Hi everyone I have just got my thyroid test done..I have been on Thyroxine for the last 5yrs ..I don't have a clue about how to read the results😄I'm currently on 100 of levothyroxine..my THS is 0.19mU/L
Free T4 16.6 pmol/L ..is this the right amount of Levothyroxine I should be taking ? as always feeling constantly exhausted..
Can anyone help me out to understand these readings😄Thanks
ballie52
In order for us to interpret your results, please add the reference ranges as they vary from lab to lab. TSH range doesn't vary much so that's pretty easy to interpret, but FT4 varies considerably and we often see 7-17, 9-19, 11-23, 12-22, so you can see that depending on your lab's range you could either be at the very top of the range or half way through.
Also important is to test FT3 so that we can see whether you convert T4 to T3 well enough, it's low T3 that causes symptoms. FT3 is rarely done at primary level so you may have to do a private test that includes TSH, FT4 and FT3 all done at the same time. Many of us here have to do that.
Hi seasideSusie Thanks for the reply
They only checked my THS and T4
Reference range for THS 0.35-5.50.. Free T4 range 10.5-21.0 pmol/L
OK, so your FT4 is 58% through it's range
[Calculator here if you wish to work out percentages in the future, click on hormony tarczycy tab for thyroid tests, inne for other tests].
Your FT4 is rather low in range. When did you take your last dose of Levo before the test?
Thanks Susie..I took my dose the night before my blood test in the morning!
So although you say the T4 is rather low but is my dose OK or does it need changing?
My GP never said anything so assuming my dose is OK !
ballie52
When doing thyroid tests, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, even if it means rearranging the time of dose the day before.
By taking your dose the night before your test, I imagine it may have been 12 hours? This will give a false high FT4. Your normal circulating level will be lower than that measured in this test.
The aim of a treated hypo patient generally, when on Levo, is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it needs to be for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their reference ranges, if that is where you feel well.
So your FT4 is too low and suggests you need an increase in your dose of Levo.
Although your TSH is low, this is not an indicator of thyroid status as it's not a thyroid hormone. FT4 and FT3 are the thyroid hormones and tell us what we need to know.
We Hypos are generally low in nutrients and it's important to have optimal nutrient levels for thyroid hormone to work properly. I'd suggest you get Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin tested, if your GP wont do them then we have recommended private labs who do.
Thank you very much Susie for explaining how it all actually works!
I usually don't hear from my GP after thyroid tests..maybe I should ask after getting these done if my dose is OK 💕
Best advice is to always ask the receptionist for a print out of your results after every blood test you have done. Thyroid results are usually back quite quickly - should be there the next day or the day after depending on the time of the blood draw and when it gets sent to the lab. The GP has to see the results and once that's happened you are legally entitled to a copy of them. Always ask for a print out, never accept verbal or hand written results as mistakes can happen. Some surgeries have online access for results, you could check whether yours does. You can always post your results on the forum and members will comment.
If your GP is like many others, asking him/her if your dose is OK then you will be told it is as long as your TSH falls anywhere within range, yet if it's higher than 1 you could well be undermedicated, and if your FT4/FT3 are low in range then you are very likely to be undermedicated.
And the GP will probably say yes, even though it is likely NOT OK for you!
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
Ask GP to test vitamin levels and 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 .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
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
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.
So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...
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_...
Come back with new post once you get results
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