Hey all, so I have routine thyroid blood tests as thyroid problems run in the family. I have been told with my latest blood results that I have a slightly underactive thyroid, and that I need to go on tablets. I am in the process of requesting my actual results so I can see the levels. Which ones are important? If I get them and post them on here can you help me decipher them so I can understand what they mean?
I'm still researching as this is all new to me; my GP has pretty much said there's nothing diet wise or natural supplements, vitamins or minerals I could take to help, and that I'll just have to start on medication. Does anyone have any good reads on this please? He's prescribing Levothyroxine. All previous thyroid tests have been fine (every other year). I'm hesitant to just start on medication without having more information.
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luthien
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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
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is caused by autoimmune thyroid disease so important to test thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin levels too
Frequently we have low vitamin levels
You are legally entitled to copies of your blood test results
Easiest option is to register for online access to your medical record, if test results are on there
Otherwise ask for printed copies of results and ranges
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)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
would it be something worth referring privately for more tests? I have my own medical insurance which covers diagnostic tests for a condition so I could see a specialist, or is it just better to do the tests using the send one off in the post thing (I've done those before so I'm okay with them)?
I've had some luck with my GP by saying that these are the tests recommended by Thyroid UK - but you will have had TSH (and if you're lucky) free T4 tested already. Get your historic results, and the lab ranges (which vary from lab to lab) and the lovely people here will help you to understand them. You don't have to give a reason for wanting them, but it's usually easiest to say "for my records" or register for on-line access.
If you're new to thyroid issues generally, I'd recommend a good rootle around the hypo section of the main Thyroid UK site - and to get to grips with the jargon, helvella has done an excellent glossary - look in "pinned posts" x
I have been taking Levothyroxine for almost 10 yrs. I am fine. I have Hashimoto's, Celiac's, Sjogren's, and Parkinson's. If you take your meds as prescribed, you'll be fine. I also have poly neuropathies. I am a retired Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist. I know a little bit about medicine. Stop stressing. Talk to your Specialist. If you have one autoimmune disease diagnosed, you probably have a second one, as well.
I haven't be referred to a specialist; basically a doctor at my surgery did a phone consultation - all of 2 mins to say my thyroid levels are low and a prescription for levothyroxine will be sent to my pharmacy. That's it, no info, no discussion, no results, no specialist referral, no mention of related diseases. Hence why I'm confused!
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