Really struggling. Can anyone advise on what to do next please?
I had a thyroid test on monitor my health in October 2020 which said there was an anomaly. The results were:
TSH. Just above 2.5 range 0.3 - 4.4
Thyroxine 10 range 12 - 22
Triiodothyronine just inside the normal range (no numbers are given)
Vitamin D 70nmol
I’ve had a telephone appointment with a doctor who did a blood test. The results are below.
TSH 4.2. R .5 - 4.4
T4. 10.7. R 10 - 20
Ferritin 16. R 12 - 300
Vitamin D. R. 42. below range
The surgery sent me a letter to say I need to take 800 to 1000iu of vitamin D a day probably for life.
Just had a telephone appointment with the GP who says I haven’t any
thyroid issues just take vitamin D and ferritin. Told her I’m taking 4000 iu of vitamin D and have been for 2 years and been taking 200/400mg Ferrous Sulphate daily. She said it’s just low vitamin D and iron that are the problem.
Asked for a thyroid test in 6months or a year and was told there is no point you don’t have a thyroid problem. They have ruled out Celiac disease.
I have felt awful for a long time and can tick virtually every box on the thyroid symptoms list.
My mum has Hashimotos as did her mum and my aunt. My fathers mum had part of her thyroid removed and her mother and aunt had thyroid cancer.
My mum has some thyrogold in 150mg. Would it be worth taking these as I can’t get anywhere with the GP?
Any information welcome. Thank you in advance.
Written by
Desnikki
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I had a thyroid test on monitor my health in October 2020 which said there was an anomaly. The results were:
TSH. Just above 2.5 range 0.3 - 4.4
Thyroxine 10 range 12 - 22
Triiodothyronine just inside the normal range (no numbers are given)
I use MonitorMyHealth. They do plot the result on a graph but in the box below the graph they do give numbers so there must be a result for FT3 (Triiodothyronine). If you log into your account you will see
What does this result mean?
01/02/2021 Your result is X>XX pmol/L
FT3 levels ***** (normal range 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L)
You will also see the exact result for your TSH level as well although you have given the wrong reference range in your post. It actually says
What does this result mean?
01/02/2021 Your result is X.XX mu/L
TSH levels ***** (normal range 0.27 - 4.2 mU/L)
However, what is significant is that the results of your MonitorMyHealth test suggest Central Hypothyroidism which is where the problem lies with the pituitary or the hypothalamus rather than the thyroid. This is suggested when TSH is normal, low or minimally elevated together with a low/below range FT4. Your MonitorMyHealth FT4 level is below range, and your NHS test for FT4 is a fraction within range at 10.7 (10-20) so is classed as low, with a normal TSH, so again could suggest Central Hypothyroidism.
Most doctors haven't heard of Central Hypothyroidism but you should discuss this with him and produce some evidence. Your GP can look at BMJ Best Practice for information - here is something you can read without needing to be subscribed (your GP should have access to this):
You could do some more research, print out anything that may help and show your GP.
As Central Hypothyroidism isn't as common as Primary Hypothyroidism it's likely that your GP hasn't come across it before. You may need to be referred to an endocrinologist. If so then please make absolutely sure that it is a thyroid specialist that you see. Most endos are diabetes specialists and know little about the thyroid gland (they like to think they do and very often end up making us much more unwell that we were before seeing them). You can email Dionne at
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
for the list of thyroid friendly endos. Then ask on the forum for feedback on any that you can get to. Then if your GP refers you, make sure it is to one recommended here. It's no guarantee that they will understand Central Hypothyroidism but it's better than seeing a diabetes specialist. You could also ask on the forum if anyone has been successful in getting a diagnosis of Central Hypothyroidism, possibly in your area which you'll have to mention of course.
**
My mum has some thyrogold in 150mg. Would it be worth taking these as I can’t get anywhere with the GP?
I wouldn't at this stage. You really need to pursue this and try and get a diagnosis on the NHS which will give you a prescription for thyroid medication and, if in England, free prescriptions (if in Wales, Scotland or N.Ireland prescriptions are already free).
**
Your Vit D level has probably fallen due to it being winter when we can't make Vit D naturally from the sun. Your current level of 42nmol/L suggests that you need to take 5,000iu D3 daily and aim to improve your level to that recommended by the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health which is 100-150nmol/L. Retest in 3 months. Once you've reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose to keep it there, which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public:
Doctors don't know, because they're not taught much about nutrients, but there are important cofactors needed when taking D3.
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 tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking D3 as tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray.
Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking magnesium as tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.
As for your ferritin being just 16 (12-200), how long have you been taking Ferrous Sulphate? Is it prescribed? Is your GP monitoring you? Have you had an iron panel done and a full blood count? Is it iron deficiency or iron deficiency anaemia?
Low fT4 with non-elevated TSH indicates central hypothyroidism especially when fT3 is low normal. Usually in these situations TSH has low bioactivity and so there is even less active TSH than the immunoassay shows. Tell the GP you have central hypothyroidism and should be referred to an endocrinologist.
Just testing TSH and Ft4 Is completely inadequate, especially as your mum has Hashimoto’s
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Also EXTREMELY important to test folate and B12 too
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
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)
Your ferritin is absolutely terrible
Why low ferritin needs improving and might be affecting TSH
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Symptomatic but within range
Within range but I'm not!
Help! GP won't give higher dose as my levels are 'within range'
Symptoms but blood test normal ranges 
Why do endocrinologists ignore symptoms and just look at blood levels within range?
