confused.com :( needing feedback please - Thyroid UK

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confused.com :( needing feedback please

Fris5 profile image
10 Replies

Hi I am new to this forum - introduced thanks to my lil sis :)

Anyway I am looking for a little feedback on issues surrounding my thyroid/inflam markers etc.. I had an early menopause started in my late 30's last period 41/41 on hrt for 6 years (2mg) also Mertazipine (30Mg) for 4 years to help with awful mood swings and horrendous day and night sweats. Struggling to loose ANY weight, tired, very dry skin and hair, and generally frustrated and confused by symptoms and results. Anyway blood results as follows, any advise/help/suggestions very welcome!! Thanks in advance!

CRP HS 10.13

FERRATIN 81.3

VITS - FOLATE 15.22

B12 ACTIVE 107

VIT D 73.3

TSH 1.02

FREE T3 5.09

FREE THYROXINE 16.7

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES 442

THYROXINE PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 23.5

THANKS!!!

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Fris5
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Welcome to the forum Fris5

When posting test results, we always need reference ranges to be able to interpret them, ranges vary from lab to lab.

I'll do what I can with the information you've given.

CRP HS 10.13

This is probably high, normally the range is <5. CRP is an inflammation marker so it's indicating inflammation somewhere but it's non-specific so can't tell us where.

FERRATIN 81.3

This is OK. Ferritin needs to be 70 for thyroid hormone to work properly although I have seen it said that 100-130 is good for females, but you are certainly not deficient in any way.

FOLATE 15.22

Not low but without a range can't say if it's optimal. Recommended is at least half way through range.

B12 ACTIVE 107

This is OK. Active B12 below 70 suggests testing for B12 deficiency so you have nothing to worry about here.

VIT D 73.3

Is this nmol/L? If so it's below the levels recommended by the Vit D Council/Vit D Society which are 125nmol/L (50ng/ml) and 100-150nmol/L (40-60ng/ml). If you clarify if it is nmol/L I can point you in the right direction to work out how much D3 you should supplement to reach the recommended level.

TSH 1.02

FREE T3 5.09

FREE THYROXINE 16.7

These appear to be OK but need reference ranges to be absolutely sure.

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES 442

THYROXINE PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 23.5

Again reference ranges needed but going by what we usually see here on the forum your Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies (TPO) are within the range - usually <34 or <60, but your Thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies are over range, which is usually <115.

Thyroglobulin antibodies can be elevated for other reasons besides autoimmune thyroid disease, but it is possible to have negative TPO and positive Tg antibodies and have Hashi's. I would say your TPO antibodies are too high to rule out Hashi's altogether, you may have tested when they are on the lower side, antibodies fluctuate so they could well be over range if tested another time. Just to illustrate what antibody results would look like when Hashi's is not present, I have had my antibodies tested many times over the years and both TPO and Tg have always been between 6 and 11 or 12, never higher.

Have you check the side effects listed for any of the medication that you take, just wondering if your symptoms could possibly be due to that.

Fris5 profile image
Fris5 in reply toSeasideSusie

Hi sorry here is the full list of results:

Not far diff to your feedback

RESULT RANGE GIVEN

CRP HS 10.13MG/L <5

fERRATIN 81.3ug/L 13-150

FOLATE -SERUM 15.22ug/L >3.89

VIT B12 ACTIVE 107pmol/L 37.5-188

VIT D 73.3nmol/L 50-175

TSH 1.02miU/L .27-4.2

FREE T3 5.09pmol/L 3.1-6.8

FREE THYROXINE 16.7pmol/L 12-22

THYROGLOBULIN 442KU/L <115

THYROID PEROSIDASE 23.5KiU/L <34

Also probs should have said I am now 52

Fris5 profile image
Fris5 in reply toSeasideSusie

THANKS SO MUCH!! :)

Fris5 profile image
Fris5 in reply toSeasideSusie

OMG another issue - my memory is shocking!!

My lil sis has been diagnosed with Hashi's 2 years ago when I was first told I was at risk..... annual tests all show high infamm markers no further forward and still feel frustrated, also response from results company as follows:

"Your CRP level is slightly high. This may indicate increased inflammation and/or infection within the body. If you are experiencing pain, fever or other symptoms that suggest infection or inflammation then I recommend that you discuss this further with your GP.

The type of CRP test that you have had is one which can also indicate future risk of cardiovascular disease. I recommend repeating this test in 6-8 weeks to see whether it remains above 3. If it does then I recommend that you take a more aggressive approach to managing other cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diet, smoking and exercise levels.

