I'd appreciate some help interpreting my medichecks blood test results that I ordered following on from my last post about my frustrations with my GP suggesting my thyroid levels were 'normal'. The Medichecks doctor also seems to think everything is normal but the low T4 and elevated TgAb seem a concern to me as well as the lowish ferritin.
Ferritin - 23 (13-150)
Folate - 19.7 (>3.89)
Vitamin B12 active - 109 (>37.5)
Vitamin D - 79.5 (50-175)
TSH - 2.53 (0.27-4.2)
Free T3 - 5.23 (3.1-6.8)
Free T4 - 10.3 (12-22)
TgAb antibodies (thryroglobulin) - 148 (<115)
TPO antibodies (thyroid peroxidase) - <9 (<34)
Thanks
Written by
pinkginger15
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Ferritin is very low and suggests that you ask your GP to carry out an iron panel to test for iron deficiency and a full blood count for anaemia. Don't consider self supplementing with iron tablets because if you already have a decent level of serum iron and a good saturation percentage then taking iron tablets can push your iron level even higher, too much iron is as bad as too little.
This is a little low. The Vit D Society and Grassroots Health recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L.
To reach the recommended level from your current level, you could supplement with 2,500-3,000iu D3 daily. Retest after 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.
I like Doctor's Best D3 softgels and either Vitabay or Vegavero for Vit K2-MK7.
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 thyroid test results, a normal healthy person would have a TSH level no higher than 2, often nearer 1, with FT4 around mid-range-ish. I'm surprised the doctor's comments didn't pick up on the below range FT4 and personally I would be contacting them asking them to explain this and pointing out that there is a reference range for a reason and to be below range to the extent that you are can't possibly be considered normal.
As before your TSH is within range but on the higher than normal side with a below range TSH and I can only reiterate what I said in reply to your previous post about this can suggest Central Hypothyroidism.
Raised thyroglobulin antibodies may mean that you have autoimmune thyroid disease, aka Hashimoto's, but they can be present in other circumstances as well
The low ferritin certainly seems to be a worry and could actually explain a lot of my symptoms (particularly dizziness, shortness of breath and high heart rate). I had a FBC a few weeks ago ordered by the GP and they said everything is normal so that could mean I don't have anaemia but who knows as my levels could have actually been at the low end of the reference range as I didn't get the exact numbers. Can I start increasing my intake of iron in my diet before getting a full iron panel or do I have to wait? Also, what could be the cause of the low ferritin - is it to do with my thyroid or could it be something else?
So you think my results still might suggest central hypothyroidism despite the raised thyroglobulin antibodies? I thought that if you have Hashimoto's then you don't have central hypothyroidism.
Also, is there any reason why the t3 is normal when the t4 is low? I thought you need t4 to convert it into t3.
Can I start increasing my intake of iron in my diet before getting a full iron panel or do I have to wait?
I would wait. Ask for a printed copy of your test results of the full blood count. Find out if you have iron deficiency or anaemia first because if you do you should be prescribed iron tablets. Starting to eat liver and other iron rich foods before an iron panel will skew results.
Also, what could be the cause of the low ferritin - is it to do with my thyroid or could it be something else?
Often not consuming enough iron in diet or anaemia.
Iron deficiency can cause low ferritin and hypothyroidism to occur at the same time because when there’s not enough ferritin stored in the body our thyroid isn’t able to make enough thyroid hormone.
Here are a couple of articles which may be interesting:
So you think my results still might suggest central hypothyroidism despite the raised thyroglobulin antibodies? I thought that if you have Hashimoto's then you don't have central hypothyroidism.
We don't yet know if your raised Tg antibodies confirm Hashimoto's, as I said they can be connected with other things.
Also, is there any reason why the t3 is normal when the t4 is low? I thought you need t4 to convert it into t3.
T3 is the active hormone which every cell in our bodies need. When the thyroid is failing the body will do it's utmost to keep us going so it pushes out as much T3 as it can but eventually this will reduce as well.
Okay I'll wait then. It's just annoying because I requested access to all my blood test results online a month ago and still haven't heard anything and I wouldn't put it past them to deny me access to the full, printed version. Maybe if I take this low ferritin result to the GP they'll consider doing a full iron panel.
Interesting about the link between ferritin and hypothyroidism.
In terms of the Tg antibodies, are there any tests I can do to find out why they are raised or is this something I have to take up with my GP?
It's just annoying because I requested access to all my blood test results online a month ago and still haven't heard anything and I wouldn't put it past them to deny me access to the full, printed version.
If they do not give you access to your test results within 30 days of you requesting them they are breaking the law. We are legally entitled to our results under the Data Protection Act and even a formal Subject Access Request requires them to provide the information within 30 days. Some practices have online access and you have to register for them, where I am in Wales we don't have online access for anything but a verbal request for a print out of test results is suffricient and they are usually ready the same day or the next day once the receptionist has asked the GP and he has given the OK.
In terms of the Tg antibodies, are there any tests I can do to find out why they are raised or is this something I have to take up with my GP?
I'm afraid I don't know enough about antibodies to offer any further comment. An ultrasound of the thyroid can be used to confirm Hashi's but as for any further tests I'm afraid I can't help.
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