I have new thyroid results - not quite sure how to proceed

[juliekat]

Hi everyone,

I have had new results from a test done via Blue Horizon just before Xmas.

Previously I had done one via the doctor and another via Blue Horizon (as I couldn't see my doctor then). Please see all results below, I am not sure where to go from here -

BEGINNING of 2019 - Doctors -

TSH 6 (no T4 or T3 etc. No range given, but presumably the same as the one below - .35-5.50?

BEGINNING of 2020 - Doctors -

Serum TSH 5.77 mU/L (.35-5.50)

Serum free T4 7.6 pmol/L (7-17 pmol/L)

SPRING 2020 - Blue Horizon as couldn't see doctor due to covid -

TSH 5.61 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)

T4 Total 55.2 nmol/L (66 - 181)

Free T4 10.8 pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0)

Free T3 4.04 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs <9.0 kIU/L (<34)

Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs <11 kIU/L (<115)

All nutritional levels very good

DECEMBER 2020 - Blue Horizon again -

TSH 3.93 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.20)

T4 Total 53.5 nmol/L (66 - 181) (4.1563 µg/dL; 41.5631 ng/mL or µg/L)

Free T4 11.6 pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0)

Free T3 3.57 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs <9.0 kIU/L (<34) (IU/mL same as kIU/L)

Anti-Thyroglobulin Abs <10 kIU/L (<115)

All nutritional levels very good again

The one other thing of interest is both the Blue Horizon tests showed high Ferritin (Ferritin H 250.0 ug/L (13 - 150) in Spring; Ferritin H 340.0 ug/L (13 - 150) in December) I am taking no iron supplements, and have very low inflammation markers - so not sure what that is?)

Just for info - in between the Spring and December tests I had done several things incl. good quality supplements (selenium, zinc, Vit D, B12, magnesium, K2, ashwagandha, schizandra etc.) plus a gluten free diet just to see what, if anything, would happen.

Obviously my free T3 has gone down slightly, T4 gone up slightly, but the TSH has gone down quite a lot. It is now well within range, and my doctor is really only interested in that (and my high cholesterol/occasional high blood pressure).

I fear I might struggle to get any help there (not taking any T3/T4 etc. presently).

It seems that my T3 although low is at least in range, but my T4 is the thing suffering most? Has my TSH just given up trying to boost them?

I am not sure where I am at the moment. The main symptoms presently are periods (about every couple of weeks) of being barely able to drag myself from lounge to kitchen, ectopic heartbeats that are neverending (used to be fairly rare) and constant depression.

Conversely, I will then get a couple of days which seem to be almost hyper (not sure?)? Where the ectopic beats will go off the scale and my heart gets extremely fast, I shiver badly and am going to the bathroom every ten minutes with severe diarrhoea.

I really don't know what to do. Does the low T4 suggest I should try and get some T4 out of my doctor? What do you all suggest?

I am quite down at the moment - I used to walk miles in the hills with my dogs. I haven't been able to walk more that 5 minutes down the road and back on a good day since September.

Thank you all in advance, I'm sorry if it is a bit rambling. I also apologise if I have done anything wrong, I am quite new to this posting stuff!

[NIKEGIRL]

Hi. I read your post and I am sorry to hear that you feel low, depressed if that’s ok to say. I am active too but correctly am doing nothing so I appreciate where you are at in that respect. It is really hard. Do you have anyone you can talk to about how you are feeling. I am talking with a counsellor whilst I await to see a psychologist. He will help me process how I am feeling. Never forget you are not alone even though you may feel that way at times. There are good people here who will help you. You can always private message me if you are feeling low. Kindest regards always

[juliekat in reply to NIKEGIRL]

Thank you all for your support. It is good to know you are not alone when you are feeling very down.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

List of hypothyroid symptoms thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

A GP is unlikely to diagnose hypothyroidism with these results

But below range Ft4 and low Ft3 suggests you are hypothyroid

What’s your diet like, are you vegetarian or vegan?

Email Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists.......NHS and Private

[e-mail]

Meanwhile have you done an ultrasound scan of thyroid?

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

Central hypothyroidism

bestpractice.bmj.com/topics...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

endocrinologyadvisor.com/ho...

Are you only taking B12 or also taking vitamin B complex?

Important to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS

[juliekat in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi

Thank you for your reply - to answer your questions -

I am taking all the B vits;

I am not vegan or vegetarian, I try to eat well, including organic/free range etc.

I have not had an ultrasound scan - how would you go about getting one? Can you get one done privately?

I did stop the biotin before testing.

Also thank you for all the links - I have been busy reading all weekend! These have also pushed me onto other links/articles.

The Central Hypothyroidism links are especially interesting, and I am also looking at the cortisol involvement.

Thank you all again.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to juliekat]

Ultrasound scan is around £150-£160 privately

Roughly where in the U.K. are you?

Many people are started on levothyroxine with TSH between 5-10

[juliekat in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon

I am in North Wales (middle of nowhere).

I am not sure as my TSH is below that and in the middle of the range.

[beh1]

Your thyroid is clearly struggling. Mine was like that for a couple of years until luckily my tsh went up to around 6 and my lovely doctor started me on levothyroxine, as I had so many symptoms (tired, cold, dizzy, anxious, spaced out). My advice would be to be patient, keep testing, then when appropriate speak to doctor about starting meds. This is a lousy in between time.