Your ferritin level is normal however this can be unreliable in the presence of raised CRP, as it can also be increased by inflammation. I recommend repeating your ferritin with your CRP in 12 weeks.

"

No infection, drink on odd occassions, BP good 125/60, cholesterol good, diet good, never smoked, and exercise 4/5 times a week, mix of cardio/strength in gym. Slightly concerned re cardiovascular risk & disease?

Thanks :)

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toFris5

VIT D 73.3nmol/L 50-175

The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L (50ng/ml) and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L (40-60ng/ml). If you wish to improve your level, the Vit D Council suggests to reach the recommended level from your current level to supplement with 3,700iu D3 daily

vitamindcouncil.org/i-teste...

Retest after 3 months.

Once you've reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose to keep it there, which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public:

vitamindtest.org.uk/

There are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council -

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray

Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

thefamilythathealstogether....

drjockers.com/best-magnesiu...

Check out the other cofactors too (some of which can be obtained from food).

CRP HS 10.13MG/L <5

Your ferritin level is normal however this can be unreliable in the presence of raised CRP, as it can also be increased by inflammation. I recommend repeating your ferritin with your CRP in 12 weeks.

Slightly concerned re cardiovascular risk & disease?

If you are concerned, it might be worth discussing this with your GP. As there is Hashi's in the family, and you have raised Tg antibodies and quite high in range TPO antibodies, my guess is that you also have Hashi's, and the CRP may be raised due to this.

Bluedragon profile image
Bluedragon

Hi, Seaside Susie has given good comments on your results. I would suggest there is room for improvement on your FT3 levels- some people feel better higher in level.

Are you on any medication now other than thyroid meds? With your medical history I would look at seeing a herbalist who would likely give hormone balancing, liver cleansing and thyroid supporting herbs.

Look at taking a good multi vit like Wild Nutrition or Udo.

If you drink herbal teas, add a pinch of rosemary to it (cover when add hot water or you will lose the aromatic oils). Leave to infuse longer than normal tea- 10-15 minutes. Can drink cold too. Good for memory.

Bacopa monieri is great for mood, focus and memory and ashwaganda adaptogen with affinity for thyroid. Both safe for use. But for overall care, as I said, see a herbalist.

Fris5 profile image
Fris5 in reply toBluedragon

Thanks so much!! Will book apt 👍

SilverAvocado profile image
SilverAvocado

Fris5, in terms of thyroid levels, I assumed you were not taking any thyroid hormone. If you are this interpretation is completely different.

This thyroid panel is pretty spot on for a healthy person. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a checmical messenger telling the thyroid to make more hormone. When our hormone falls low, it will raise to stimulate making more. Its often used by doctors as the only method to diagnose and treat. A healthy person will have this between about 0.8-1.8, so yours is right in the good range.

FreeT4 and freeT3 show how much free hormone is available in the blood. T4, thyroxine, is the main hormone made by the thyroid. Its a storage form. Throughout our body this is converted to T3, the active hormone we need to kee our metabolism running. The ranges for these are both normal curves, with most healthy people being in the middle. The further out to the extremes you get the more likely there is a thyroid problem. In your case both are very close to the centre, which is an ideal result.

However you have an out of range thyroid antibody. I don't have Hashimotos autoimmune thyroid illness myself, and for years on the forum I'd thought a positive result on either antibody diagnosed Hashimoto's, but now recently I've realised an out of range anti thyroglobulin result is a bit more ambiguous. It may be Hashimotos, but can also be raised with other autoimmune illness.

At the moment your thyroid function looks great. These illnesses run in families, so you are more at risk because of your sister's illness. But family members don't necessarily have exactly the same autoimmune or thyroid condition.

If you do have autoimmune thyroid illness, your thyroid function will slowly deteriorate. The first number to reduce is often freeT4, and TSH would rise to stimulate more hormone. It can be either very slow or happen over a couple of years. Its easy to find lists of symptoms, and keep an eye out for if you're developing any.

vocalEK profile image
vocalEK in reply toSilverAvocado

I disagree. For doctors who like to treat patients based on the results they see on a lab test, you are correct. But her symptoms are screaming hypothyroidism. Once upon a time, doctors treated thyroid problems based on symptoms. From what I have seen on this forum, we would love to see medical staff stop using the TSH test as the Holy Grail and as the only gauge by which to measure treatment success. The Frees (FT3 and FT4) can point where supplementation of thyroid hormones is needed.

Fris5 profile image
Fris5

Thanks so much for your very balanced advise 👍

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