Blood test explanation 😔

[Summerloving73]

Hi I have tried to find out what the blood tests mean I have had recently, please can anyone help? Thanks 😌

[NWA6]

Hi Summerloving73. Who’s results are these? You or your sons. Do they/you have a postive TPO test? Have you ever had FT3 test?

These tests suggest a failing thyroid with out of range TSH results. At the moment your body is working very hard to maintain that FT4 result. But without an FT3 result we can not see the whole picture and I would suggest that if you/they are symptomatic then all that hard work is not working if you’re FT3 is not optimal.

Even without anymore information, you/they should be started on Levothyroxine, 50mcg and retest in 6wks.

If there is a reason for failing thyroid ie Hashi’s then you are more likely to begin treatment.

[Summerloving73 in reply to NWA6]

Good morning NWA6 , these are mine, my son is still having various tests and is being assessed in a specialist hospital.

I have a positive TPO attached, I did put them in a reply to myself because I didn’t know how to add more then 1 photo.

Graph for blood test results, showing TPO

[NWA6 in reply to Summerloving73]

So you have Hashimotos. Are you being treated? And your Vit D is extremely low. Have you had B12, ferritin and folate tested?

[Summerloving73 in reply to NWA6]

Hi, One GP called and told my to retest in 6 to 12 months, same sinario since 2015….. Then another GP called and told me they were sending a prescription for 50mg Lovothyroxine ! Hence the request for advice. Folate fluctuates and I am on folate acid 5mg,

Graph of bloods

[NWA6 in reply to Summerloving73]

Absolutely ready to start Levo! I’m so sorry the journey has been long (since 2015 😞)

[Summerloving73 in reply to NWA6]

Thank you, will the Levo make me feel better do you know? And is there anything else I need to ask my GP? Thank you again for all your help…… I will keep you posted 🙂

[NWA6]

Most people respond to Levothyroxine, this is one of your first steps to wellness. Replacing the thyroxine that your failing thyroid is not making. The higher TSH but consistently lowering/low FT4/3, show that your Thyroid is not being stimulated by that TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and you are ‘lucky’ that you know the reason for your thyroid failing, autoimmune thyroiditis, commonly known amoung the community as Hashimotos.

What we can see from your results is that your FT4 is already higher in range. I use this calculator to help me understand if my result is high, low or ‘average’. Once you gather a history of results you will begin to understand what is optimal for you. Because Ofcourse the numbers are just a guide and what is a good number for one (or in range as the GP’s relentlessly talk about) may not be adequate or may be too much for another. So get used to using the narrative ‘optimal’ with your GP, as in ‘I don’t/do feel optimal’.

What you haven’t had done is FT3, this is the most important test, it’s no good having a high in range FT4 result but actually that’s not converting to FT3. Most GP’s won’t test for this so you may need to do this privately. This would be my most immediate next step. You need a history of this result to understand what’s going on. My only worry is that you’re going to add Levo because your TSH is high, this Levo will either take you over the FT4 range and worry your GP and may make you feel worse (this happened to me) or because the Levo interferes with the feedback loop your FT4 may drop considerably and thus, what little conversion you do may become even worse. So you see it’s a delicate balance and until you get full results and tinker, there isn’t a one size fits all.

You also need to work on your vitamins and minerals. Ferritin, folate, b12 and Vit D. Regularly test these every 3mths until you reach an optimal, often higher in range result. And then you may be able to only need to test once or twice a year.

Your Vit D is incredibly low, are you on loading doses for that? The Betteryou with Vit K is a mouth spray that may be more quickly absorbed.

It’s a lot to take in and get your head around, there’s so much to think about (and I haven’t read thoroughly through your previous posts, so you may know more than I’m assuming, forgive me if that’s the case) however, keep asking questions, keep educating yourself. I’d say, in relation to your son, get yourself well first so that you can then help him. ‘Fit your own life jacket, before trying to help others’, otherwise you’ll both drown.