I posted for the first time just over a week ago .I have been having many symptoms of under active thyroid. Medicheck blood test taken at beginning of month confirmed elevated TSH and low Free T4. .I have since had blood taken at GP surgery and also had a Medicheck UltraVit blood test. Both taken after 12 hours fasting.Results below:
GP surgery - Blood taken 21.8.19, 9.15 am:
TSH 5.3 (0.27-4.5)
Serum free T4 11.2 (11.0-23.00)
Medichecks - Blood taken 26.8.19, 6.30am
TSH 10.2 (0.27-4.2)
Free T3 3.53 (3.1-6.8)
Free Thyroxine 11.8 (12 - 22)
CRP HS 2.74mg/l (<5)
Ferritin 123ug/l (13-150)
Folate-serum 6.6ug/l (>3.89)
Vitamin B12- Active 105.000 pmo/l (37.5 -188)
Vitamin D 57.6 (50-175)
Thyroglobulin antibodies<10 kIU/L (<115)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies <9.0 kiU/L (<34)
Doctors overview:
Thank you for the information you’ve provided
.
As you are not known to have a thyroid disorder these results suggest that your thyroid is becoming underactive and should be discussed with your GP at your appointment on the 5th. An underactive thyroid can cause symptoms such as weight gain, low mood, lethargy, hair and skin problems.
Your thyroid antibodies reveal no evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease.
Your vitamin D levels are bordering on insufficient. This may progress to vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency if you don’t take steps to increase your vitamin D levels.
Low levels of vitamin D can cause fatigue, bodily aches, poor memory and difficulties concentrating.
Outside of the winter months there is enough sun for your skin to make at least part of your daily requirement of vitamin D, so it is worth trying to get 15-20 minutes of midday sun when the sun is out.
We recommend supplementing with 400 - 800 iu of vitamin D per day for twelve weeks. If you are already taking vitamin D then I recommend that you increase your dose.
You have otherwise healthy result with low inflammation and normal levels of folate, ferritin and B12.
I have my first appointment with my GP on Wednesday (4th) to hopefully get a diagnosis and begin treatment. I would like to be prepared as possible so would appreciate if anyone could provide further insight in to these results - particularly as to why there is such a vast difference in TSH
Also, if I am prescribed Levothyroxine is one particular make better than anther - I've read some horror stories about people feeling worse on medication although friends and family who take the drug have had no such symptoms.
Many thanks in advance
Written by
Debslee
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Definitely take these Medichecks results to your GP appointment to discuss, they may be dismissed but if so it's leverage for you to ask your GP to repeat all the tests.
As for the difference in TSH, it's not static, there is a circadian rhythm to all hormone levels, but even so what your TSH is at a particular time today doesn't mean that it will be the same tomorrow. It's over range, as your NHS test TSH is, that's all that matters. Your Medichecks result is over the magic number (10) to give you a diagnosis/treatment so hopefully your GP will do so.
Those comments from the Medichecks doctor are better than most we see although the suggestion for Vit D dose leaves a lot to be desired.
So, breaking down your Medichecks results:
TSH 10.2 (0.27-4.2)
Free T3 3.53 (3.1-6.8)
Free Thyroxine 11.8 (12 - 22)
Over range TSH, below range FT4, this is primary hypothyroidism and treatment should be started. If GP doesn't like your private results, remind him that you've already had NHS results which show over range TSH and FT4 that just scraped into range by 0.2 points.
Thyroglobulin antibodies<10 kIU/L (<115)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies <9.0 kiU/L (<34)
Low enough to be negative. They could be positive another time so just testing once isn't enough to discount Hashi's. And apparently it's possible to have Hashi's without raised antibodies.
Ferritin 123ug/l (13-150)
This is fine. I've seen it said that for females 100-130 is a good level.
Vitamin B12- Active 105.000 pmo/l (37.5 -188)
This is OK.
Folate-serum 6.6ug/l (>3.89)
Although over the low limit, I would want mine in double figures. Eating folate rich foods can help but I'd also be considering a good B Complex containing methylfolate (not folic acid). Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B are good brands with bioavailable ingredients that are popular here. If you want a wholefood supplement then look at Naturelo B Complex or Garden of Life Raw B Complex.
Vitamin D 57.6 (50-175) = 23ng/ml
This is low. 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).
Your GP wont prescribe anything for this level so you'll need to sort this out yourself.
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 (nearest is 4,000iu)
For best absorption from an oral supplement that is swallowed then consider an oil based softgel (eg Doctor's Best), avoid tablets and capsules as they have poor absorption in comparison. Some people like an oral spray (eg BetterYou) or sublingual liquid.
Once you've 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.
CRP HS 2.74mg/l (<5)
This is in range and I expect Medichecks comments have said this is satisfactory.
Also, if I am prescribed Levothyroxine is one particular make better than anther - I've read some horror stories about people feeling worse on medication although friends and family who take the drug have had no such symptoms.
Levothyroxine is not a drug, it's hormone replacement.
Some people do react to certain excipients which can differ between brands.
The one brand that seems to cause problems for quite a few people is Teva although many people find they do well on Teva. It's down to the individual. Teva is a lactose free brand and instead of lactose they use mannitol. All the other brands contain lactose. All you can do is try whatever is prescribed. If it causes you problems then ask for a different brand.
Something to be aware of is that Actavis, Almus and Northstar are all the same. Actavis is rebranded as Almus for Boots and Northstar for Lloyds Pharmacy although they can sometimes be dispensed at other pharmacies.
SeasideSusie, thank you so much for your comprehensive and really informative reply.I really appreciate it. I feel so much better prepared and will update following my appointment
Your thyroid antibodies appear to be negative, meaning cause doesn't appear to be autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's)
However one in five Hashimoto's patients never have raised Thyroid antibodies.........ask for an ultrasound scan of thyroid. This can help with diagnosis
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