Can anyone please explain my blood results to me

[Health-care]

Serum TSH 0.02 (0.3-4.5)

Serum free triiodothyronine level 5.1 (4.1-6.8)

Serum free t3 level 15.9 ( 10.0-22.0)

Is this all that I should have tested for under active thyroid ?

Thank you in advance for any help

[SlowDragon Administrator]

No you need thyroid antibodies and vitamins tested too

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

Do you have Hashimoto’s

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription

Low vitamin levels are EXTREMELY common if dose levothyroxine is reduced

Ask GP to test vitamin levels NOW

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 .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Health-care

Related post: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I just want to point out, for future reference and to avoid confusion, that

Serum free triiodothyronine level 5.1 (4.1-6.8) - that is your FT3 (free T3) test and

Serum free t3 level 15.9 ( 10.0-22.0) - that is the reference range and result for a FT4 (free T4) test.

Your current results show that you may be a little undermedicated. What dose of Levo were you on when that test was done? Did you do the test early morning before eating or drinking anything but water? If you are taking a B Complex or Biotin supplement did you stop this for 7 days before the test?

Your FT4 is 49.17% through range and your FT3 is 37.04% through range. Actually, is the range for FT3 correct, it's often 3.1-6.8, I'm wondering if you've made a typo with 4.1-6.8. If the range is actually 3.1-6.8 then your FT3 is 54.05% through range.

How do you feel? If symptomatic you could do with an increase in your dose of Levo.

Presumably your GP has based your reduction of dose to 75mcg on your below range TSH. TSH is not a thyroid hormone, it's a pituitary hormone and should not be used to adjust dose. Your GP needs to look at your actual thyroid hormones - FT4 and FT3 - and only reduce dose if these, particularly FT3, are over range. You need your Levo put back up to 100mcg and retest in 6-8 weeks, see where your FT4 and FT3 levels lie then.

[Health-care in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for this, it is so confusing I was on 125mcg a month ago now put down to 75mcg. I am always low in energy but that is nothing new for years. Currently in the menopause so the constant hot sweats are horrendous x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Health-care]

Are you saying dose was reduced AFTER these results

Your FT4 is 49.17% through range

your FT3 is 37.04% through range.

These results suggest you are UNDER medicated and needed dose increase

Most people on levothyroxine need Ft4 and Ft3 at least 60% through range

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

Which brand

Sweats are often low B12

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

Do you know if cause of your hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Low vitamin levels are extremely common the longer we are on levothyroxine, especially if under medicated