Update(2)

[ShelWhitt]

Hi there Marz and whoever else would like to help. I have finally received my latest full blood test and last thyroid results from my Health centre. The thyroid results were limited as expected:

Serum TSH level - 3.31 ml/L

Serum free T4 level - 16.0 pmol/L

Which I assume indicate they are satisfactory, as that is what I was told.(as far as it goes).

As for the full blood count, I am no expert but as far as I could tell everything was pretty much in range, the only slight concern I had was:

Liver function test

Serum total bilirubin level - 19 umol/L

Which I am assuming is down to the fact that I have Gilbert's Syndrome.

and

Serum magnesium level - 0.8 mmol/L

Which is at the bottom of range so maybe I need to supplement this.

Also, today I have taken the Medicheck Thyroid test, so once I get the results, I will be in touch again, to see where we go to next. Thanks again.

[Marz]

Hi - great news ! Do you have the ranges - the figures after the results ? Labs do vary - nothing is standard !

Your TSH is too high for someone on Levothyroxine and you may feel better with it around 1 or below. Yes your GP would say 'satisfactory' as they are in range - but that does not mean optimal. Your T4 level may or may not be good - depends on the range - some go up to 22.

As your FT3 was not tested we have no idea how you are converting the T4 - storage hormone - into the ACTIVE thryoid hormone T3. It is the LOW T3 that causes symptoms - many of which you have detailed in past posts. The T3 is needed in every cell of the body - brain has first call - followed by the gut/immune system - then the heart and other organs and so on Also no anti-bodies tested to rule out Hashimotos ...sigh !

For good conversion of T4 into T3 you need OPTIMAL levels of B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD - and it appears these were not tested - another sigh !

When were these tests done ? Hopefully you can now see what I was meaning when posting on the Fibro Forum - the correct testing is very rarely done and so thyroid being one of the causes cannot be ruled out.

Congrats on your progress !

PS - Magnesium tests low due to the body's magic in keeping levels level in the blood. When low in the blood magnesium is taken from the bones ( osteoporosis ) Everyone should supplement with Magnesium - choose with care - the right one for you ... there are so many.

[ShelWhitt in reply to Marz]

TSH 3.31 mlU/L (0.38 - 5.5)

Ft4 16.0 (10.0 - 18.7)

At present taking 75mcg, 50 mcg alternate days

Hope that helps!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ShelWhitt]

Your TSH is saying that you are undermedicated. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges if that is where you feel well.

[Marz in reply to ShelWhitt]

Thank you for posting the ranges. As SeasideSusie mentioned you are under-medicated to have a TSH that high. So I would take 75mcg every day.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

ShelWitt

For anyone to offer useful comments, we need the reference ranges that go with your results please.

Are you on Levo? If so you are undermedicated. If not then your TSH is showing that your thyroid is struggling.

No idea about your FT4 because with the hospital lab that does my surgery's tests the range is 7-17 and you'd be at the top of the range, but with some other ranges you'd be half way or less through the range.

Magnesium is an unreliable test so is not helpful. About 99% of magnesium is stored in bone, muscles and soft tissues, leaving about 1% in the blood. So testing what's in the blood isn't giving an accurate picture of our magnesium status.

[ShelWhitt in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for your input!