Help with TSh results

[Lisaanders]

Any help with my Thyroid results would be greatly appreciated. My TSH is 3.65 , free triiodothyronine (T3) 4.80pmol/L and Free Thyroxine (FT4) 12.40pmol/L.

Thank you Lisa

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Are you trying to get diagnosed or are you on Levothyroxine ?

See my reply to earlier post this morning

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Lisaanders in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks for this. Kindest regards

Lisa

[SilverAvocado]

Hi Lisaanders. Your TSH is raised. Healthy people will have a TSH between about 0.8-2, once your TSH gets above about 2.5 we can be fairly sure there is something going on with your thyroid.

If you're taking thyoid hormone, most people will need a TSH at the lower end, often well below the bottom the the range, to feel well. This means if you're already taking hormone you likely need a dose increase, probably a few increases in a row.

Unfortunately I can't interpret your other results without the ranges.

[Lisaanders in reply to SilverAvocado]

Many thanks for taking the time to reply to me, it is really appreciated, I have had so many symptoms for years and have always been fobbed off, even with the fact that my Mum, Auntie and sister all have thyroid problems, I am in Spain at the moment so am able to purchase Medication over the counter , the ranges on the other 2, I will try and post a photo (ft4) the normal range is 12 - 22 I am 12.4 and the (t3) normal range is 3.1 - 6.8 and mine is 4.8 thank you again Lisa

[SilverAvocado in reply to Lisaanders]

That freeT4 is pretty low. For both the free hormones the ranges are normal curves, most healthy people are in the centre and the farther out you get the more likely there is something wrong. The freeT3 is in the healthy range, but this is quite common - when the thyroid starts to fail the body works very hard to keep T3 at decent levels. But from observing people on the forum the preserved freeT3 level doesn't prevent symptoms.

You should be warned that even though it's clear to patients you have a thyroid our issue, doctors will not usually not treat intil the TSH reaches the top of the range or higher.

If you'd like to buy your own thyroid hormone, start with 50mcg of Thyroxine/levothyroxine/T4, then stick with that for 6 weeks and have another set of thyroid blood tests, adjust the dose by 25mcg at a time until you're close to your sweet spot. Keep having a blood test every 6 weeks until you're happy with the dose. I recommend reading the forum and getting very familiar with reading blood tests and how to dose.

In blood test terms you are initially looking to get the freeT4 high in range, which if you're lucky will give a good free T3, too. But symptoms are the most important thing. Buy a good thermometer and measure (and record) morning and daytime temperature, and take your pulse daily according to one of the protocols, I do mine morning and night because that's how I started, but there are better methods out there.

Don't be surprised if you feel worse initially, that's common. But you should get some improvement after a few months of taking it.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lisaanders]

I would strongly recommend you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing privately BEFORE starting on any self acquired Levothyroxine

Getting a formal diagnosis woukd be the best option

Woukd strongly suspect you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto's diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

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 thyroid antibodies.....or easier option is to get full Thyroid and vitamin testing privately

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 and lowest FT4

Clearly your FT4 is very low

Would suspect you have low vitamins and high thyroid antibodies

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...

For thyroid including antibodies and 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

[Lora7again]

Most healthy people have a TSH of around 1 ... yours is too high and you need an increase in medication to bring it down imho I presume you are you on Levothyroxine because if you are not I think you need it because your thyroid is definitely struggling. Unfortunately if you are in the UK you won't get treated until your TSH is over 10. Doctors like to see us suffer and get really ill before they do anything.

[Lisaanders]

Thank you so much for your reply, I am not on medication yet, I have been suffering for years with so many symptoms, and just got fobbed off, It truly is disgraceful l I hope that you have a Liverpool day. Kindest regards Lisa