What do my test results mean.

[Weeflo77]

I take 175mcg thyroxine daily. My latest thyroid function tests show Free Thyroxine of 21.8 and TSH of 0.03. I never can understand what test results mean. Can anyone lest me know does this mean doctor is gonna try and reduce my dose?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Weeflo77

Can you please add the reference ranges for your results, these vary from lab to lab so we need your lab's ranges to interpret your results.

Did you do the test as we advise :

* No later than 9am to give highest possible TSH

* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the blood draw

* Last dose of Levo 24 hours before the test - any longer and there will be a false low FT4, taking Levo before test gives false high TSH

* No B Complex or Biotin supplement for 7 days before the test

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How do you feel?

Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate....doesn’t tell you how well you convert levothyroxine (Ft4) into active hormone (ft3)

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription

Which brand

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Do you have 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 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

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or quarter of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

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

[Weeflo77 in reply to SlowDragon]

I take vitamin b complex every day. A few months ago my iron levels were low so doctor put my on iron tablets for couple of months so my levels are back up again.In the labs that my levels were done in the ranges are :

Free thyroxine should be between 12 - 22 my level was 21.8

TSH should be between 0.27 - 4.2 my level was 0.03

I get the same brand of thyroxine each time I get my prescription.

I am always tired and really struggle to lose weight.

[Weeflo77 in reply to SlowDragon]

Lab results

Lab results

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Weeflo77]

So folate and B12 are good (because you’re taking vitamin B complex)

Important to stop vitamin B complex a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS, as biotin can falsely affect test results

Iron and ferritin low

It takes many, many months improving iron and ferritin

Are these results from before or after iron supplements

GP frequently stops iron supplements too soon

Are you vegetarian or vegan

Do you suffer heavy periods

When was vitamin D last tested

Do you supplement vitamin D and magnesium?

Recommend you test vitamin D asap

Supplement to improve to at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Then 2-3 months after improving vitamin D....test TSH, Ft4 And Ft3

Cheapest option is via Monitor My Health

Always test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[Weeflo77 in reply to SlowDragon]

I took iron for couple months just. Do you think my iron and ferritin are low? I dont think I've ever had my vitamin d level checked. I did take a supplement for a little while but stopped again.

I take Magnesium supplement every night as I find it helps with my restless feet.

I'm not vegan or vegetarian and I have very light periods.

Thank you so much for your replies ☺

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Weeflo77]

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Come back with new post once you get results

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Weeflo77]

To maintain optimal iron and ferritin levels Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first

Post discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Why low ferritin needs improving

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...