Blood test results

[Hkm2281]

I have not been feeling great for a while managed to pursuede the GP to do a blood test. I couldn't get an appointment until the new year so I just hoped someone maybe able to help on here. The results which were not in normal range

T4 level 37.2 (normal 9 to 22)

TSH 0.010 (Normal 0.1 to 4)

Ferritin 37

Thank you for any advice

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hkm2281

It's hard to comment without more information.

Are you diagnosed with a thyroid condition and if so what thyroid meds do you take?

Your Ferritin is low, it's recommended to be half way through range. Low Ferritin can suggest iron deficiency anaemia so it would be a good idea to have a full blood count and iron panel done.

[Hkm2281 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I am not diagnosed with any thyroid condition. I just begged my GP for some bloods as I haven't been feeling that great.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hkm2281]

The other replies have said it all. Your FT4 is way over range and your TSH is suppressed. Has your GP not said anything about these results? If not please make an urgent appointment to discuss them and maybe a referral to a endocrinologist.

You need thyroid antibodies testing. There are two types, i.e. one for autoimmune thyroiditis (known by patients as Hashimoto's) where the immune system attacks the thyroid and gradually destroys it. This often starts with a hyper episode (overactive) and then fluctuates from hypo to hyper. Antibodies for these are:

* Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO)

* Thyroglobulin (Tg)

GPs can only get Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies tested, Thyroglobulin are usually only tested when an endo requests them.

The others are for overactive thyroid (Graves) and these antibodies are:

* Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI)

* Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TRAb)

These are generally only tested when an endo requests them.

Don't let your GP diagnose overactive (Graves) and prescribe Carbimazole without confirmation of raised TSI/TRAb antibodies. Many GPs do this in error when often the patient has Hashimoto's.

Also, discuss further testing of iron panel and full blood count due to your low ferritin.

[Hkm2281 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply it has been very informative x

[Marz in reply to Hkm2281]

Did you have the anti-bodies tested as suggested by SeasideSusie above ?

[Hkm2281 in reply to Marz]

Yes hopefully, I asked at my last GP appointment. He said they don't usually do that at the surgery you had to wait until your hospital appointment but he did put it down as something that needed testing. So I'm still waiting for that result as I had a blood test on Tues.

[Heloise]

Hkm, your T4 is almost twice the range! Have you been diagnosed as hyp er thyroid?? Your TSH also is about as low as can be measured. Have you lost weight, jittery, difficult sleep?

Have you ever been on carbimazole?

[Hkm2281 in reply to Heloise]

No never been diagnosed with anything. I haven't lost weight as such but I have never been that big, my hairs falling out, my heart can feel like its beating fast. Not on any meds, I just wondered if I should be really.

[Heloise in reply to Hkm2281]

You can see from Lora and DGHT, what can happen with overactive thyroid. It would be good to see your FT3 level since that is the active part and if too high will produce symptoms of revved up metabolism. This conversion from T4 to T3 goes through a process primarily in the liver and then the bloodstream and then the cell receptors. For some this is not a smooth process so perhaps you are not getting the full affect of your high T4 for some reason.

If you are having an attack on your thyroid gland due to your immune system being reactive, there is usually a trigger involved. Gluten is big because it causes leaky gut but dairy can also be a problem. The thyroid gland is fragile and metals even your dental fillings can affect it. Your pituitary which directs the thyroid to either produce more T4 or less T4 seems to be saying NO T4 but if your gland is being attacked it is sluffing off thyroid cells and that produces antibodies which is another test you should have.

There are thyroid blockers and if you have Graves disease you can take for a longer periods but if you are having an autoimmune attack you will eventually become hypo.

In the meantime, stay away from caffeine or stimulants. Stress has a lot to do with this so any relaxation techniques may also help. I do hope you can find some medical support.

[Hkm2281 in reply to Heloise]

I have just found my T3 results they are 15.2 (3.5 to 6.5) so I suppose that's not great either is it. Maybe I should ask to see GP before the new year. Thank you for the advise on things to avoid though I definitely will if it will help.

[Heloise in reply to Hkm2281]

That is a good idea. Ask them to do antibody tests for thyroid. This site can help. Also use the search, there are headings at top of page. stopthethyroidmadness.com/r...

Your adrenal gland is trying to turn some of that T4 into reverse T3 to lower FT3. This is your body's checks and balances but when it is out of hand you sometimes need outside help. We don't want to totally stress out the adrenals.

I've studied this for several years now and see that there are so many other functions that are tied to what you know now but you don't know yet. If we can hardly get an antibody test what are the chances you are going to get the tests that might tell you the root cause of this. For some it's a virus like Epstein Barre or maybe it is heavy metals. There are some very good functional doctors even online that have even done their own research. There are genetic tests to find certain mutations or snps and an important one has to do with methylation which is huge.

{The methylation cycle helps us to operate both physically and mentally, so it may not be surprising that many different functions in the body use this process. Such functions include nervous, cardiovascular and immune system activity,5-8 as well as energy production, heavy-metal detoxification and hormone balance.Nov 14, 2016}

We've been trying to educate ourselves because the conventional doctors or endos don't seem to understand functionally what is going on. The good news is that we do have an opportunity to learn.

[Hkm2281]

No thank you for detailing your experience. I certainly don't want to be fobbed off and I certainly don't want it to build up till something really serious, I have a 1 yr old and work full time, I don't have time to be I'll. To be honest its taken a nearly a year just to get this blood test even done. I suppose I just wanted reassurance that something isn't right at the mo.

[DGHT]

Has your GP arranged any further testing or referral to endocrinology based on your results? As he or she should have. I can only go from my own experience but your GP should be testing your thyroid antibodies to assess whether you are Hypothyroid and going through a hypothyroid swing or you have Hyperthyroidism. These basic blood results are not sufficient to give a clear picture and certainly not sufficient to begin any form of treatment. Your GP at the very least should have sought advice from an Endocrinologist as to what further testing is required to give a fuller picture of your thyroid health.

I developed Hashimoto's which is the most common form of autoimmune thyroid disease resulting in hypothyroidism post pregnancy. I started off hyperthyroid and settled to hypothyroid after several months. I had a very sick pregnancy, traumatic birth and severe kidney infection post birth, all factors that can be known to trigger autoimmune thyroid disease. I would recommend you do some reading around Hashimoto's triggered by pregnancy to see if any of it resonates with you.

Also if your GP is not prepared to do further testing you can pay for private blood testing via Medichecks. Test are expensive but would give you a much clearer overview of your thyroid health than the basic bloods your GP has done. They often have a sale on Thursdays and you need to have Thyroid Ultra Check to check your antibodies. You can either do a finger prick test or get someone you know who is a phlebotomist or nurse to take your blood to send off.

I am sorry to say based on my own experience that GPs and Endocrinologists to not manage our health in the best ways and it has taken a lot of self-education, lifestyle changes and assertiveness to get my health back.

Do not be fobbed off and get copies of all your results so you can post them on here for help and advice. I would still be ill without the help knowledge I have gained on this forum.

I am sure one of the knowledgeable administrators will give you much more knowledgeable advice shortly.

[Hkm2281]

Thank you for your reply, no I haven't got a GP appointment until the new year this was just my results as we can access them via a surgery website. Yes I had a baby feb 2018 but it wasn't traumatic, was pretty straight forward. I definitely need better results through more specific testing. I really hope he offers me something. I suppose I wanted to check that with my results the GP would have to start doing something now rather than well let's see how you are in another couple of months, which is what he has been doing.

[Wetsuiter]

I cant believe your Dr hasnt rung you, never mind an appointmt