Results - have no clue.....

[ukred]

You may have read my post where I said I was having some symptoms and on my blood count 6mths ago my TSH read 1.76. On the 4th Feb this year it read 3.65. I have just finally got my medichecks results today after having blood taken the same day. My TSH is a different number?! The blood was taken within half an hour of each other. I worried about the quality of the sample it took so long to get there....should I be worried|? I can only post one photo.... The medichecks TSH is 4.7 (0.27-4.2) and the photo is other stuff. My vitamins were....folate 5.54 (3.89-19.45). B12 45.3 (37.5-187.5). Vitamin D 76.6 (5.0-175) Iron 88.7 (13-150)

Thyroglobulin antibodies 11.4 (0-115) Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies <9 (0-34)

Can anyone shine a light on this please? This is the first ever full thyroid profile I have done. The accompanying doctor notes said if I had symptoms go see GP. (some use that would be! Or test in 3-6mths. But why are the TSH so different on blood taken within an hour of each other? How come my blood TSH was 1.76 6mths ago and jumped so much.

The GP put me on antidepressants 6mths ago for anxiety and depression. I had lost 2st (now put back on) I struggle with aching, hair thinning/loss, brain fog. Underlying anxiety and depression. Tinnitus Insomnia/tiredness.....none gone away with antidepressants.

Any light on these results would be helpful.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Ukred

What was the reference range for the TSH that was 3.65?

folate 5.54 (3.89-19.45). B12 45.3 (37.5-187.5). Vitamin D 76.6 (5.0-175)

All these are too low.

Folate is recommended to be at least half way through range so 12+ with that range.

Active B12 below 70 suggests testing for B12 deficiency. Check for signs and symptoms of B12 deficiency here :

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

If you have any list them to show your GP and ask for further testing for B12 deficiency.

Vit D is recommended to be 100-150nmol by the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health.

[ukred in reply to SeasideSusie]

The reference range for the NHS blood test TSH was 0.34-5.44. On that test I also have high cholesterol - 6.45 (0-4.99)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ukred]

Ukred

With the NHS TSH test your result is 64.9% through range. With the Medichecks TSH test it is over range.

Presumably you didn't have coffee or other caffeine containing drink between doing these two tests?

If not then I wonder if the delay in testing the Medichecks sample has caused the difference.

As you have already been in touch with Medichecks about this delay, I'd be inclined to contact them, explain that you had blood taken half an our earlier for a NHS test which was promptly carried out, and can they explain why there should be such a difference in the result and did the delay in their testi g contribute to this.

Did the NHS test only TSH? I'm wondering if they tested FT4 and there is also a difference with those results (I doubt if the NHS will have tested FT3).

High cholesterol is common in hypothyroidism.

How come my blood TSH was 1.76 6mths ago and jumped so much.

It depends on whether you did the tests under the exact same circumstances each time. Time of day makes a difference, TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. Coffee affects TSH. Eating can lower TSH.

[ukred in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for this. No the NHS only 'accidentally' did the TSH test (as part of a complete blood test) so no other thyroid test from them. They refused because I was in range. No I went straight from the clinic to the hospital, no drinks, no food. The June test was under exactly the same circumstances....except I was in 'starvation mode' as I was suffering badly from anxiety and had lost 2st and wasn't eating much. I will contact medichecks. |They have been pretty unhelpful so far. The docs report just said test again 3-6mths or go to GP. Thanks for all your help. I am going to hammer the vitamin supplements and see if I can see a difference.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ukred]

Ukred

Keep on at Medichecks.

Check out posts by jsy_girl who has been having discussions with Medichecks over differing Ferritin results.

Did you check out the link about symptoms of B12 deficiency? I really think you need further testing before doing anything about considering supplementing for that. You could very well need B12 injections. Don't take B12 or folate or B Complex supplements before testing for B12 deficiency.

For Vit D, I would suggest supplementing with 3,000iu D3 and retest on 3 months.

I like Doctor's Best D3 softgels.

