Help and advice

I'm not getting to the bottom of my problems and keep hitting a brick wall. Was wondering if anyone here could help or advice for me please.

My TSH levels are below range at 0.23 mlU/L (0.35 - 4.5)

But T4 is at 17.6 pmol/L (11.0 - 24.0) and T3 is at 5.4 pmol/L (3.9 - 6.8) which is classed as normal.

But my cortisol levels are above range at 648 nmol/L (166.0 - 507.0)

Any advice would be great thank you 🤞🏻😁

[shaws Administrator]

Is it possible for you to add in the ranges for your results. Ranges are in brackets after result.

To edit your post click on the down arrow next to More (below your question) and select edit which enables you to add or change things.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Up dated 😁

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Well looking at previous post you take steroids so cortisol likely high due to this

TSH apparently often suppressed on steroids

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your response 😁 they have tested my vitamin B12 which is 292ng/L (180.0 - 2000.0) my folate is 5.52ug/L (3.1 - 18.3) and my ferritin 31 ug/L (13.0 - 150.0)

Might try medicheck just unsure which test is best??

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

So at the moment you just need to test vitamin D

Postal kit here £29

vitamindtest.org.uk

Meanwhile work on improving on other low vitamin levels

When were these tested? Recently?

B12 and folate on the low side. Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).

Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

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

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Ferritin is also low. Aiming to improve to around 70.

Eating liver or liver pate once a week, plus other iron rich foods like black pudding, prawns, spinach, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily vitamin C can help improve iron absorption

Come back with new post once you get vitamin D result

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you 😁 I'll check out medicheck site now. I'll keep you posted 😁

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Am I better off doing the thyroid check plus or the thyroid check ultravit??

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Assuming folate, ferritin and B12 were tested recently?

If so they don't need retesting

Suggest at moment you only test vitamin D

vitamindtest.org.uk

Then once you have improved low folate, ferritin and B12 you order Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin in 2-3 months time

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, done recently. Ok thank you for all your help 😁