Can anyone help to understand blood results - Thyroid UK

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Can anyone help to understand blood results

Notepad21 profile image
8 Replies

Help needed please to understand Blue Horizon Blood test result

Had blood test results back on Thursday and would appreciate some help understanding the results.

TSH. 0.29 RANGE 0.27 TO 4.20

T4TOTAL 117.0 RANGE 66 to 181

Free T4 RANGE 12.0 TO 22.0

Free T3 RANGE 3.1 TO 6.8

Anti thyroidperoxide abs is 75 ideal if less than 35

AntiThyroglobulin Abs is 43 ideal if less than 115.

VITAMIN D 53 . RANGE 30 to 50 insufficient

VITAMIN B12 292 RANGE 145 to 300 is insufficient

SERUM FOLATE . 12.10 RANGE 8.83 TO 60.8

Last blood test results from GP on 6th September was

TSH 7.8 with range 0.4 to 4

T4 11.2 with range of 9 to 25

I don't get any other measurements from GP.

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Notepad21
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8 Replies
Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot

There is no result next to the Blue Horizon Free T4 and Free T3 just the reference ranges. We really need these to comment.

Also are you only medication? Taking vitamin Supplements? This info will help us give an informed opinion.

Notepad21 profile image
Notepad21

Free T4 20.2 . RANGE 12 to 22

Free T3 5.10 RANGE 3.1 TO 6.8

I currently take 100mcg levothyroxine and 20mcg of Liothyroine.

No other supplements

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Notepad21

Notepad21

How do you feel?

Notepad21 profile image
Notepad21 in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi Seaside Suzie.

At the beginning of September I could hardly move with aches and pains in nearly every joint. I cut out my wine and coffee completey and started taking tablets with just water at least an hour before any food or drink which I hadn't been doing previously . Over the weeks the pains reduced but for the past 4 days I have had horrendous stomach pains and feeling bloated . I've kept a food diary and the only thing I can put the pain down to is a seeded bread roll that I ate on Tuesday.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Notepad21

I've just looked at your previous post and it would seem there have been some changes to your thyroid meds in recent months.

Last blood test results from GP on 6th September was

TSH 7.8 with range 0.4 to 4

T4 11.2 with range of 9 to 25

At the beginning of September I could hardly move with aches and pains in nearly every joint

What thyroid meds were you taking at the time of this GP test?

How long had you been on that/those particular dose(s)?

**

So for your recent Blue Horizon test I take it you were on 100mcg Levo plus 20mcg T3? How long had you been on those particular doses?

Did you take your last dose of Levo 24 hours before the blood draw, and last dose of T3 8-12 hours before blood draw?

**

Sorry for all the questions, it helps to interpret the results and I'll comment on your thyroid results when you've clarified those points :)

**

For now I can comment on these:

Anti thyroidperoxide abs is 75 ideal if less than 35

AntiThyroglobulin Abs is 43 ideal if less than 115.

Your TPO antibodies are raised which suggests autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's. Did you know this?

Hashi's is where the immune system attacks and gradually destroys the thyroid. Fluctuations in symptoms and test results are common with Hashi's. Hashi's isn't treated, it's the resulting hypothyroidism that is.

Some members have found that adopting a strict gluten free diet can help, although there is no guarantee.

Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks.

You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

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

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies and you do have some low levels.

*

VITAMIN D 53 . RANGE 30 to 50 insufficient

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 raise your current level from 53nmol/L (21.2ng/ml), the Vit D Council suggests supplementing with 3,700iu D3 daily (nearest is 4,000iu).

As you appear to have Hashi's, for best absorption an oral spray is recommended (eg BetterYou) although some Hashi's patients also do well with an oil based softgel (eg Doctor's Best).

Once 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:

vitamindtest.org.uk/

Doctors don't know, because they're not taught much about nutrients, but there are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

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.

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

drjockers.com/best-magnesiu...

afibbers.org/magnesium.html

Check out the other cofactors too (some of which can be obtained from food).

*

VITAMIN B12 292 RANGE 145 to 300 is insufficient

As the notes tell you, this is insufficient. Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency?

Check for signs of B12 deficiency here:

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

If you do, then list them to discuss with your GP and ask for testing for B12 deficiency/pericious anaemia. Many people with a B12 level in the 300s have been found to need B12 injections.

If you don't have any symptoms then you could supplement with sublingual methylcobalamin 1000mcg, along with a B Complex to balance all the B vitamins. Finish the bottle then just take the B Complex.

*

SERUM FOLATE . 12.10 RANGE 8.83 TO 60.8

This is rather low in range. Folate is recommended to be at least half way through it's range.

You can help raise folate by eating lots of folate rich foods, and supplementing with a good B Complex eg Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B.

However, don't start supplementing with a B Complex until further testing of B12 has been carried out if necessary and B12 injections/supplementation have been started.

*

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.

*

Have you got a result for Ferritin?

Notepad21 profile image
Notepad21 in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi Seaside Suzie

My Ferritin level is 68.2 (13 to 150 )

I wasn't aware that I had Hashi but ive started reading Hashimitos Protocol and began suspecting I had.

History of medication . Taken 100mcg of Levothyroxine and 20mcg of Liothyroine for over 15yrs with head in the sand regarding my condition of underactive thyroid. ( just trusted GP and took the tablets) . However In May this year GP stopped my Liothyroine completely and increased my Levo to 200mcg . I went back to GP at end of June as began to feel unwell. ( depressed, tired, lethargy, joint pains , putting weight on . A 2nd GP reinstated 20mcg Liothyroine and decreased Levo to 150mcg. Prescribed Orlistat to loose weight. Had blood test at end of August and told TSH 7.8 (0.4 to 4 ) T4 11.2 (9 to 25) told to adjust tablets to 150mcg Levo and 40mcg Liothyroine . This is when I realised I had to take control as clearly GP don't understand the effects of condition. I've had stomach pains on and off for months and been referred for colonoscopy which revealed 3 pockets of diviticulosis.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

How long have you been back on T3?

It will likely take several weeks/months to recover

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Vitamin levels frequently drop dramatically when T3 is withdrawn

Notepad21 profile image
Notepad21

Back on T3 since July

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