Thyroid test normal???

[Pumpkin04]

Hi

I have had some blood tests for my thyroid my results are Tsh 3.7 and free T4 14.7 the ranges are Tsh 0.2 - 4.0 miu/L and T4 10 - 20 pmol/L. My GP said that these are normal.

I have recently been diagnosed with stage 2 hypertension and am taking 10mg of Ramipril I am also on sertraline for depression and anxiety. I have had loads of other tests LFT and kidney diabetes etc also and they are fine.

I feel terrible I'm tired all the time no matter how mush sleep I have some nights my legs ache so much. I find it difficult to concentrate. My periods are normal albeit heavy on occasion however over the last 6 months or so I have noticed a difference to the ovulation discharge (my sister had this before she was diagnosed with hashimotos) I have had fertility issues and have been through IVF and other fertility treatment around 11 years ago.

I also get a lot of headaches and find it hard to loose weight.

Sorry if I have given too much info however you sometimes need all the details to get a clear picture.

Looking at the ranges I would say I'm heading to borderline and believe that this will get worse?

I have booked an appointment with my GP next Thursday so was looking for some advice

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

With a TSH of 3.7 (0.2 - 4.0) your thyroid is struggling and some other countries diagnose hypothyroidism when TSH reaches 3. In the UK we have to wait until it reaches 10.

For a full picture you need

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

As your sister has Hashimoto's there's a possibility that you might also so testing antibodies is important - both thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (Tg).

If you haven't had all those tests done, and GP can't or wont do them all (FT3 and thyroid antibodies may possibly be a problem) then you can do a private test with one of our recommended labs.

Medichecks Thyroid Check ULTRAVIT medichecks.com/thyroid-func... You can use code THYROIDUK for a 10% discount on any test not on special offer

or

Blue Horizon Thyroid Check PLUS ELEVEN bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/t...

Both tests include the full thyroid and vitamin panel. They are basically the same test but with the following small differences:

For the fingerprick test, Blue Horizon requires 1 x microtainer of blood (0.8ml), Medichecks requires 2 x microtainers (total 1.6ml)

Blue Horizon includes Total T4 (can be useful but not essential). Medichecks doesn't include this test.

B12 - Blue Horizon does Serum B12. Medichecks does Active B12.

Serum B12 shows the total B12 in the blood. Active B12 shows what's available to be taken up by the cells. You can have a reasonable level of Serum B12 but a poor level of Active B12. (Personally, I would go for the Active B12 test.)

[Pumpkin04 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you I have ordered the medichecks one now and paid for express delivery hoping that I can get this turned around before next Thursday. Do you have any advice for taking the test eg first thing on a morning etc?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Pumpkin04]

When doing thyroid tests, we advise:

* Book the first appointment of the morning, or with private tests at home no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.

* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.

* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.

* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it will give false results (Medichecks definitely use Biotin, they have confirmed this and the amount of time to leave the supplement off).

If doing a fingerprick test here are some tips:

* Be well hydrated, drink plenty of water the day before, and before you do the test.

* Some people take a shower before hand, some run up and down the stairs to get blood flowing. Personally, as I can't run up and down the stairs, I circle my arm round, windmill style.

* Have a bowl full of hot water, dip hand in and out, swish around, hand needs to go red. If blood flow stops, you can always swish round in the hot water again.

* Stand up to do the test. Make sure your arm is straight down when collecting the blood. Either use a small step stool to raise yourself well above the work surface, or put the collection tube on a lowish shelf. One member uses an ironing board so she can get the perfect height.

* Prick finger on the side, not the tip. I find that half way between the nail bed and tip is about right, or maybe slightly nearer the nail bed rather than the tip. I use my ring finger, but middle finger is next best for me.

* Do not squeeze your finger to get the blood out, it can damage the blood and it may not be usable

I've recently done 2 tests. The first one there was very little blood coming out which was unusual for me so I used a second finger and between the two I gradually filled the tube. However, when I checked the prick site for the first finger the actual cut was very small and as I've had some of these lancets fail before I put it down to that.

When I did the second test this is what I did

* Prick my finger as usual, make a very slight twist with the lancet whilst blade is still in the finger. I'm not talking 90 degrees or anything, just a very slight twist to make the cut just slightly bigger, it doesn't hurt or cause a blood bath! This made a big difference, 11 generous drops of blood filled the tube in less 2 minutes.

Post back Monday-Wednesday only if using first class post. To ensure the sample gets there as quickly as possible it's recommended to use Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed Next Day by 1pm. You need to hand your package over the counter and keep the receipt as it will have a tracking number, you will then be able to check and see if it has been delivered the next day. If it fails you can get the cost of Special Delivery back. When I use this service, because you have a prepaid 1st class return envelope, the counter assistant always reduces the cost of Special Delivery by the cost of the pre-paid amount.

If your test kit arrives tomorrow, don't do the test on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, this means that if you post it the sample will be hanging around until the lab opens on Monday. Do the test Monday morning and get it in that day's post, it should arrive Tuesday and sometimes results are back within 24 hours but not guaranteed, it may take a bit longer so if you think the timing might be tight you might want to rearrange your GP appointment. I suggest you put your results on the forum for comment before seeing your GP.

[Pumpkin04 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks so much x