Hi I previously posted my NHS thyroid tests a few weeks ago which were tsh 3.7 T4 14.7
local ranges are Tsh 0.2-4.0 T4 10-20 T3 0.9-2.5
As my tsh looked to be borderline and given the symptoms I have been having plus the fact that my sister has hashimotos I decided to do the full thyroid screen with medichecks. The results are in and I have to have the foliate retested however I have the main ones I need. I feel like the doctors comments contradict some of the results. Anyway I have a gp appointment tomorrow at 7.50am and appreciate any advice thanks xx
My ferritin is 62.7 (13-150)
Active b12 73.5 (37.5 - 188)
VITAMIN D 51.1 (50-175)
Tsh 5.45 (0.27-4.2)
Free T3 3.88 (3.1-6.8)
T4 13.9 (12-22)
Thyroglobulin antibodies 275 (<115)
Thyroid peroxidase 51.5 < 34
Thanks
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Pumpkin04
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Ferritin is on low side. 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
What did the doctor's comments say that contradicted some of the results?
I hope that your GP will accept your Medichecks results.
Tsh 5.45 (0.27-4.2)
Free T3 3.88 (3.1-6.8)
T4 13.9 (12-22)
Thyroglobulin antibodies 275 (<115)
Thyroid peroxidase 51.5 < 34
Your raised antibodies suggest autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) which might come as no surprise considering your sister has this.
Your over range TSH, combined with your raised antibodies, should get you a diagnosis and prescription for Levo from an enlightened doctor.
It would be a good idea to go to your appointment with some evidence to support your request for a diagnosis/prescirption.
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine (the magazine for doctors):
Question 2 asks:
I often see patients who have an elevated TSH but normal T4. How should I be managing them?
Answer:
The combination of a normal serum T4 and raised serum TSH is known as subclinical hypothyroidism. If measured, serum T3 will also be normal. Repeat thyroid function tests in 2 or 3 months in case the abnormality represents a resolving thyroiditis.
But if it persists then antibodies to thyroid peroxidase should be measured. If these are positive - indicative of underlying autoimmune thyroid disease - the patient should be considered to have the mildest form of hypothyroidism.
In the absence of symptoms, some would simply recommend annual thyroid function tests until serum TSH is over 10mU/l or symptoms such as tiredness and weight gain develop. But a more pragmatic approach is to recognise that the thyroid failure is likely to become worse and try to nip things in the bud rather than risk loss to follow up.
Treatment should be started with levothyroxine in a dose sufficient to restored serum TSH to the lower part of it's reference range. Levothyroxine in a dose of 75-100mcg daily will usually be enough.
You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
print it and highlight question 2 to show your doctor.
Ferritin would be better half way through range (I've seen it said that 100-130 is a good level for females) and you can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet
Active B12 is just about OK - less than 70 would suggest testing for B12 deficiency.
VITAMIN D 51.1nmol/L (50-175) = 20.44 ng/ml
This is low and just scrapes into the sufficient category. The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L (50ng/ml) and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L (40-60ng/ml).
To reach the recommended level from your current level, based on the Vit D Council's suggestions you could supplement with 3,700iu D3 daily based on a current level of 25ng/ml. In your position I would refer to the range of 10-20ng/ml which suggests supplementing with 4,900iu D3 daily
As you have Hashi's then for best absorption an oral spray is recommended (eg BetterYou) or sublingual liquid as these are absorbed through the mucous membranes in the oral cavity so bypass the stomach.
When you have reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose to keep it there, which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public:
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray
Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.
Check out the other cofactors too (some of which can be obtained from food).
Don't start all supplements at once. Start with one, give it a week or two and if no adverse reaction then add the next one. Again, wait a week or two and if no adverse reaction add the next one. Continue like this. If you do have any adverse reaction then you will know what caused it.
Post your folate result when you have it for further comment. If it is below range that is folate deficiency and you would need to see your GP about it. If it is over Medichecks low limit but fairly low that would indicate supplementing with a good B Complex would be a good idea.
Hi thanks for the response what do you think the chances are of me getting thyroxine prescribed based on my Tsh which previously was within local range but is now outside of the local range
Hi thanks for the response what do you think the chances are of me getting thyroxine prescribed based on my Tsh which previously was within local range but is now outside of the local range
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