Hi, I’ve had a private blood test done, just got the results today. Extensive googling tells me that if T4 is high, then usually the TSH and / or T3 levels would be off as well but they’re fine. I can call my GP but she’s quite general and I expect she’ll say ‘your TSH levels are fine so there’s no issue’. And maybe she’s right, but I’d like to better understand my results.
Free thyroxine (T4?) 27 pmol/ L (12-22)
TSH 1.69 mIU/L (0.27-4.2)
Free T3 4.58 pmol/L (3.1-6.8)
Symptoms (some come and go)
Rapid heartbeat, thirsty, lack of appetite, hair loss, weak shaky legs.
Symptoms mainly appear just before and during period and I’m 48 so they could be caused by perimenopause but they’re quite extreme.
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
Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies
Hairloss often linked to low ferritin
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)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)
medichecks.com/products/thy...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...
Medichecks - JUST vitamin testing including folate - DIY finger prick test
medichecks.com/products/nut...
Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays
Hi thanks for the reply. The test I did was Medicheck, the vitamin one, and all my vitamin levels are fine. It didn’t have the extensive thyroid tests you mention though, at least I don’t think so, I’ll look back at my results in case they’re not with the thyroid results on the page.
Please add actual results and ranges on vitamins
Plus the Thyroid antibodies results
TPO and TG antibodies
Perhaps add photo to opening post ....like this
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thanks. I don’t think there were any TPO and TG antibody tests but will look tomorrow and post everything I have. Thanks again.
I have added those now (in the photo). The dr report with the test suggests testing again in 3 months time (Because of the raised T4) so that’s what I’ll do.
So antibodies appear to be negative
Perhaps ask GP for thyroid ultrasound scan
You can have a “hot” nodule that is making extra Ft4 regardless of instructions from TSH
20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can be helpful
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies
paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...
What were ferritin (iron) results?
Link about hot nodules
mythyroid.com/hotnodule.html
Thank you so much for your replies, I really appreciate it. I'll read all the links and talk to my GP.
Ferretin was 38.5 ug/L (13-150)
Which is far too low
Are you vegetarian or vegan?
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first
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
List of iron rich foods
dailyiron.net
Links about iron and ferritin
irondisorders.org/Websites/...
drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Thyroid problems are as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones
Thank you for all this info, you are a goldmine! I'm mostly vegetarian, I eat a small amount of chicken or bacon very occasionally. I'd just started taking spatone iron but will look into a full iron panel test.
Hundreds if not thousands of posts on here about low iron and ferritin
Many people day freeze dried liver capsules work well. Lots of different iron options
Personally I love liver ...but my ferritin always too high (Common Hashimoto’s problem too) ...so have to avoid eating too often