Borderline blood test

[moose3101]

New to forum. Second blood test has returned borderline (as per first) and advised by GP to have another test in 6 month's time! Variety of symptoms ongoing...defo not running on all cylinders and constantly cold hands/feet and somewhat frustrated at having to wait for 6 months. Am planning to contact GP for further detail on tests but not sure where I can go from here as 6 months seems a long time to wait. Any suggestions or advice very much appreciated!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Moose3101

Welcome to the forum.

Do you have a print out of your results? If so, please post them, along with the reference ranges (ranges are very important as they vary from lab to lab).

If you don't have them, ask the receptionist (not the doctor), in the UK we are legally entitled to our test results without charge or question.

We really need to see the following :

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

and it's always useful to have key nutrients tested as low levels or deficiencies can have symptoms that overlap with symptoms of hypothyroidism :

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If you can't get them all tested with your GP (which you probably won't) we have recommended private labs who do them with either a home fingerprick test or, for extra cost, venous blood draw can be arranged.

[moose3101 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Results as follows:

TSH 6.46 mIU/L range: 0.27-4.2 (20/05); 6.56 (22/03)

FT4 12.8 pmol/L range: 11.2-20.2 (20/05) ; 13.7 (22/03)

Vit D 74 nmol/L range: 76-250 (22/03)

FT3 doesnt appear to have been checked

B12 700 ng/L range: 180-770 (22/03)

Folate 17.3 ug/L range: 4-26 (22/03)

Ferritin 140 ug/L range: 15-150 (22/03)

any light that can be shed much appreciated!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to moose3101]

Do you have the reference intervals (ranges) as these vary from lab to lab.

Usually something like (0.35 - 4.0) for TSH.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to moose3101]

Have you got the reference ranges that come with the results please, we need them to be able interpret the results. Also unit of measurement for B12.

[moose3101 in reply to moose3101]

Just received text from GP saying tested + for thyroid antibodies and likely to have auto-immune thyroid condition. So relieved to be making some progress and not having to wait another 6 months

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to moose3101]

As this is your second abnormal results and high thyroid antibodies and symptoms you should be started on levothyroxine

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

See flow chart on top of page 2

gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...

Are you currently taking any vitamin supplements or are vitamin levels naturally pretty good?