Latest test results. Can anyone interpret these please.

Just to add i have not been diagnosed with anything yet. But been symptomatic for a few years now. Are these still normal?

Many thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Macey2002

Your Thyroid Function results are normal insofar as they are within their ranges. A normal healthy person is likely to have a TSH no more than 2 with FT4 around mid-range +. With your TSH at 3.13 in some countries you would be diagnosed hypothyroid as their cut off point is 3 whereas ours is 10.

Your Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies are raised and this suggests autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where the immune system attacks the thyroid and gradually destroys it. If you can get a TSH above range with raised antibodies then an enlightened doctor may prescribe Levo.

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.

Your B12 is on the low side. If the unit of measurement is ng/L or pg/ml (they are both the same) then the following applies:

According to an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency - check here:

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

If so then list them to discuss with your GP and ask for testing for B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia.

If no signs then you could supplement with a good quality B Complex such as Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B which has methylcobalamin (B12) and that will help raise your level. They also contain methylfolate which will help raise your folate level which is a bit low, it's recommended that folate should be at least half way through range.

Do not start taking the B Complex if you do have signs of B12 deficiency, you will need further tests first. It will mask signs of B12 deficiency and skew results.

Your Vit D is OK, the recommended level is 100-150nmol/L.

Ferritin isn't too bad but could be a bit higher. Eating liver or liver pate, black pudding and other iron rich foods every couple of weeks will help.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi thank you for the detailed reply. So what would you advise? Re test again in 3 months or so?

Yes ferratin is 68.5 (13-150)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Maybe retest when you feel at your worst - as in hypothyroid symptoms - and hopefully your TSH will be over range at that time. But even if you get a private test with raised TSH and raised antibodies, your GP may not accept the results and will want to repeat them himself.

Yes, I found your Ferritin result and edited my previous reply and commented.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. That may be tricky to do though as the private tests are booked in advance. Any suggestions on that one?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Do you do fingerprick tests? If so just send for a test, you have 6 months to use a Medichecks one and 12 months to use a Blue Horizon one, then you can do it whenever but remember to do it no later than 9am when TSH is at it's highest point in the daytime.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

I'be never done a fingerprick test. A bit apprehensive to try one. It's usually a nurse home visit

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Some people find them easy, others struggle. I can manage one microtainer without problems. If you order a fingerprick test and fail then both Medichecks and BH will send a further test free of charge, and this can be changed to a venous blood draw if preferred.

Medichecks have a helpful video although the test kit has been updated a bit since then:

youtube.com/watch?v=w2JzToZ...(Not working as expected?)

If you want to try a fingerprick test then I can list my tips, just ask.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. I could try i suppose. Any tips would be appreciated 😊

I know you said the gp might not accept the results. I went down the private route as my gp is lost as to what's wrong with me.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

* Be well hydrated, drink plenty of water the day before, and before you do the test.

* Some people take a shower before hand, some run up and down the stairs to get blood flowing. Personally, as I can't run up and down the stairs, I circle my arm round, windmill style.

* Have a bowl full of hot water, dip hand in and out, swish around, hand needs to go red. If blood flow stops, you can always swish round in the hot water again.

* Stand up to do the test. Make sure your arm is straight down when collecting the blood. Either use a small step stool to raise yourself well above the work surface, or put the collection tube on a lowish shelf. One member uses an ironing board so she can get the perfect height.

* Prick finger on the side, not the tip. I find that half way between the nail bed and tip is about right, or maybe slightly nearer the nail bed rather than the tip. I use my ring finger, but middle finger is next best for me.

* Do not squeeze your finger to get the blood out, it can damage the blood and it may not be usable

I've recently done 2 tests. The first one there was very little blood coming out which was unusual for me so I used a second finger and between the two I gradually filled the tube. However, when I checked the prick site for the first finger the actual cut was very small and as I've had some of these lancets fail before I put it down to that. When I did the second test this is what I did

* Prick my finger as usual, make a very slight twist with the lancet whilst blade is still in the finger. I'm not talking 90 degrees or anything, just a very slight twist to make the cut just slightly bigger, it doesn't hurt or cause a blood bath! This made a big difference, 11 generous drops of blood filled the tube in less 2 minutes.

If you supplement with Biotin, or a B complex containing it (B7), Medichecks have confirmed that because they use biotin in their assay it's recommended to leave it off for 7 days before doing any blood tests as it can give false results. It's a good idea to leave it off whoever is doing the test as many labs use biotin in the testing procedure.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the tips. I am very squeamish. Can i ask if it's painful to do it?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

No, not painful, it's just a quick pin prick when you press the lancet on the side of your finger.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. Another quick question. The latest test i ordered from blue horizons, they had a special 33% discount code. Do you know if they do that regularly?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

No, they don't have regular discounts, they're pretty random with BH.

Medichecks have one thyroid related discounted test on Thursdays and at the moment they have their Thyroid ULTRAVIT on time limited special offer at £79 (it's basically the same as Blue Horizon's Thyroid Plus Eleven)

medichecks.com/thyroid-func...

Medichecks have 10% discount with code THYROIDUK which can be used on any test not on special offer.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks again. Sorry for all the questions.

Trying to educate myself.

Do you think it's more likely i'm becoming hypothyroid now?

Previous years my tsh had never been above 2.

I know it's not just the tsh thst matters but the Dr's only go by that.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

You would be diagnosed with hypothyroidism in some countries because your TSH is over 3.

Your raised TPO antibodies suggest Hashi's.

Your TSH is rising.

I would say yes, you are hypothyroid but you don't yet have the results needed for a diagnosis here in the UK.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for that. It's difficult at times when Dr's label you with anxiety or its all in your head

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

On a personal note. Do you happen to have any hair care tips? Mine is in terrible condition now. So dry and snapping, breaking off really badly. It had always been healthy until a few years ago.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

No, sorry Hidden I can't help there. I have been blessed with inheriting thick plentiful hair from my father's side of the family and even if I sometimes shed more than is normal I have so much that it's never been a problem for me.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

That's ok. Thanks anyway. I do have plenty or hair. Too much i think. It's just the texture of it now. I thought maybe an internal problem. As it seemed to just change texture

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Can you get yourself to a private walk in clinic

medichecks.com/find-a-clinic

Order your kit ahead of when you need it

Get bloods done at walk in clinic at day to suit you

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

I had a quick look. The ones near by say appointment required.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie.

I appreciate all your advice ☺ Just a quick question. I am trying to raise my ferratin levels. Just bought some chicken liver pate (i think you said that was best) tried and failed to eat liver. It's 100 with 38g of chicken liver. Would 200g per week still be sufficient?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Try it for a while and perhaps retest ferritin in 3 months to see if it's making much difference. I don't like pate but am happy to eat liver and I know that the maximum amount of liver that is recommended is 200g due to high Vit A content. When I was raising my ferritin level was having about 120-140g of lamb's liver a week. Chicken liver is supposed to have a bit more iron than lamb's liver. It does take a while, it took me quite a few months but I saw a significant increase in my ferritin level.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

OK. Thanks again ☺ I will try and see. Having thyroid and vitamins done again in march anyway. So hopefully it helps a bit

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

bodykind.com/productdetails...

Is this the right b complex you suggested?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Yes, that's one of the two I mentioned. I haven't used that one, I did very well withThorne Basic B. SlowDragon uses that one.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

OK. Thanks again