Blood tests results- need advice please

[Aquapuss]

Hi I have posted before about feeling inadequately treated with levo 125mcg daily for many years. Doctors saying “ you are ok because bloods in range” Since diagnosis ( apart from a couple of years where my TSH was apparently over suppressed) I have had usual symptoms- fatigue, weight gain, muscle aches, brain fog, but health has worsened over these 17 years to include hair loss, eyebrow loss, early menopause, gall stones, breast cancer. Now also prediabetic, unable to shift excess weight despite trying for 3 years. Was also getting tingling in hands a lot. Finally got new doctor after doing private tests ( which showed folate deficiency) and she has now increased my levo to 150mcg 3x week, 125mcg 4x week as a “trial” because she noticed I felt better when TSH was “over suppressed”. I asked her to do full blood panel. All are “normal range” results but some look very low in range but opinion would be good. Have also started supplementing with igneus B complex and have been on Better You vit D/K2 spray for over a year. Would be grateful for advice opinions?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

These results are just Full blood count...not thyroid related

You need to remember to stop taking vitamin B complex a week before any blood tests as biotin in B complex may falsely affect test results

Recommend you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing privately

Or Ask GP to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 plus vitamin levels

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

Do you have hashimoto’s?

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

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

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

EXTREMELY common for conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 to get worse as we age.

Hashimoto’s patients also frequently poor converters

Important all Four vitamins are optimal. Ideally test twice year

[TSH110]

Sound like hypothyroid symptoms to me. Good the new doc is upping your meds. Dr Toft in Pulse magazine article recommends TSH of 0.2-0.5 and free t4 and free T3 in the upper 1/3 of the range. You can get a copy from admin at Thyroid UK the info is in question 6. Pity you only have TSH which could be reduced a bit to get it well under 1. You could get private test for the other two unless you want antibodies etc which requires a more comprehensive (and much more expensive) test.

Sounds like your GP Is doing the right thing to get that TSH down but really it is the interplay between the three (TSH FT4 FT3) that will tell a better story of when a euthyroid state has been achieved - mind you, you will know that from how you feel ie. when your symptoms resolve. It will also show if you have a conversion problem and need T3.

I hope you feel much better on a higher dose. It will take about 6 weeks to reach its full power when another blood test will be needed to see if further increases are in order 🍀☘️🍀

[Aquapuss in reply to TSH110]

Thanks, I did get private tests done last year, took in results which helped GP see I was being serious about symptoms I think. She looked back over my history and agreed to increase because I had felt better when my TSH was more suppressed. I am starting to feel a bit better, but think I may need 150 daily dose. After she decides on dose I am going to get private testing done after 6 weeks to see what difference its made. Also taking B complex now as well as Vit D, K2 spray and magnesium ( folate was low last time and previously vit D low) Pleased I got new GP!

[TSH110 in reply to Aquapuss]

That’s great news. I hope you get the right dose to feel well again, looks like it’s moving in the right direction 😉. I found a gluten free diet helped too if you haven’t tried it, it is worth a go.