Confusing thyroid blood results. No diagnosis. Need some advise please.

[Treakle85]

Hello,

I'm hoping for a bit of advice. Over the past 7 years I have had blood tests done to check my thyroid function due to many ongoing symptoms. I have never had any thyroid diagnosis or medication.

01.03.17 (taken about 10:30am)

TSH 1.5 (0.35-4.94)

Free T4 10.9 (9-19)

11.03.19 (private blood test 9am)

TSH 1.46 (0.27-4.20)

Free T4 15.80 (12-22)

Free T3 4.66 (3.1-6.8)

Total T4 83.3 (66-181)

Anti TPO <9.0 (<34)

Anti TG <10 (<115)

11.10.21 (private blood test 9am)

TSH 1.12 (0.27-4.2)

Free T4 18 (12-22)

Free T3 4.9 (3.1-6.8)

Anti TPO 12.3 (0-34)

Anti TG 10.4 (0-115)

My T4 seems to have fluctuated quite a bit, albeit within range. Is this normal? What would cause this?

Considering the fluctuation in T4 my TSH doesn't seem to change all that much. Would you expect to see more fluctuation in TSH?

Had anybody had similar results and been diagnosed with a thyroid problem?

At the end of August this year (2021) I had 4 days of Prednisolone 30mg. This made me feel awful. I am aware that this has an impact on the HPA axis.

During this time I have also had Vitamin D deficiency, folate deficiency and B12 level that lowered (recieve treatment for this due to symptoms). More details can be found in my story.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this. I appreciate any help or suggestions.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Some fluctuation is quite normal, results can be affected by eating, time of day, time of year, other hormones. The FT4 level would fluctuate to a greater degree than TSH which is responding to levels and takes a longer time to react to changing levels.

As all your result including antibodies are all in range a doctor would say there is no need to consider treatment. Your FT4 was on low side on 2017 but more current results are better.

Folate, B12 and vitamin D are often affected when thyroid an issue and can also mimic many of the symptoms. When low they can affect thyroid health too.

The same applies to ferritin has this been tested?

[Treakle85]

Hello and thank you so much for your reply.

I have researched quite a bit about the thyroid and was confused because I had read that whilst the range is quite large for free T4, an individual with no thyroid problems normally stays quite stable within that range. I have also read that small changes in T3/T4 cause big changes in TSH. I guess this is why TSH is often tested alone as it is seen to be quite a sensitive marker for thyroid dysfunction. My results don't seem to reflect that, hence my confusion.

I have always felt hypo (with the odd hyper symptom) but have recently felt hyper.

I take on board your comments, so thank you. I have addressed my vitamin levels over the years as have had problems with them in the past. All are looking good at the moment apart from Folate, so will be addressing that and hoping for some improvement.

My Ferritin has been tested a few times

30.01.2014

45 (13-150)

This was after childbirth. I was anaemic so was treated with Iron therapy for 4 weeks. All other results on the full blood count returned to normal but Ferritin was never retested. I don't take any iron containing supplements.

11.03.19 (private test)

40.5 (13-150)

11.10.21 (private test)

55 (13-150)

Thank you again for taking the time to reply, I very much appreciate it 😀