Thyroid tests please help

[richie296]

thankyou all for your help last week. Here are my tsh results for sept 2018 and June 2019. As previous post. On 150 mcg levothyroxin. 6 weeks now fuzzy head stomach upset cold feet. Normally a good eater. Eating 2 snacks a day and walking or cycling for 2 hours a day to burn it off otherwise stomache rumbles and head is worse. Doctor advised vitamin d sups been taking 6 weeks. I still complained advised vit b12 been taking for 7-10 days. Doc reckons I am converting ok folate and ferritin satisfactory. REFUSES to adjust my dosage either up or down. Had blood tests taken for liver function. Doc said Satisfactory serum HDR cholesterol 44p5 below range result 1.0 mmolL>1.0 I can post complte results if needed. Are my symptoms thyroid related and doc says no. My head done in advise please. Other result to follow can only post 1 pic at a time. Richie

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Other post for information here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

richie296

As there are only 3 results in total, it would have been better (and probably quicker) to type them all into this post. I have closed your other post so that things don't get complicated by responses on two threads, and linked back to this one and members can respond on this thread.

Your TSH is virtually identical now and last September. But as was pointed out in your previous thread TSH alone is not an indicator of thyroid status. You need FT4 and FT3 and you need everthing tested at the same time.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

As SlowDragon advised in reply to your previous thread

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.

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

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

Doctor advised vitamin d sups been taking 6 weeks.

What dose D3 has your GP suggested (presumably not prescribed)? What exactly are you taking? D3 has important cofactors. Please say what you are taking so that further advice can be given.

I still complained advised vit b12 been taking for 7-10 days

What was your test result for B12? Presumably self supplementing? What are you taking? Are you taking B12 plus a B Complex to balance all the vitamins?

Doc reckons I am converting ok

As mentioned in reply to previous thread, impossible for your GP to say unless TSH, FT4 and FT3 are all tested at the same time.

folate and ferritin satisfactory

So have they been tested? What are the results (including reference ranges)?

REFUSES to adjust my dosage either up or down.

That's understandable considering your TSH result. Dose adjustment could be possible when FT4 and FT3 are tested.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

There's over 100,000 members on here

Vast majority are forced to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing privately

Almost 2 million people in UK are on Levothyroxine

Between 10-20% of these can not manage on just Levothyroxine

But NHS is disinterested in helping these 200,000-400,000 patients

If you wat to get well the first step is FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

Your GP can't order all these, the labs will refuse to do many even if requested

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).

Is this how you do your tests?

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.

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Many people on Levothyroxine need very suppressed TSH and high FT4

Others need addition of small dose of T3

All patients on Levothyroxine need vitamin levels optimal. This requires regular testing and frequently supplementing to improve