New here. Got a Thyroid blood test done privately and just received the results. Can anyone interpret / explain?

[owl_trousers]

Hi All,

I've had a thyroid check done through medichecks and I've just got my results back. Wondering if anyone can interpret them and explain?

Thyroid Hormones

TSH 1.76 mIU/L (Range: 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 4.16 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine 14.900 pmol/L (Range: 12 - 22)

Autoimmunity

Thyroglobulin Antibodies 24.100 kIU/L (Range: < 115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies X 88.8 kIU/L (Range: < 34)

So the only one out of range was the Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies, but it was right up at the top of the scale.

I have googled, so have a rough idea - but would like some real person feedback.

[owl_trousers]

Really hoping someone can help.

[Nanaedake]

Are you taking levothyroxine? In the results you've given, TPO antibodies are elevated above lab range indicating autoimmune thyroid condition. I've seen people on this forum with TPO antibodies on the 1000's but I don't know if how high they are is particularly significant. It's more the fact that you have elevated antibodies that's relevant. Antibodies tend to fluctuate with the course of the disease from what I've observed. Others more knowledgeable on this will respond I'm sure.

[owl_trousers in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

No, I'm not any medication. I have been having symptoms of thyroid issues since giving birth 18 months ago.

[Nanaedake in reply to owl_trousers]

Your thyroid blood results are in the normal range so at the moment you don't need levothyroxine but this could alter due to the fact you have TPO antibodies which indicates Hashimotos thyroiditis. The disease can progress slowly or it may develop more quickly so you need a blood test at least yearly to check what's happening. Test TSH, FT4 and FT3 and do the blood test first thing in the morning and fasting.

Antibodies can fluctuate. I've known people who have elevated antibodies one blood test and then within range the next.

Your symptoms may be due to another coexisting autoimmune condition or caused by low vitamin levels which are very common in people with Hashimotos.

You need to ask doctor to test vit D, B12, folate and ferritin. When you have the results then post them here and you will get good advice. Post them even if doc says they are fine because if you are coasting along the bottom of the range you won't feel well.

Be tenacious about this. You deserve to feel well again. If you can't get the tests on NHS then get them done privately through reliable online lab such as Medichecks or Blue Horizon. Read about Hashimotos on Thyroid UK website.

[owl_trousers in reply to Nanaedake]

My ferritin is 111, so that looks ok.

Waiting for my b12 to come through.

Thank you for all this information. It's so helpful.

[Nanaedake in reply to owl_trousers]

Make sure you get vitamin D result, very likely low if you haven't been supplementing.

[owl_trousers in reply to Nanaedake]

Ok, I will look into this also.

Not sure if related but I have been on a low-carb diet for 2 months and its been causing me dreadful headaches, which then turned into a huge migraine last Monday where I could barely think and function and my head was pounding - I also suffered from complete loss of my interal thermometer, I was just boiling 24/7. I did some googling and read that low carb diets can have an impact on your thyroid, especially if it is already struggling. This is what lead me to get tested once and for all.

[Nanaedake in reply to owl_trousers]

Was there any particular reason for a low carb diet? Did you follow a balanced plan like one on the diabetes websites? They have good advice on their websites.

Did you have a temperature and did the doctor exclude obvious things like a virus or urine infection?

Gluten is known to exacerbate antibodies activities in some people apparently. Read Administrator Slowdragons replies to people on that topic.

[owl_trousers in reply to Nanaedake]

I did it to try and lose weight, which is near on impossible for me. I didn't follow a plan but I did eat a fairly balanced diet, tracked macros etc just tried to stay below 50g carb a day. I lost 5lb but I've felt weird ever since.

Yes, I did have a temp of 38, v severe headache and constant sweats. No other symptoms. Painkillers did nothing for it. Personally I don't think it was a bug, I think its all related. Exact same feeling a month previous.

Do you think I should approach my GP with my findings now, or wait and see / retest in 3 months?

[Nanaedake in reply to owl_trousers]

With the symptoms you've got I think you should ask your GP to explore further with blood tests but I don't think it's your thyroid that is causing your symptoms. Autoimmune conditions tend to coexist so it's possible there is something else going on. I would check it out.

Along with vitamin D, your GP could run a full blood count if not already done. I would retest thyroid in 6 months. Your GP won't offer any treatment for thyroid as your thyroid results are comfortably normal. There is no medical treatment for thyroid antibodies.

You could give your GP a copy of your blood test results as a reason to do a thyroid blood test yearly and exclude other autoimmune conditions.

[owl_trousers in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks so much Nanaedake.

I have had a full blood count btw, all within range. I will speak to my GP at my next appointment and ask for further testing.

[Nanaedake in reply to owl_trousers]

When you say they are all within range, what was your B12 and folate? Was vit D included? In range doesn't mean optimal where vitamins are concerned.

[owl_trousers in reply to Nanaedake]

B12, vit D and folate were not included annoyingly, but I have ordered the b12 myself.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Nanaedake]

I agree about supplementing.

I got my Medichecks results back last week and was really surprised to discover that in spite of having spent the previous three weeks in the south of France where the sun shone every day and the temps were in the mid 30s plus the mostly sunny summer we had here where we live - my vitamin D was only 93.7 (50-175) - I know that isn’t low but it’s on the low side compared to my ‘normal’ vitamin D results.

I very rarely use sun blocker - use a hat, sunglasses and sit in the shade - so that’s not why.

I normally have two eggs for breakfast every day but went on to just one at the start of summer and also stopped supplementing.

Bottom line is - I think we probably need to supplement with vitamin D a lot more than we realise especially in the U.K. so I’m back supplementing again.