Advice Welcome

[Owenv1]

After an initial discussion with my GP proved pointless I have taken an advanced medichecks test. I'm not diagnosed or on any medication but have been experiencing thyroid symptoms for well over a year. I've got another appointment to discuss these in September but I just wanted a view from people who have a lot more knowledge than me on this topic. Am I barking up the wrong tree, I know this shows my thyroid results are all within range so maybe I need to accept it.

CRP - normal range 0-5, mine is 10.4

IRON STATUS/FERRETIN - normal range 13 - 150 - mine is 24

FOLATE SERUM - normal range 2.8 - 14.5 - mine is 5

B12 - normal range 25.1 - 165 - mine is 186. Not on any supplements at all so no idea why this is high.

VIT D - normal range 50 - 200 - mine is 65

TSH - normal range 0-27 - 4.2 - mine is 1.69

FREE T3 - normal range 3.1 - 6.8 - mine is 4.8

FREE THYROXINE - normal range 12 - 22 - mine is 12.3

THYROGLOBULIN - normal range 0 - 115 - mine is 13.5

THYROID PEROXIDASE - normal range 0 - 34 - mine is 13.5

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What age are you approx……pre or post menopause

Are you currently taking any other medications

CRP is high. Needs retesting in September. Have you had recent cold/virus etc

Ferritin is very low

GP should be doing full iron panel test for anaemia with ferritin result below 30

rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-co...

Folate is also on low side, but as within range not low enough for GP to prescribe

Similarly

Vitamin D needs improving to at least around 80nmol

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking, if any

Thyroid levels

Ft4 is very low, and was below range in previous post

No thyroid antibodies

But 20% of Hashimoto’s patients never have high thyroid antibodies

Request ultrasound scan of thyroid, though GP may be reluctant as TSH is “normal”

[radd]

Owenv1,

Oh gosh you must be feeling dreadful.

And given your deficencies in iron, folate & Vit D, the elevated VitB12 could be a misnomer of things not working correctly & be due to impaired tissue uptake and/or excretion issues. You might be better off getting an ‘Active VitB12’ which measures after conversion so is a more accurate gauge as to what is being utilised as opposed to sitting in the circulating blood stream.

You have no thyroid antibodies but your thyroid levels are exetremely low at FT4 3% & FT3 46% through-range, with a TSH within range. Under normal circumstances the hypothalumus drives the pituitary with TRH, which drives thyroid hormones with TSH. Because your TSH is so low this indicates a problem with either the hypothalamus or pituitary gland and is called Central (or Secondary) Hypothyroidism.

FT3 (active hormone) is commonly seen as higher when FT4 levels are inadaeqaute as the body does all it can to try retaining wellbeing.

Your GP is focusing on your TSH which becomes redundant in Central Hypothyroidism as is not an accurate gauge of thyroid hormone levels. You could present the NICE information on Central Hypothyroidism in the link below to your GP. Some are receptive, some aren’t, in which case ensure he refers you to an endo as per NICE guidelines.

Meanwhile you could start supplementing iron & nutrients to try raising back to healthy levels. I don't think GP’s can do the Active B12 test but an endo can or you could do it privately. Have you discussed the raised CRP with your GP?

.

NICE guidelines - look at very bottom of page for Secondary Hypothyroidism.

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

.

Active VitB12 home test

medichecks.com/products/vit...

[BeachHut in reply to radd]

Hi the Medichecks test Owenv1 used is an active B12 test.

Owenv1, unfortunately with a TSH of 1.69 the NHS will say you don't currently have a thyroid problem. But the T4 and T3 results could be because the thyroid is compensating by producing a higher percentage of T3 at the expense of T4. If so at some point the thyroid could fail, TSH should then rise assuming the Pituitary Thyroid axis is working correctly ie not secondary hypothyroidism, and then NHS would prescribe T4.

The problem you have is T4 (Levothyroxine) is a prescription medicine, and whether you would be able to convince a doctor to prescribe for a trial. Doctors only know TSH. If you get them to look at T4 and its below the bottom of the range they may consider prescribing.

The things you can do are supplement for folate and vit D. Methyl Folate is better, and with vitamin D also take Vitamin K2. There is a lot of data on Thyroid UK on vitamins and supplements. Good Luck

[Owenv1]

Thank you all so much for your replies. So much knowledge on here. I'm now doing some research based on what you've said and drafting an email ahead of my appointment with my results so he can review beforehand.