When taking D3 there are important cofactors needed.

Taking 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 tissue where it can be deposited and cause problems.

I like Vitabay or Vegavero K2-mk7. 90-100mcg is enough for up to 10,000iu D3.

D3 and Vit K2-mk7 are fat soluble and should be taken with some dietary fat, either the fattiest meal of the day or something like a chunk of cheese or a full fat yogurt.

Magnesium helps the body convert D3 into it's usable form. You need to check which form of magnesium is best suited to your own needs:

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

[jsy_girl in reply to SeasideSusie]

Very interesting to see another example of different blood results coming from medichecks. Which reminds me the doctor hasn’t replied to my last email...

[ukred in reply to SeasideSusie]

The low vitamins would certainly add up to how I'm feeling. I'm just concerned I'm missing something with my thyroid

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ukred]

Work on improving all low vitamins

B12 and folate are both low

Ask GP for testing for Pernicious Anaemia

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

Vitamin D and ferritin are good

Retest in 2-3 months

Always test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Folate and ferritin at least half way through range

Active B12 at least over 70

Serum B12 at least over 500

[ukred in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your detailed response. I am vegan. There was nothing on the blood count the GP did that would prompt her to test further. No vitamins are tested on that. I had to badger to get that test as she has clearly written me off as an anxious depressive and now she's given me antidepressants, she's done. I did some research and these antidepressants deplete your vitamins. I'm keen to get off them and only took them because I was told they would help with migraines but I've started getting them again......and I am so cold all the time. My hair's falling out and have to fight through anxiety every day....and spend a lot of time 'spaced out'...

I am so glad I did this test though. It has made me focus on improving these vitamins first and foremost. I have just ordered a high potency Vit B12 spray. I'll get a test done somewhere else in 3-6mths because it looks like my vitamins are so deficient they could even be the only thing causing most of my issues (after reading the link Susie gave me). If I have a thyroid issue too, it should be clearer then. Thanks for everyone's help. x

[grumpyold]

I, too, once had conflicting results from Medichecks only mine related to free T3 levels. Further investigation (more testing) showed that the NHS result was the accurate one and was much lower than the Medichecks.Rather worrying.

They came up with an excuse which I didn't agree with.

I haven't used them since.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to grumpyold]

grumpyold

It is worrying because Medichecks, Blue Horizon and Thriva all use County Pathology to process their tests. I think BH also uses The Doctors Laboratory, or has done in the past, but certainly all my recent BH tests for the last few years have been with CP and all my Medichecks ones are CP.

[ukred in reply to SeasideSusie]

I've received an email back from my complaint to medichecks. They have ignored my questions concerning the difference in TSH level in medichecks and NHS tests. They reassured me that the blood was OK as it was stored in a safe place from 6th Feb until it could be tested on the 8th. Which is very strange as I contacted them on the 6th and the 8th and was told both times it had not been received. It said 'sample not received' on my dashboard until the afternoon of the 8th.

So why lie? I am increasingly concerned about the reliability of this company now. As if I haven't got enough to stress about...

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ukred]

Ukred

I'm sorry your reply from Medichecks was so unsatisfactory.

If it was me I would be asking them to respond to your questions concerning TSH (and keep on until they do).

I would also ask them to explain how come they appear to have received your blood on the 6th when you only got confirmation on the 8th.

[tattybogle]

For a further factor to consider in varying TSH results ,when samples not taken at Exactly the same time ... see the response from Diogenes to this post healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... if understand him correctly , refers to the pulsatile secretion of TSH, so lots of little squirts rather than a steady stream.

If you look in close up at graphs of TSH measurements taken every half hour or so over the day on the same patient they are not a steady line , but a series of smaller up's and downs , which when averaged out give a smooth line that is highest early morning and lowest around 2pm.

The only true way to compare results from one lab to another is to take both samples from one blood draw. And only then can you be sure both are measurement of the same thing .

Unfortunately i can't find a suitable graph to refer you to.