How to interpret results

[MrsQ20]

Hi all,

I am usually on here discussing my Hashimoto's but because of my experiences I am very sensitive to keeping an eye on my daughters for signs they may also get this. One of my daughters always has cold hands and feet and is often feeling cold but can get hot at night. She sometimes gets anxious and jittery and some palpitations but not excessively so. She does have mood swings but not extreme and she is 18. Recently she has had some bad acne on her back. She has quite thick hair but has been concerned that she may be losing more hair than normal in the last year.

Because of this we did a private test and the results are:

TSH. 0.79 mIU/L (Range: 0.27 - 4.2) X

Free T3. 9.53 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine. 14.800 pmol/L (Range: 12 - 22)

Thyroglobulin Antibodies 46.900 kIU/L. (Range: < 115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies. 404.00 kIU/L (Range: < 34)

Obviously the Free T3 and the Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies are out of range. We did this privately because I didn't think our doctors would do a thyroid panel with the symptoms we described but now I am encouraging my daughter to make an appointment.

Any advice? Many thanks in advance.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

MrsQ20

I would say without a doubt she has Hashi's. I would take these results to her GP (go with her and advocate if necessary, mentioning your own Hashi's) and perhaps request a referral to an endo.

Hopefully you already have the list of thyroid friendly endos, if not then send for it from Dionne at ThyroidUK:

[e-mail]

Choose wisely

[MrsQ20 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you SeasideSusie as always for your help. I knew the antibodies was an issue but was confused with the high T3 and low TSH.Here we go again with hoping the doctor will listen....

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to MrsQ20]

MrsQ20

The high FT3 and low TSH are probably due to the Hashi's. It often starts with a transient "hyper" phase, (which many doctors misdiagnosed as hypERthyroidism).

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Think she tested just following an hashimoto’s flare

Common in early stages to get transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms......it’s not true hyperthyroidism

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 - ask GP to test

Perhaps testing for PCOS too

Certainly coeliac blood test as well

[MrsQ20 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slow Dragon as always. Think this will be another tricky challenge with the doctors. PCOS?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MrsQ20]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (often linked with Hashimoto’s)

nhs.uk/conditions/polycysti...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

PCOS and acne

healthline.com/health/pcos-...

PCOS and Hashimoto’s

verywellhealth.com/hypothyr...

hypothyroidmom.com/polycyst...

[SilverAvocado]

I think there is a lot for a GP to be confused about in these results, as often they don't really know how to interpret them. So make sure you go in clear about what you want and don't allow yourself to get redirected if the GP interprets them wrongly.

A big likelihood is that they won't know anything about freeT3 and antibodies at all and will say the TSH and freeT4 look fine and nothing needs to be done

[MrsQ20 in reply to SilverAvocado]

Thank you for replying. To be honest I’ve read SO much in the last year and I was still confused about these. She doesn’t feel ‘unwell’ at the moment which makes it harder at the doctors but I’m just nervous of some of the warning signs and not wanting her to get very ill before anything is recognised

[SilverAvocado in reply to MrsQ20]

Yes, it's a hard slog with doctors It may be a long battle to get proper treatment and it's good to start that early I think.

It's great that you've learned so much and caught it early. I think your knowledge will be the biggest thing that helps her