My daughter in law had thyroid cancer a few years ago, so she has no thyroid. they recently did her bloods and her TSH 5.878 (0.5-3.6) so far to high but her T4 was 14.2 (7.9-14) so that is slightly over the top end of the range.
Do those results indicate she is a poor converter? They didn’t do a T3 reading this time.
Pixielula
You can only tell if you are a poor converter if you have FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time. You can't tell from TSH and FT4 results, you must see the FT3 as well.
To have a high TSH with a high FT4 is unusual. Possibly some assay interference? When did she take her last dose of Levo before the test? Did she take Biotin or a B Complex in the week before the test?
Oh I will ask her Seaside, thank you so much for replying….
What difference does it make as I’m sure I was taking a B Complex with my last bloods! Got my doctor freaking out on me at the moment !
No-one can tell what difference it will make.
Some lab tests are NOT affected by biotin.
Even when they are affected, you can't pick up a table or formula and work out by how much.
Having said that, very low levels of biotin, similar to those we might get in our ordinary diets, are unlikely to make a significant difference. This issue was really identified by people taking huge megadoses, often in an attempt to help in multiple sclerosis.
And does it help MS? I'd be interested to read more about this.
I found some years ago it made some impact on migraine and mentioned this to a neurologist, but they said 'placebo'. (I'd taken it because I'd read that it helped hair loss so I can't see why it would result in a placebo effect for headache).
I'm really not up to date with it at all. I suspect we at the stage of trials - whether formal or informal.
Would have to search out information.
This might be of interest:
MD1003 (biotin)
MD1003 (high-dose biotin) is a tablet being developed for progressive MS. The treatment is being tested in a second phase 3 trial.
Current phase of trial:
phase 3 trial
Type of MS:
Primary progressive MS
mssociety.org.uk/research/e...
Thanks - it sounds promising but then there's another article following that saying they've concluded it doesn't work.
Pixielula
If the lab uses biotin in the testing procedure, taking a biotin supplement can give false results. Many NHS print outs of results now mention this. The private labs give instructions to leave biotin off for a few days. The small amount in a B Complex, as a precaution, is only likely to be needed to be left off for a couple of days, the large amounts used in hair supplements are likely to need a few days longer. Nobody can tell, it's a precaution just to avoid inaccurate results.
The reasons for the questions about Biotin are given in these two threads :
With a TSH like that, I’m afraid she is at risk of the cancer recurring. I have had a TT for thyroid cancer and my TSH is kept suppressed. This is normal practice. The highest it should be is 0.1, Mine is 0.05.
She may be a poor converter but that is not the main issue at the moment. Is she looked after by Oncologist, Endocrinologist or GP?
Where would the cancer come back to as her thyroid was removed?
It’s often the thyroid ‘bed’ if it’s a recurrence. If it’s a ‘spread’ lungs or bones.
Don’t look on the black side though. Ask her to ask the hospital why her TSH isn’t suppressed. She should also be having an annual thyroglobulin test to check for antibodies.
Omg she will be completely freaked out by that, I know the first year they had her on T3 but then swapped her to levo. I know her TSH was surpressed when on T3 ….. I know she went back earlier this year as felt a pea sized lump under the scar but they told her it was scar tissue! We didn’t realise it could come back.
When did you have your TT? How long have you been without your thyroid?
Your daughter in law should have at least a yearly ultrasound of her neck and thyroid recurrence usually spreads to lymph nodes in neck…. I was diagnosed with TC 5 years ago and one day I have recurrence and the next day I don’t you really must be up on all your health care or these Endos just throw you away cancer or not … most insane medical department I have ever dealt with.
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