Hello everyone, I'm wondering if anyone can help me with some private Thyroid test results I've received. I've been feeling so tired, unwell, achey etc for the last 6 years, diagnosed as Fibromyalgia. The thyroid test results are:
FT3 4.4
TSH2.46
TgAB 15.6
TPOAb 10.8
T4 90
FT4 11.9 (low)
All apart from the Free Thyroxine (FT4) which has come back slightly low, are showing as normal or optimal.
Has anyone here who has had the same kind of results as these benefited from being treated for an underactive thyroid? I have mostly all of the symptoms listed and would love to feel better at some point. Thank you!
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Aliking4
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Please add ranges on these results, figures in brackets after each result
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
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays
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.
I am menopausal so on BHRT. I've always had hormonal issues due to PCOS.
I'm currently taking some L-Tyrosine and DL-Phenylalanine to help raise Dopamine levels. I understand this can help with thyroid however I'm taking them as I was on Citalopram (anti-depressant) and wasn't moving off the sofa due to lack of motivation. I've come off the Citalopram and I'm feeling more motivated.
I take a really good Methyl Multi-nutrient by BioCare recommended to me by my nutritionist. I also take Magnesium, Calcium and Vit D supplements along with a probiotic (L. Rhamnosus). I also use a GuarGum fiber pre-biotic supplement. I do likely have gluten intolerance.
My diet is good and sometimes not so good, I tend to comfort eat and have always had weight problems.
I've looked into all sorts over the years, like most people diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, but wanting to specifically know if under-active thyroid could be an issue?
Or get one privately....I have details of scan options in London....cost about £150
Do any of your supplements contain biotin...
If so it’s ESSENTIAL to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS
Are you currently strictly gluten free?
If not you need coeliac blood test..while eating high gluten diet
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Getting FULL Thyroid And vitamin testing again 8-12 weeks after going strictly gluten free
I should have said that I've had an Endoscopy and don't have Coeliac Disease. Although most likely a sensitivity to gluten. The nutritionist has suggested I go gluten and dairy free. I don't often eat alot of gluten but should completely abstain as I do feel better when I avoid it and stick to more of a high protein diet.
Yes my supplement has biotin in it. In what way does this effect the Thyroid results?
I will speak to the GP about a thyroid scan or maybe take a trip to London.
Strictly gluten free diet does have to be ABSOLUTELY Strictly Gluten Free...avoid all cross contamination...no shared butter, jam, cutting board. Separate toaster for GF toast, or get a toaster bag from Coeliac UK or online
Every time you eat a speck of gluten it takes months to recover
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
Unfortunately, Thriva make their reference ranges most confusing when you look at the coloured bar graph. The ranges are from one end of the green area to the other, including both light and dark green. The proper ranges are shown on the listed results which you are able to print out, like this
It's ridiculous to put an "optimal" range because that's very individual, what is optimal for me may not be optimal for you.
Take this for example
FT3 result: 4.4 (range 3.1 to 5 optimal, above 5 to 6.8 normal)
The range is 3.1-6.8 yet they put optimal at 3.1-5, no way on this earth is anyone going to be optimal with a level of 3.1, they are going to be very unwell.
So your results are:
TSH: 2.46 (0.27-4.2)
FT4: 11.9 (12-22)
FT3: 4.4 (3.1-6.8)
If you took your supplement containing Biotin in the 7 days before the test, there's a possibility that your results are incorrect, Biotin is used in their testing procedure and when you take Biotin it can give false results; however, we don't know in what way they would be false.
If the Biotin did not affect your results, then you could possibly be looking at Central Hypothyroidism which is where the problem lies with the pituitary (Secondary Hypothyroidism) or the hypothalamus (Tertiary Hypothyroidism). Central Hypothyroidism is diagnosed when TSH is low, normal or minimally elevated with FT4 below range.
Active B12 result: 161 (37.5-188)
This is a good result.
Ferritin result: 49 (13-150)
This is too low. Ferritin is recommended to be half way through it's range, so 82 with that range. You can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet
The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L.
To reach the recommended level from your current level, based on the Vit D Council's suggestions you could supplement with 3,000 D3 daily along with D3's important cofactors magnesium and Vit K2-MK7.
Once you've reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose to keep it there, which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public:
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and Vit K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.
What is the reason for taking calcium? Have you been tested and found to be deficienct?
I started to take Calcium as I read it was good for PMDD which I have always suffered from. Although I am menopausal and not having periods for nearly a year now I am still experiencing cyclical symptoms which involve migraines, back pain and nausea whilst my body is trying to ovulate and during the luteal phase. I am now taking double Progesterone during this time which I do think helps. My nutritionist wasn't recommending taking Calcium, should I stop taking it? I have had low Vitamin D levels before hence taking a supplement, so I will up my consumption to bring it up higher.
Calcium should always be tested and only supplemented if found to be deficient.
Taking D3 improves uptake of calcium from food anyway, so to be taking Calcium suppements as well may take your calcium level too high. And it's essential to take K2-MK7 (although doctors don't know this) to make sure the calcium goes to bones and teeth and not arteries/soft tissues.
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