TSH result

[ali56]

Hi received blood results today TSH 5.50 range 0.30-5.50

T4. 14.2 range 11-22

GP’s comments normal no action!! I don’t feel well.

Appreciate anybody’s thoughts

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

ali56

What thyroid meds are you on, knowing that will help us comment on y our results with some degree of accuracy.

In what way don't you feel well?

[ali56 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi not on any meds as in remission from graves.

I feel depressed, anxious, aching muscles, night sweats, day sweats

Just generally feel naff.

Had blood tests as follows

Fbc, serum B12, Vitamin D, bone profile, LFT, C reactive protein,

Serum Calcium, serum Iron and ferritin. All came back within range.

Can’t seem to string a sentence together

My TSH in July 3.58 range 0.30-5.50 so seems to be rising.

Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ali56]

Had blood tests as follows

Fbc, serum B12, Vitamin D, bone profile, LFT, C reactive protein,

Serum Calcium, serum Iron and ferritin. All came back within range.

Unfortunately, just being within range doesn't tell us whether the results are optimal. If you have the results you could post them with their reference ranges and we can see if any are low enough to be causing symptoms.

My TSH in July 3.58 range 0.30-5.50 so seems to be rising.

blood results today TSH 5.50 range 0.30-5.50

T4. 14.2 range 11-22

GP’s comments normal no action!!

I feel depressed, anxious, aching muscles, night sweats, day sweats

Your current results are hypothyroid, TSH is at the very top of it's range (some other countries diagnose and treat for hypothyroidism when TSH reaches 3), FT4 is only 29% through it's range.

Depression and anxiety can be symtoms of hypothyroidism. Aching muscles can be low Vit D.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts you seem to have Hashimoto's? And Graves

Clearly your TSH is too high and FT4 low

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Do you have high TSI or TRab antibodies and high TPO or TG thyroid antibodies?

What vitamin supplements do you currently take?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet? Or tried it?

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water . 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

What are actual results and ranges for

Vitamin D

Folate

Ferritin

B12

Suggest see GP and request starting on Levothyroxine

[ali56 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon

Vit D 64 range 50-125 am taking vit D3 20ug daily with K2

B12. 565 range 223-1132 take sublingual supp

Folate 9.6 range 3.9-20

Ferritin 75 range 14-186

Gp will not prescribe levo he says there is no evidence it makes any difference if you are in range.

His answer is antidepressants

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ali56]

Vitamin D is too low. Has it increased on 2000iu vitamin D?

You might benefit from supplementing a daily good quality vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial. Rather than just B12

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

I prefer Igennus Super B complex. Nice small tablets. Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks

Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Low vitamin D and low B vitamins may be linked as explained here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Apparently GP's gets an extra fee for prescribing antidepressants....

Suggest you get a TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested via Medichecks or Blue Horizon

Have you tried strictly gluten free diet? It can bring some improvements to symptoms

But you are still are likely to need Levothyroxine

[ali56 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for reply. My vit d went up to 106 on loading dose then gp said to take otc D3 obviously not taking enough.

Have high Tpo and Tg antibodies taken last year. Trab antibodies came back negative.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ali56]

So you have Hashimoto's (not Graves)

Low vitamin D is extremely common with both Hashimoto's and Graves

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function.

It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Frequently with Hashimoto's we need higher dose than average

Local CCG guidelines

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/286...

Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and treatment of patients with this condition with Vitamin D may slow down the course of development of hypothyroidism and also decrease cardiovascular risks in these patients. Vitamin D measurement and replacement may be critical in these patients.

endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/...

Evidence of a link between increased level of antithyroid antibodies in hypothyroid patients with HT and 25OHD3 deficiency may suggest that this group is particularly prone to the vitamin D deficiency and can benefit from its alignment.

[ali56 in reply to SlowDragon]

I was under a consultant for Graves’ disease how could they get it so wrong. Hashimotos was never mentioned. The consultant didn’t do any tests for antibodies, as he said they don’t bother with them. Will read through the links you have sent me.

Thank you for your help.

Alison

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ali56]

We see many "early stage Hashimoto's" patients misdiagnosed as Graves .....they see high FT4/FT3 and low TSH .....and assume its Graves

We ALWAYS say....if Graves is suspected get a TSI or TRab antibodies tested to confirm......

So you have had negative TRab test already

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[ali56 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon

reading List of symptoms am convinced I have had symptoms for years and been made to feel it was all in my mind. Struggling with life

Because gp,s are so obsessed with blood ranges and not how you feel. When you are not feeling well they take advantage of your vulnerability.

Thank you for taking the time to explain I really appreciate it.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ali56]

There are very many of us who have been in similar situation for years.

Reading profiles of members can show how the current recognition and treatment of thyroid disease is woefully poor

But it is possible to make progress

Getting all four vitamins optimal and looking at possible food intolerances can significantly improve symptoms

[ali56 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

Alison