I’ve been feeling rubbish again for the last 6 weeks (also have pa which I self inject for so know that’s ok, sleep apnoea that I’m on CPAP & sleep clinic happy with my results) so I got my thyroid checked (should’ve been checked last in April 18 I found out too) but nhs only did TSH & T4 & want to reduce my thyroxine based on those results.
TSH <0.03 (0.55-4.78)
T4 23.8 (10-20)
I know those two alone look like I’m on too much levothyroxine but surely they can’t get a full picture with just those 2 results? I also had it late in the day after breakfast & lunch but not sure if that would effect the results this much.
I really do feel like I’m not getting enough as I’m struggling to lose weight, exhausted, fatigued, sleeping lots, lack of interest in things, fuzzy brained etc etc ..the usual underactive thyroid symptoms.
I am planning on booking a medichecks full thyroid test & hope to see a better picture - do you guys think that’s the best step?
Thank you
Kate
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Kateefc
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For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
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)
Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
Is this how you do your tests?
Do you have Hashimoto's? Had high thyroid antibodies test ?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
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
When were vitamin D, folate and ferritin last tested?
As you have PA and SI B12 do you also supplement a daily good quality vitamin B complex?
Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.
B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast
Igennus Super B complex are 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
I’m just about to book the £99 test on medicheck & I’ll make sure I don’t eat or drink before it, I just forgot this time. Yes I don’t take my levothyroxine on the day of the test.
In the past I’ve had all sorts checked but no longer have the copies (threw them when I started to feel better in April when I started CPAP ..sleep apnoea they think is caused by my too small far back lower jaw & I've braces on at the moment & meet with the orthodontist & orthognathic surgeon on Friday to discuss next steps of surgery)
Vit D etc were last tested about 2 years ago & vit D was slightly low so told to take a supplement which I did but I’ve not taken it for a year so I could start that again too or should I wait until medichecks results?
Folate ferritin etc where always fine. Not sure on high thyroid antibodies.
My PA was found by a rheumatologist who I was referred to for lupus due to high ana score but he said I didn’t have it & suspected b12 deficiency so tested for that & diagnosed pa. He told me I wouldn’t be able to absorb any orally hence injecting (docs did loading doses but wouldn’t do as many as I needed after them so consultant taught me to SI to save me going to him at the hospital all the time.
It was a locum & he was baffled & said all but two he could arrange but would be 3 weeks til test so he agreed it was best for me to do through medichecks then go back with those results.
I’ve never been told I do but I’m never told anything!
The Maxillofacial guy thought it was linked to my thyroid but all of the staff in the sleep clinic & the orthognathic surgeon are convinced that it’s my jaw & have told me there are so many studies out there to prove my jaw type causes SA that they don’t understand why the Maxillofacial facial guy didn’t refer me to orthognathics straight away. The orthognathic one I then saw privately was also baffled & put me back on the nhs & it’s her & an orthodontic colleague of hers I see on Friday to discuss the jaw surgery.
Interesting article though thank you & I’d love it if my SA has caused my thyroid issues & they all disappear after surgery ..how wonderful that would be ey?!
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