Medichecks results : How accurate are Medichecks... - Thyroid UK

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Medichecks results

Piedo profile image
18 Replies

How accurate are Medichecks results ,I ve just done one and there is a big difference between nhs and Medichecks

Last October my nhs results were

TSH o.o1

T415.8

T3 3.4

Medichecks done June 2020

TSH 0.019

T4. 22.8

T3. 4.65

I take 100 thyroxine

Had thyroid removed 8years ago

Not feeling well hence I did Medichecks test

Piedo

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Piedo
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18 Replies
Piedo profile image
Piedo

I should add the range which are

TSH 0.27 - 4.2

T4 12. -22

T3 3.1 - 6.8

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Piedo

The NHS and Medichecks ranges were the same?

Do you have Hashi's?

Piedo profile image
Piedo in reply to greygoose

Hi grey goose

No I had my thyroid removed because of a multinodular goitre which started to grow after the birth of my son 31 years ago the goitre grew slowly and then 8 years ago I had it removed as it was obstructing my throat I was sold old story have it removed all you need is a little tablet and you will be fine

I have been getting gradually worse over last 8 years

Felt really bad recently with fibro vand anxiety .my T s h has been surprised ever since i had thyroid removed

I was shocked that my latest results showed 22.8

I only take 100 thyroxine should I drop down 75

Piedo profile image
Piedo in reply to Piedo

Sorry should say TSH has been suppressed

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Piedo

You didn't say if the NHS ranges were the same as Medichecks, because we can't really compare anything except the TSH without them. And, the TSH hasn't changed.

But, even so, a lot can change in nearly 8 months, so you shouldn't be surprised that the results aren't the same.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Hardly surprising results are different several months apart

Very important what time of day you do tests

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when on only levothyroxine

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?

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Piedo profile image
Piedo in reply to SlowDragon

I did my test first thing in morning fasting and didn’t t take my thyroxine until after test

I thought it would show up low T3 so was shocked to see high T4

I have been feeling very anxious lately

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Piedo

Your Ft3 is rather low

High Ft4 and low Ft3 is poor conversion and often causes anxiety symptoms

Likely low vitamin levels. Vitamin levels need to be OPTIMAL for good conversion

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

Common after thyroidectomy to need addition of small dose of T3 alongside levothyroxine.

But important to get vitamin levels optimal first

Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3. NHS and private lists

tukadmin@thyroiduk.org

Piedo profile image
Piedo in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you for your reply

Do you think I should drop my thyroxine to 75 to see if it improves anxiety ?

My surgery have been pressing me for a long time to reduce because of my suppressed TSH I have always resisted as my T4and T3 were in range

I feel that 100 is low anyway for someone without a thyroid

Piedo

Piedo profile image
Piedo in reply to Piedo

I should add I am taking vit d 2000

Vit K

B12

Turmeric

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to SlowDragon

SlowDragon

Just thought I'd let you know, the Medichecks ULTRAVIT no longer includes Folate.

They now have a new test ULTRAVIT WITH FOLATE and it has to be done by venous blood draw

medichecks.com/products/thy...

This new test is exactly the same as the old UltraVit test but more expensive at £119 and no fingerprick version. I think it's come about because so many of the old UltraVit tests were failing on the folate test.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to SeasideSusie

Thanks for update.....yes they have been having to repeat many failed folate tests recently

Gingernut44 profile image
Gingernut44 in reply to SlowDragon

I had the UltraVit test done on 12 June with no problems at all but I did make sure I filled the tube. Why can’t they just send out 8ml tubes 🥵

crimple profile image
crimple

Was your brand of levothyroxine changed between October and June. What brand are you taking now?

Piedo profile image
Piedo

No I have been on same brand Almus for years

This has all come out of blue my T4 reading in October 2019 was 15.8

Then jumped to 22.8 June 2020

Still on same dosage 100

At the moment I have extreme anxiety

Thanks for replying

Piedo

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Piedo

Next step ...get vitamins tested

You may need to reduce levothyroxine and add T3

But vitamins need to be optimal first

Come back with new post once you get results

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie

Hello Piedo

A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily with approximately 100T4 + 10 T3. T4 is Levothyroxine which is a storage hormone and your body needs to be able to convert the T4 into T3 which is the active hormone that is said to be about 4 times more powerful than T4 and it is T3 that the body runs on and read most people use about 50 T3 daily, just to function.

Your ability to convert the T4 into T3 can be compromised if you do not maintain ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D at optimal levels. These essential vitamins and minerals maybe in the NHS range but all this means is that the doctor is not obliged to write a prescription. You do need to get these checked out and you may need to raise your levels to optimal by supplementation these essential vitamins and minerals yourself.

The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation including your physical, mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being your inner central heating system and your metabolism.

Personally I just think that if there has been a medical intervention and the thyroid surgically removed or ablated with RAI that both T4 and T3 should be on the patients prescription for if and probably when required.

Some people can get by on T4 alone, some people simply stop converting the T4 into T3 at some point in time, and some people simply need both T3 and T4 dosed independently to bring both these vital hormones in balance to offer the patient a level of wellbeing that is acceptable.

It is perfectly acceptable for your T4 to run slightly over range if this gives you a good level of T3 but your T3 result is at around 40 % though whilst your T4 is at just over 100% :

Your conversion ratio is coming in at 4.90 ( just divide T3 into T4 ) and most people feel better when this ratio is around 1 / 3.5-4.50 with most preferring not to go above 4 :

The right thing to do is suggest a trial of T3 alongside you T4 :

Certainly do not reduce your T4 as your conversion will go lower and a lower T3 will give you further debilitating symptoms.

The TSH level will move around - it is of no consequence , you haven't a thyroid and need to have T3 and T4 blood tests and dosed on T3 and T4 blood test results, with the aim being to have both T3 and T4 in the upper quadrants of the ranges, and this may mean, adding a little T3.

Piedo profile image
Piedo

Thank you for your detailed reply

I have just spoken to my GP and at the moment I am banging my head against a brick wall !,

All she wants to do is drop my thyroxine to 75

She asked me to go for blood test but says the hospital won t test T3

I asked about conversation of T4to T3 and she had no answer

So she said have blood test and we’ll go from there in other words they will do nothing!

Also the phone line was so bad I could hardly hear her which didn’t t help !

I have the list of private endocrinologists from Thyroid uk so will look into that

Thank you for you help

Piedo

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