I had blood test results back from Medichecks. I felt I've had hypothyroid symptoms for quite a few years ( I'm 56 ) but GP blood results have always come back within range. My worst symptoms are tiredness and brain fog and a bad memory, which are seriously affecting my life now. Also, feeling cold and my hair falls out by the brush full. I'm frightened to go back to my GP, could do with a bit of support on how to cope with this.
TSH 4.22 0.27 - 4.2
Free T3 4.4 3.1 - 6.8
Free Thyroxine 13.5 12 - 22
Thyroglobulin Antibodies 10.6 >115
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies <9 <34
Ferritin 240 13 - 150
Transferrin Saturation 18.61 20 - 50
Folate 11 >3.89
Vitamin B12 150.000 >37.5
Vitamin D 111 50 - 175
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Lexa22
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Your Ferritin is over range. Is there a reason for this that you know of? Do you supplement with iron tablets or a multivitamin? Did you eat liver or other high iron food in gthe 7 days prior to your test? Did you have an infection or inflammation at the time of the test?
Was CRP also tested (another inflammation marker)?
How come there's a result for transferrin saturation but no others for an iron panel?
Folalte, B12 and Vit D are all OK.
TSH 4.22 0.27 - 4.2
Free T3 4.4 3.1 - 6.8
Free Thyroxine 13.5 12 - 22
Your TSH is over range with a low FT4. This suggests your thyroid is struggling. Some countries will diagnose hypothyroidism when TSH reaches 3, in the UK the NHS tends to make us wait until it reaches 10 unless FT4 goes below range or thyroid antibodies are raised, and then an enlightened doctor may diagnose and prescribe Levo.
What time of day did you do the test? When doing thyroid tests, we advise:
* Book the first appointment of the morning, or with private tests at home no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If we are looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, or looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction then we need TSH to be as high as possible.
* Fast overnight - have your evening meal/supper as normal the night before but delay breakfast on the day of the test and drink water only until after the blood draw. Eating may lower TSH, caffeine containing drinks affect TSH.
* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.
* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (both Medichecks and Blue Horizon advise to leave Biotin/B Complex off).
These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with doctors or phlebotomists.
Thank you so much for the reply. No reason for the Ferritin to be over range, I do take a centrum multi vitamin though but no liver intake etc before the test. No infection but
CRP 7.63 <5
Iron 11.16 5.9 - 34.5
TIBC 59.96 45 - 72
UIBC 48.8 24.2 - 70.1
I had the test a about 9.30am and fasted the night before.
So CRP is raised. It's possible that because CRP is over range, and raised ferritin can be due to an infection/inflammation then that may possibly be the reason. Maybe worth retesting at some point.
Are you taking the Centrum Women 50+ supplement (just guessing as you've told us your age)?
Unfortunately, for many reasons, multivitamins are not a good idea. They tend to contain too little of anything to help low levels, often contain the cheapest and least absorbent of active ingredients, and also often contain things that should be tested for and only supplemented if found to be deficient.
If you are taking the Women 50+ then the following are a problem:
Vit K - doesn't say what form. K1 is the cheapest so I imagine it's that. K1 is the blood clotting form amd when taking D3 (which is included in the supplement) it's the K2 form which is needed because D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2 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.
B12 is cyanocobalamin and the recommended form is methylcobalamin.
Biotin is included and if a supplement containing biotin is not left off for 7 days before blood tests then results can be false.
Folic acid is included and methylfolate is the recommended form.
Calcium is included and this must be tested and only supplemented if deficient.
Magnesium is the oxide form which is cheap and difficult to absorb and has laxative properties.
Iron is included, again should be tested first but also affects absorption of other ingredients as iron should be taken 2 hours away from any other supplements.
Iodine is included and again this should be tested and only supplemented if found to be deficient, and then under the guidance of an experienced practioner. Iodine used to be used to treat overactive thyroid so can make hypothyroidism worse.
Selenium is the selenate form and has poor absorbancy, recommended form is l-selenomethionine or a yeast-bound selenium.
Zinc is the cheap oxide form, normally found in nappy rash creams.
Best place for multivitamins is in the bin I'm afraid, the only advantage they have is to line the pockets of the manufacturers.
Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men
and yours is only 18% through range.
TIBC (total iron binding capacity) or Transferrin: Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental ironand yours is 55% through range.
Unfortunately you don't have a result for saturation and there is no recommendation for UIBC
At this stage I would go with SlowDragon's suggestion of arranging an ultrasound scan of your thyroid to see if Hashimoto's is present.
I am taking the 50+, oh crumbs, I won't be taking that anymore then! So much to learn. I think I'll go see a different GP at the surgery and start from there, blood test and ultrasound. The Medichecks doctor said to retest 6-8 weeks. My TSH in August 2016 was 2.18, I think I'd hoped the latest blood test would be higher so they would take me seriously.
Thank you so much for the reply, that was interesting to read, I have started to read the forum/find out as much as I can, it does seem daunting though.
Try not to worry too much as we've all had that feeling on here during our journey, being forced to learn about the thyroid ourselves. I know it does feel daunting at the beginning, there is a lot to take in, but if you can spend time reading through the posts on here it will gradually sink in.
It has been good to read the posts, I’ve learned so much already, only joined Friday!! I’m phoning the Dr’s tomorrow for an appointment and go from there. Thank you for support.
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