Concern re thyroid

[Lurcher-lady]

I was recently diagnosed as B12 deficient, but have struggled to get loading injections, they just wanted me to take otc tablets. Finally got injections and felt better, but after 6 weeks, starting to feel unwell again. Doctor not interested and going by latest B12 results which are obviously higher, so I’ve decided to self inject. It’s been suggested I may have a thyroid issue, but again doctor says fine. Results are as pics show. Can anyone shed any light on this before I go back to the doctor in August.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Lurcher-lady

Your thyroid is struggling with a TSH of 3.51 and FT4 of 9.1 (7-17). In some countries you would have a diagnosis of hypothyrodism when TSH reaches 3, here we have to wait until it reaches 10.

The best you can hope for is to get an over range TSH and a below range FT4. To get the highest possible TSH you need a blood draw no later than 9am, fast overnight from evening meal/supper and drink water only - no tea, coffee, caffeine containing drinks before the blood draw. If you can get thyroid antibodies tested as well and these come back raised, with an over range TSH then an enlighted doctor would start you on Levo as you would have subclinical hypothyroidism with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's).

[Lurcher-lady in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for your help SeasideSusie. Can I request my doctor to do this or do I need to go privately? I’m guessing from what you’ve said that’s its going to be difficult to get treatment if levels fall within normal uk limits ☹️ Is there any way I can help the thyroid without treatment with a doctor?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lurcher-lady]

You can ask your GP it whether he will agree to repeat the tests and whether he can get thyroid antibodies tested, who knows.

If you want to do the test privately we have recommended labs who offer fingerprick tests or venous blood draw at extra cost.

If you want to do a private test then I suggest you do the full thyroid/vitamin panel which tests

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

TG antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

You can choose from either

Medichecks Thyroid Check UltraVit medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

Or

Blue Horizon Thyroid plus Eleven bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Post results with reference ranges when you have them and members will comment.

There's no saying your GP will accept private test results, some will, some wont.

[Hidden in reply to Lurcher-lady]

You can self treat and there are places you can buy thyroid hormones. I have self treated for several years. There is also a list of doctors available via TUK website who are more sympathetic and helpful re the kind of results you have. If you do decide to self treat make the most of the support here. You would need to start on a very low dose and increase very slowly leaving about six week between increases. It is also advisable to take your pulse and temperature every day. my GP has been very supportive re taking blood for me but that is unusual. You will also need to decide which thyroid hormones to take.Levo is the first to be prescribed and works very well for about 80% of people. I have pmed you some online phamacys that should have some levo and other forms of thyroid hormone.I would advise choosing something as cheap as possible and reliably available.T3 although favoured by many on here can be difficault to get hold of and sources ofte dry up/disappear and sometimes people are not sent the stuff they ordered. The online e pharmacys I have Pmed you are reliable but more expensive re T3. Unlike B12, thyroid hormones do have significant side effects. Your GP has not taken your Vitamin D, folate, and ferritin which are all essential for thyroid health so you might want to brave asking him or use one of the testing centers suzie has suggested.

[Lurcher-lady in reply to Hidden]

Ferritin is 41 Mandyjane, it’s on the other side of paper along with something called HbA1c which is 35. Folate is 7.

Just going to read this again to try to digest. Thanks.

[vocalEK in reply to Lurcher-lady]

The hemoglobin A1c test tells you your average level of blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months. It's also called HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin test, and glycohemoglobin.

People who have diabetes need this test regularly to see if their levels are staying within range. It can tell if you need to adjust your diabetes medicines. The A1c test is also used to diagnose diabetes.

I have no idea what 35 means because we need the range. In the U.S. the goal is to keep the number under 7 when being treated. Here's my lab's breakdown:

HGBA1C %5.6 %<=5.6 %

Range of 5.7-6.4% indicates increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus

Therapeutic goals:

Adult and pediatric population: <7.0%

Pregnancy: <6.5%

Special population*: <8.0%

*Age >65 yrs or co-morbidities present

(CHF, MI, CRF/ESRD, dementia, Ischemic vascular disease, etc.)

After going on low-carb diet and increasing exercise, my number went from 6.1 to 5.9. After my doctor added T3 to my levothyroxine, my A1C dropped to a nice healthy 5.6. (And I am over age 65)

From what I have seen, the UK uses a different range, and it might even vary from one lab to another. That's why we always ask for the range along with your results.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

folate should always be tested if B12 is low

Your B12 was extremely low

Were you tested for Pernicious Anaemia?

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

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.