Could anyone weigh in on my thyroid test results please?

[Siobhank]

I recently paid for a thyroid test online (recommended test by thyroid uk) because I feel like my levels are never right as I’m always tired and struggle to lose weight. I wasn’t sure if this was caused by my hypothyroidism (diagnosed at birth, I’m 29 now) or my PCOS.

Here’s my results:

TSH - 1.98 mIU/L (ref 0.27-4.2)

Free T3 - 5.2 pmol/L (ref 3.1-6.8)

Free thyroxine - 22.9 pmol/l (ref 12-22)

The site said they’re normal, although free thyroxine is slightly high. Just unsure if even though they’re “normal” if I should focus on improving them still?

I didn’t take the vitamin test because stupidly I clicked on the first one I saw (thyroid function only) and ordered it before checking the others! I do take Vitamin D, iron and other supplements anyway.

I take 125mcg levothyroxine daily

(Also interested if anyone knows if these ranges are bad for trying to conceive? )

I was taking vitamin D and folate because I was identified as deficient (I wasn’t told to take a certain amount, just take them… lol) but now I have been taking this medication called proceive as it has the vitamins in that are meant to be good for PCOS for about a month now. I do think it’s helping a little. I’ve attached a pic of the ingredients but not sure if the amounts are enough

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Siobhank

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

How much Levo are you taking?

When did you take your last dose before the test (last dose should be 24 hours before test)

Did you take your test no later than 9am before eating or drinking anything but water?

Did you only do thyroid test or did you include vitamins?

[Siobhank in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi thanks. I updated my post with the ranges. I take 125mcg daily and took my last dose around 24 hours before. I took it early morning and only had water.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Siobhank]

Siobhank

TSH - 1.98 mIU/L (ref 0.27-4.2)

Free T3 - 5.2 pmol/L (ref 3.1-6.8)

Free thyroxine - 22.9 pmol/l (ref 12-22)

The aim of a treated Hypo patient on Levo only, generally, is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges.

Your TSH is too high which would suggest that an increase in dose may be beneficial. However, your FT4 is over range but only producing FT3 57% through it's range which is showing poor conversion.

Good conversion needs optimal nutrient levels, I think the next step would be to get your vitamins tested. You need

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

I do take Vitamin D, iron and other supplements anyway.

Please tell us what you take and the doses, and what you based this on - normally one would test first and only supplement if results show it's needed and the dose tailored to your results and the level you are aiming for.

[Siobhank in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. Even though I’ve had this all my life I still don’t really understand it or how it works.

Is there a reason it may not be converting well? I have uploaded a picture to my post that includes the vitamins I take and their amounts

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Siobhank]

Siobhank

Even though I’ve had this all my life I still don’t really understand it or how it works.

Perhaps time to do some research to understand your condition

Go through the menu on ThyroidUK's main website (this is their forum)

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

You have had hypothyroidism since birth, you don't produce thyroid hormone yourself therefore, as a life giving hormone, you have to take it exogenously as a Levothyroxine tablet.

** Levo should be taken on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after food, with water only and water only for an hour each side. This ensures that nothing affects Levo's absorption.

All other medication and most supplements should be taken at least 2 hours away from Levo, some require 4 hours - calcium, iron, Vit D, magnesium, oestrogen, HRT, Omeprazole and other PPIs.

You can take Levo when it suits you - morning, evening, bedtime, early hours of the morning, as long as you stick to the same routine and make sure you follow the advice above **.

Hypothyroidism can trash our vitamin levels so it's essential to test these as we need optimal nutrient levels for thyroid hormone to work properly and good conversion of T4 to T3.

I have uploaded a picture to my post that includes the vitamins I take and their amounts

OK, so you're taking a multivitamin. These aren't recommended for a variety of reasons - they tend to contain too little of anything to help low levels or deficiencies, they often use the cheapest, wrong form and least absorbable of active ingredients, they also often include things we need to test for first and only supplement if deficient, eg iron, calcium, Vit D, iodine.

Looking at your supplement:

Vit D - 17.5mcg = 700iu

This amount is barely a maintenance dose for someone who already has a good level.

Vit K1

This is the blood clotting form, this should never be taken by anyone who takes blood thinners, eg Warfarin. The form that should be used is K2 - important when taking D3 - as this directs calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arterties and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems like calcification of arterties and kidney stones, etc.

B12 - 25mcg

Doesn't say if it's methylcobalamin or cyanocobalamin, methylcobalamin is the recommended form. 25mcg will do nothing to help a low level.

Calcium, iron, iodine

All these should be tested and only supplemented if found to be deficient.

Iodine solution used to be used to treat hypERthyroidism and can make hypOthyroidism worse. Iodine deficiency is uncommon in the UK as it is easily available from food such as milk, yogurt, cod, haddock, scampi, etc.

Zinc/Copper

These should be in balance and we Hypos often have one high and the other low, so we need to test first to see if we need to supplement.

Selenium 200mcg

Although selenium can be helpful for we Hypos, 200mcg is the maximum amount recommended unless tested and a need shown to supplement a higher dose. A safe dose without testing is considered to be 100mcg.

Iron

Should be tested for first but the biggest problem is that iron affects the absorption of everything else. Iron needs to be taken 2 hours away from other supplements and 4 hours away from Levo.

It's best to test the key nutrients - Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin - and supplement where necessary at the appropriate dose to obtain optimal levels which are:

Vit D - 100-150nmol/L according to The Vit D Society and Grassroots Health

B12 - top of range for Total B12, and for Active B12 over 70 but 100+ is better

Folate - at least half way through range

Ferritin - half way through range although some experts say that the optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is between 90-110 ng/ml.

If your GP wont do these tests (many wont, especially Vit D) then many members do them with one of the private labs.

[Siobhank in reply to SeasideSusie]

That is so so helpful thanks so much! I have waited a long time obviously but I feel now I am ready to take control of my body and get the healthiest I can be.I used to be quite bad when I was younger with taking my thyroxine and a doctor one day said to me that you’ll have this for the rest of your life and you need to take it seriously. I knew that but it was the shock I needed!

I will see if my GP is willing to test my vitamin levels and if not get a private test.

Thanks again!

[Siobhank in reply to SeasideSusie]

I also take fish oil I forgot to add

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Siobhank]

No problem with that

[SlowDragon Administrator]

PCOS and Hashimoto’s often go together

Do you have Hashimoto’s (autoimmune thyroid disease) diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Folate, ferritin and B12 need testing annually

Vitamin D should be tested twice year when supplementing

We need optimal vitamin levels for good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) into Ft3 (active hormone)

If you have Hashimoto’s frequently strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential

[Siobhank in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for replying. I had only learned about hashimotos recently and I do wonder if that’s what I have so I’ll talk to my GP!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Siobhank]

U.K. medics never call it Hashimoto’s

They only call it autoimmune thyroid disease and completely ignore the autoimmune aspect

When you say you were diagnosed at birth….that suggests you have no thyroid?

So autoimmune thyroid disease would be usual (possibly impossible) with no thyroid

Have you had ultrasound scan of thyroid (or thyroid area…if no thyroid)

[Siobhank in reply to SlowDragon]

So from what I remember I do have a thyroid but it’s just never worked. I was poorly for a little while at birth then they found from the heel prick test that I have hypothyroidism

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Siobhank]

So worth testing for thyroid antibodies via Medichecks or Blue horizon

Private ultrasound scan £150

[Siobhank in reply to SlowDragon]

Great will do, thanks!