Help with my test results

[richie296]

It's over 6 weeks now Feeling tired, head unclear as if I'm wearing headphones, loss off appetite as food just creates lots of wind to which I belch up. I have been taking thyroxin 150mcg for 8 years now. I have had problems a few times over the years and dosage adjustment has resolved. Readings are as follows. Been told converting thyroxin ok. My tsh June 2019 25/0.18 ft4 July 2017 18.6 No ft3 reading taken to date. Been told they will take new readings in 8 weeks. Refused me access to specialist. Can't go 8 weeks like this. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Ps vitamin d and b12 ok taking supplements.

[Peder]

cut glutin out... i know its easier to say than do it.. ive recently started to cut it out.initially youll feel crap..but after a week or so, you will feel a benefit.

[MaisieGray in reply to Peder]

You can't guarantee that. Eliminating gluten does not benefit everyone.

[Peder in reply to MaisieGray]

ok...i agree... maybe feel better is what i meant to put..P

[greygoose]

Who told you you were converting ok? Your doctor? I very much doubt he would know. I'm afraid we just cannot take their word for anything, we always need to double check. And if you are on 150 mcg levo, and still feel so bad, I very much doubt you are converting well. Has he ever even tested your FT3? Without that, he wouldn't know.

Sounds to me as if you need to get proactive, and do full thyroid tests privately:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

Tg antibodies

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin

That is the only way you're ever going to have a clue what's going on.

Refused me access to specialist

I presume mean an endo? That's probably just as well. Endos are very, very rarely thyroid specialists, they specialise in diabetes, and have some very queer notions about thyroid. They often mess people up completely. Learn about your own disease and take charge. That's the only way to improve.

[richie296 in reply to greygoose]

Ft3 not been done in years. Doc said no need if tsh in range. As for going private I have paid all my taxes etc and feel entitled to tests on NHS. If all sufferers do this. May as well scrap the nhs

[greygoose in reply to richie296]

Well, your doctor is totally wrong! And, he cannot possibly know how well you convert just by looking at your TSH. Silly man!

In principle, I would agree with you on the tests. But, the reality is that you are just not going to get them on the NHS. So…

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Been told converting thyroxin ok

No ft3 reading taken to date

Is your doctor psychic? How can s/he possibly say that if you haven't had FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time.

My tsh June 2019 25/0.18 ft4 July 2017 18.6

Not sure I understand this. What do you mean by 25/0.18

Was only TSH tested in June?

[richie296 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Tsh test he said 25 then 0.18. ? no ft3 not done for years. Ft4 result July 2017 actually reckons my problem is another underlying problem and nothing to do with thyroids. Vit d and b12 folate and ferritin fine tested recently

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to richie296]

Tsh test he said 25 then 0.18. ?

No idea what he means by that then. If your TSH was 25 you would be very undermedicated. A TSH of 0.18 is probably below range and means your dose of Levo is probably OK. However, TSH alone tells us nothing, we need at least FT4 to go with it and if we want to know how well we convert then we need TSH, FT4 and FT3 all tested the same time.

To clear things up I would pop along to the surgery and ask at the reception desk for a print out of your results. Don't accept hand written or verbal results as mistakes can be made and information left out - as illustrated in what you have so far told us. The print out should have the test name, the result and the reference range (often at the side, sometimes in brackets). Post these when you have them and we can try and make sense of them.

Vit d and b12 folate and ferritin fine tested recently

What does "fine" mean? Within the normal range? Optimal? We need to see the results with units of measurement and reference ranges then we can interpret your results. Again, make sure you get a print out of these.

[richie296 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply. It's starting to make sense now. I asked for test results. Received urea and electrolytes, calcium, liver function, serum c etc. Can't see tsh ft3 ft4 anywhere on sheet. Have I asked for the wrong details. Richie

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to richie296]

If you know you've had thyroid tests done then ask for a print out of the results of your thyroid tests. Everything they've been tested will be there. If it's not there then it wasn't tested.

When I want my results I know what's been tested so I just ask

"Can I have a print out of the results of the thyroid test I had done last week please" or ".............. liver function test please" or "........... all the tests done last week please".

[richie296 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I was under the impression that the blood tests were for my complaint regarding my thyroids. I will ask for them Monday. I don't think they're very pleased us asking for printouts. Thank you richie

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Anything else changed recently, like brand of Levothyroxine?

Are you saying only TSH tested June 2019 ?

TSH 0.18

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate

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

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in Levothyroxine

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

Absolutely no point seeing any thyroid specialist until you have got FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing and resolved any low vitamin levels by supplementing

If taking vitamin D you should retest levels twice yearly anyway

You could test just vitamin D now £29

vitamindtest.org.uk

Then get thyroid plus vitamin test via Medichecks in few weeks

[richie296 in reply to SlowDragon]

No change of brand for 3 years. That's what was causing past problems mentioned. You have given me the info regards tests. But how do I get it across to doctor he's not really bothered how I feel at present. As for going private for tests the same applies. What do I do with the results. Thank you in advance. Richie

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to richie296]

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges and members can advise on next steps

Full testing is essential to see if you are simply under medicated or a poor converter - testing FT3 and FT4 essential to see this.

This can simply be due to inadequate dose of Levothyroxine (only aparent in you test FT4). If FT4 is too low, your under medicated

If FT4 is high, but FT3 is low you are poor converter

Improving low vitamin levels can help improve conversion of FT4 to FT3

Many on just Levothyroxine need extremely low or suppressed TSH and high FT4 in order to have high enough FT3

Common for conversion to get worse over time or when TSH is low (as yours is)

If you have Hashimoto's (high thyroid antibodies) low vitamins are especially common. Gluten or dairy intolerance common too

Many of us eventually need addition of small dose of T3

First step is to get full Thyroid and vitamin testing making sure to get blood tests done as early as possible in morning and fasting and last dose Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test

[richie296]

Many thanks keep you posted. Requesting thyroid results Monday. Not blood tests what I have been given. Great site for general info for me and I know many others.