Deciphering latest blood tests

[jazztilly]

I have had more blood tests and wondered what the actually mean, because I am on thyroid s my GP is not too happy and tends not to advise me of what these actually mean, any help would be really appreciated

thank you

Values and Investigations (Latest Value)

06-Oct-2020! Thyroid function test

! Plasma TSH level<0.01mU/L0.30 - 4.20mU/L

Plasma free T4 level11.7pmol/L9.00 - 19.00pmol/L

Plasma free T3 level4.9pmol/L2.60 - 5.70pmol/L

06-Oct-2020Plasma LH level - (SA) - Viewed49IU/L2.00 - 100.00IU/L

06-Oct-2020! Plasma FSH level61.7IU/L1.00 - 30.00IU/L

06-Oct-2020Plasma cortisol level - (SA) - Viewed443nmol/L100.00 - 10000.00nmol/L

06-Oct-2020Plasma prolactin level - (SA) - Viewed181mU/L110.00 - 560.00mU/L

06-Oct-2020Plasma creatinine level - (SA) - Viewed52umol/L49.00 - 90.00umol/L

06-Oct-2020Renal profile - (SA) - Viewed

Plasma sodium level140mmol/L135.00 - 145.00mmol/L

Plasma potassium level4.3mmol/L3.50 - 5.00mmol/L

06-Oct-2020eGFRcreat (CKD-EPI)/1.73 m*2 - (SA) - Viewed>90ml/min/1.73m*2

[SlowDragon Administrator]

No vitamin D, folate, ferritin or B12 test results?

How do you feel?

Was test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last 1/3rd of daily NDT dose roughly 8-12 hours before test

Ft4 is frequently low on NDT

[jazztilly in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon,

thank you for replying, my test was first thing as requested by GP, I feel very tired all the time but my stress levels are very high so this could contribute. I would love my thyroid levels to be at their optimum to help with the situation I am in but have no idea whether these results are any where near that.

Thank you

[humanbean]

06-Oct-2020Plasma creatinine level - (SA) - Viewed52umol/L49.00 - 90.00umol/L

06-Oct-2020Renal profile - (SA) - Viewed

Plasma sodium level140mmol/L135.00 - 145.00mmol/L

Plasma potassium level4.3mmol/L3.50 - 5.00mmol/L

06-Oct-2020eGFRcreat (CKD-EPI)/1.73 m*2 - (SA) - Viewed>90ml/min/1.73m*2

All the above give you information on your kidney health, and your results show your kidneys are in excellent condition.

If you want help on lab results to do your own research, this link is well worth knowing about :

labtestsonline.org.uk/

Click on the + signs for more info on each page (except the first one which takes you back to the menu).

[humanbean]

! Plasma TSH level<0.01mU/L0.30 - 4.20mU/L

Plasma free T4 level11.7pmol/L9.00 - 19.00pmol/L 27% of the way through the range

Plasma free T3 level4.9pmol/L2.60 - 5.70pmol/L 74% of the way through the range

The reason your TSH is low is because you are taking T3 (from the NDT). It isn't an issue. T3, even in small doses can dramatically drop the TSH, and there is nothing you can do about it. Just ignore it.

Taking NDT or T3 also reduces output of T4.

You haven't said how you feel, but since you are here I'm assuming you don't feel great.

Getting the proportion of T4 to T3 right for you to feel well can be very difficult. In your shoes, I would be considering one of two options...

1) Decrease the NDT slightly and add some Levo. This would reduce your T3 but should increase your T4 slightly. Some people really need a good level of T4 to feel well, as well as good levels of T3, but some people don't.

2) The other option is to switch from NDT to T3 only. This might reduce your T4 to almost zero. It depends on whether you still have a thyroid and what state it is in if you have one, and whether it can produce T4. But having some T4 isn't essential for everyone. Some people always need good levels, some people don't need any. For those who really need T4, not having enough can make them feel as if they are developing dementia, which isn't fun. But in the case of taking T3 only, having generous levels of T3 in blood is essential. Being under-medicated on T3 only is no fun either.

As for nutrients - they are really, really important for everyone with thyroid disease. You can fiddle with your dose for ever but still never feel well if you have low levels of vitamin B12, folate, vitamin D, ferritin and iron.