I know that a T3 test is necessary for a thyroid health diagnosis but what else should be asked for please? Below are some results but what could they mean for someone who has the following symptoms?
Awful anxiety
A little hair loss
Weight gain
Tetchy
Tearful and a whole host of niggling problems
Is anyone able to say what these results are suggestive of? Some of them are out of range, others in the low range. It’s preferable for TSH to be low as long as the other readings are all in the right range, am I correct? So is it a little high in this instance? We’re going to insist on T3 to see where that gets us but will have private tests done if GP refuses. What else should we ask for please?
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated
Thank you
Vit D3 38 nmol/L (50-100)
TSH 2..48 mu/L (0.30-5.00)
Free T4 11.9 pmol/L (8.8-18.8)
Ferritin 21 ug/L. (15-200)
Iron 10.8 umol/L. (9.0-30.4)
Transferrin 2.6 g/l. (2.0-3.4)
Transferrin
saturation 16% (15-65)
TPO <1 IU/ml. (0.00-5.61)
B12 422 ng/L. (179.0-1162.0)
Folate 3.1 ug/L. (2.8-12.4)
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Before having a strong debate with the GP or paying for blood test privately, I would supplement the vitamins which are sorely needing it. This may help your thyroid levels including FT3. Once you have supplemented for a period then get the tests done.
The vitamins levels need to be over half way through their ranges as a very rough guide. You need also to buy individual quality supplements rather than a multivitamin.
I’ve just managed to get a call back for this afternoon and all I want to know is what thyroid tests should I ask for. All the women on my mother’s side are hypothyroid and I want to see what my own levels are, including T3, before supplementing with anything. I’m aware B12, folate, iron and ferritin need supplementation but I don’t want to commence anything before I have a base level of what my thyroid hormones are doing because once I do that, it will alter thyroid performance Can you advise which thyroid tests to ask for? SeasideSusie has posted many things on here regarding tests but I can’t find them, can you help? I want a true thyroid hormone base level right now, before starting supplements
I don't think it wise to rely on T3 to sort out your current ill health.
No thyroid hormones work well when ferritin is below 70 and your level at 21 is just 6 points into a range of 185. and just 3% through the range.
I would be feeling very unwell with these numbers, and I also would be looking into supplementing my vitamin D and B12 and folate.
I think in the first instance ask your doctor about the ferritin level as all your iron levels are very low, and may need further investigation.
Your core strength needs to be strong and solid to support any thyroid hormone replacement, but more especially T3. and you need to work on supplementing and supporting your current levels.
The only test you are missing in my opinion is the FT3 test. This needs to be done on the same blood draw as FT4 and TSH. So you would need to have these done at the same time.
However GPs don't often do FT3 testing which is why many on here get private bloods done. My GP practice will only do FT3 testing if directed by an endo. This is because the GPs there cannot prescribe T3 or provide a learned opinion on FT3 results and they say it is specialist endo territory.
Please ensure if you get a test done that it is FT3 levels that are checked and not T3 (total T3 levels).
Until you improve your vitamin levels I would use any FT3 result as a baseline only. With such poor vitamin levels comparing FT4 and FT3 levels would not give a realistic picture of your ability to convert.
So these results are when not on any thyroid medication?
If so, Ft3 is not as essential as when taking levothyroxine
Clearly vitamin levels are very low ...but also you have ONLY had TPO antibodies tested
You will need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative
Many people with Hashimoto’s only have raised TG antibodies and struggle to get NHS to diagnose
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.
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, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
And in answer to your question on medication. No, not taking anything and hope not to. If I can get my supplementation right, then I expect all to be ok eventually
B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast
Igennus Super B complex are nice small tablets. Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks
Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
That’s amazing information SlowDragon. Much of it I understand but will need to re-read a couple more times, as well as the links for it to properly sink in. I hope you don’t mind if it raises more questions for me
Thank you SlowDragon, the ultrasound link was a useful read
Amazingly, an electronic request was sent to my local hospital for ... wait for it ...
FT4
TT4
FT3
TT3
TPO
TSH
TG ab
Iron
Ferritin
Folate
D3
Seems I was stressing over nothing as the surgery nurse just readily agreed to all of them. She sounded knowledgeable and said she recognised that thyroid sufferers nowadays are well informed and it’s foolish not to listen to what we say because in the end, NHS will save money by getting the diagnosis right the first tine! One in a million springs to mind. What a breath of fresh air to talk to someone who doesn’t presume to know best
And she can go there right now if she wants but will wait until a morning when she doesn’t have work calls. I think I read somewhere, that certain tests are best done early in the day, particularly for TSH, is that right?
I’m completely blown away by the speed and efficiency of getting these tests agreed to and what a help it’s been to have you and the others I’ve had emails from, on this forum. We’re very lucky to have you, so once again, thank you
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