right, and we have to be in it for the longer haul. Regarding reducing, I always take the line of changing only one thing at once otherwise you can't know what change has had what effect; so if it were me, as the FT3 is so high in range I'd initially reduce NDT by 1/2 grain ie 19 mcg T4 & 2.25 mcg T3, then retest to see if FT4 needs supplementing. But tbh it is all trial and error to find what works for you.

[sueoathall in reply to MaisieGray]

Ok will have to go back to doctors again! It's so hard to get an appointment, as I'm sure you know. I'm just fed up and frustrated and feel like I've wasted £47 which I can not afford.

Oh also getting any blood out of my finger was fun, I had to prick 5 fingers to get enough for the test. Was a fiasco!

Thanks for your advice, will try reducing NDT

[sueoathall in reply to sueoathall]

Sorry Maisie, I misunderstood what you meant about ferriten being tested. Thought you meant had my GP suggested it. I'm seeing her on Wed so will discuss with her. Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It's always advised on here to get folate, B12, ferritin and vitamin D tested as well using the Thypoid plus ultra vitamin test from Medichecks or Thyroid plus eleven from Blue Horizon

Often it's the low vitamins that are causing the problem

Ask GP to test

What supplements do you currently take?

You can order just vitamin D here £29

vitamindtest.org.uk

[sueoathall in reply to SlowDragon]

I will ask GP to test as i can't afford to keep paying for private tests, and I shouldn't have to. Yes I take supplements for B complex, C, D and K. Sorry can't give you doses as I'm not home for a few days. Thanks for your help

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to sueoathall]

Remember to stop taking any supplements with biotin in (eg vitamin B complex) a week before any blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

[sueoathall in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I forgot about that, though to be honest I don't always remember to take them!