Can anyone help with these results? The medichecks test was done in December. A week later I saw an NHS endo who took further bloods and the results are as follows:-
TSH - 0.27 (0.35 5.00 mU/L
FT4 - 16.5 (9.0-21.0 pmol/L)
T3 - 1.6 (0.9-2.5 nm/L)
Both tests were done in the morning, 12 hours between levothyroxine and no B supplements for 2 weeks before. I have just received letter from endo who says I am euthyroid and that ferritin is an acute phase response which fluctuates and is typically in the 1000s with hereditary haemachromatosis. She also says that thyroid antibodies are only used as a diagnostic tool. I feel very unwell and had asked about the possibility of a T3 trial, but she said I am at high risk of becoming thyrotoxic. I am gluten free and supplement with magnesium and better you spray with K2. I had phoned the hospital for a paper copy of my bloods - against the TSH at 0.27 is an asterisk with a footnote saying abnormal, but hospital nurse said it was normal. I am going to GP again tomorrow, but I think he will say there is nothing that can be done apart from offer antidepressants. I am not depressed!
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against the TSH at 0.27 is an asterisk with a footnote saying abnormal, but hospital nurse said it was normal.
Actually, the nurse is incorrect. It is "abnormal" because it is out of range. "Normal" is when the result is in range. However, it's only just out of range and is not suppressed.
Both tests were done in the morning, 12 hours between levothyroxine
The last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before the blood draw, even if it means altering the time you normally take your dose.
TSH - 0.27 (0.35 5.00 mU/L
FT4 - 16.5 (9.0-21.0 pmol/L)
T3 - 1.6 (0.9-2.5 nm/L)
Your FT4 is 62.5% through it's range.
Total T3 is not a useful test, it's Free T3 that tells us what we need to know. Total T3 measures both bound (to proteins) and unbound T3. Free T3 tells us the unbound amount that is free to be used.
I feel very unwell and had asked about the possibility of a T3 trial, but she said I am at high risk of becoming thyrotoxic.
Impossible to know if a trial of T3 would be right for you until Free T3 test is done at the same time as TSH and FT4.
She also says that thyroid antibodies are only used as a diagnostic tool.
That's correct. The presence of elevated antibodies is diagnositic for autoimmune thyroid disease, aka Hashimoto's. Hashi's isn't treated, it's the resulting hypothyroidism that's treated. Antibodies fluctuate so once you have a positive result there is no benefit in retesting them.
I am going to GP again tomorrow, but I think he will say there is nothing that can be done apart from offer antidepressants. I am not depressed!
You have the right to refuse them, so don't accept them.
Thank you, I could not post other photograph of medichecks with this for some reason. Also, there was a gap of 24 hours between meds - I got confused.)
I wanted to know if the tests looked the same, but got a notification that it was to be taken down to keep replies in the one place.
Medichecks results the week before were as follows:-
TSH - 2.17 (0.27-4.2)
Free T3 - 5.23 (3.6-5.8)
Free thyroxine - 22.6 (13-22)
Ferritin -284 (13-150)
Does either test look the same and am I euthyroid?
I wanted to know if the tests looked the same, but got a notification that it was to be taken down to keep replies in the one place.
Your other post hasn't been taken down, it's still visible and I put a note on it with a link to this post so that all replies will be kept together. It gets too confusing when two posts are open and are discussing the same thing. Unfortunately we can only include one photograph and that has to be in the opening post. Anything else has to be typed into the post.
I wanted to know if the tests looked the same,
They're not the same at all, the results are very different and this could be due to Hashi's activity.
NHS TEST:
TSH - 0.27 (0.35 5.00 mU/L = below range at minus 1.72%
FT4 - 16.5 (9.0-21.0 pmol/L) = 62.5% through range
T3 - 1.6 (0.9-2.5 nm/L) = Total T3 test isn't useful and can't be compared to Free T3
MEDICHECKS TEST:
I have corrected the ranges for FT4 and FT3
TSH - 2.17 (0.27-4.2) = 48.35% through range
Free thyroxine - 22.6 (12-22) = over range at 106%
It wasn't taken down, the post is still there so people can see it, it's just that the ability to respond has been cut off so that all replies are on this thread. Otherwise, it gets confusing - both for you and other people.
As to being euthyroid, you can't be, because you're hypo. This has been established, and the hormonal needs of a euthyroid person and a hypo are not the same. This is something doctors have trouble getting their heads around.
There's a vast difference between the Medichecks' TSH and the NHS TSH. With the Medichecks it's 2.17 which is not euthyroid in anyone's book. But, with the NHS it's 0.27, which - according to them - is too low. So, how can they say you're euthyroid? lol
More importantly, wit Medichecks, your FT4 is just a tad over-range. With NHS, 62.5% through the range. Which would be a tad low for most hypos. But, could be counted as euthyroid, I suppose.
But, where they fall down, the NHS, is that for some reason, they've tested the TT3 rather than the FT3, so no-one can possibly say you're euthyroid.
According to Medichecks, your FT3 is 57.57% through the range. Which might be ok for some hypos, but most need it higher than that. And, if you compare the FT4 with the FT3, you can see that you are a poor converter. You need your FT4 over-range just to get your FT3 to jus over mid-range. There should not be such a large gap. So, that in itself is not euthyroid.
Thank you so much - that’s easier to understand. I can cope with tiredness but pain and fog is getting worse. Going to doctor tomorrow, but sure I will be chased again.
Absolutely not. If you were over-medicated, your FT3 would be over-range. As it is, it's only just over mid-range. If anything, you need an increase in dose. Or, better still, a little T3 added to a reduced dose of levo.
Yes, thanks to this forum educating me in these things. It seems to be taking a long time. I take 4 Better you sprays a day now and 2 magnesium capsules (as well as baths.)
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