Test results

[Pastelart]

I would be grateful for your opinion on my latest test results please. I have an appointment tomorrow. I’m thinking that my symptoms maybe iron related, is there room for a small dose increase?

[fuchsia-pink]

TSH is low but still in range, so the doc should be happy with that (we all know they freak out when they shouldn't if it goes lower than the bottom of the lab range, even though it's pretty meaningless once you are thyroid meds)

As regards your thyroid hormones, it's always worth looking at percentages through range. Free T4 is 63% though range and free T3 is lagging at only 35%. So yes, there's plenty of room for a dose increase before these go over-range, and you will almost certainly feel better if you can get free T3 up - certainly over 50% and more likely over 65% ... And ask him/her to test key nutrients, as recommended by Thyroid UK - ferritin, folate, vit D and B12.

Good luck x

[Pastelart in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you fuchsia-pink, I’ve just looked at my previous blood tests and my T3 has dropped quite a bit. So would an increase of levothyroxine help bring my T3 up, or do I need to ask for T3?

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Pastelart]

It should boost it a bit, but in your place, I would start doing research into which endo you need to see to get a trial of lio. It's possible, but tricky, to get it on the NHS, so it's important to see someone who will ... you can get a list of T3-friendly endos from DIonne at Thyroid UK - [e-mail] - and it will be worth a new post asking for recommendations of people near-ish to you. You don't need to see the nearest person but must obv be reasonably convenient. If there's no-one on the list or from recommendations, it's also worth a look at the thumbnail biogs on the hospital websites of all the hospitals near you to see if anyone even mentions thyroid, or if they're all diabetes chaps really x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

FT4: 18.3 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22) 63.00%

FT3: 4.4 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8) 35.14%

Helpful calculator for working out percentage through range

thyroid.dopiaza.org

So like many, this shows poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

Do you have Hashimoto’s (high thyroid antibodies)?

Low ferritin won’t be helping

Ask for referral back to haematologist

19 [10-300]

FBC is satisfactory and doctor has said no further action

[Pastelart in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, as always, SlowDragon. I have lots written down to discuss, so I hope she gives me the time to say it!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pastelart]

When were vitamin D, folate and B12 last tested

[Pastelart in reply to SlowDragon]

About a year ago, SD, she’s asked me to book in for a blood test to check ferritin in 3 month’s time!She has agreed to a coeliac test now, so will email her to ask for vitamins to be done. Not holding my breath.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pastelart]

Presumably you aren’t already on strictly gluten free diet

Make sure you eat gluten at least at 2 meals a day for 6 weeks before test

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...

1.1.1 Offer serological testing for coeliac disease to:

people with any of the following:

persistent unexplained abdominal or gastrointestinal symptoms

faltering growth

prolonged fatigue

unexpected weight loss

severe or persistent mouth ulcers

unexplained iron, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency

type 1 diabetes, at diagnosis

autoimmune thyroid disease, at diagnosis

irritable bowel syndrome (in adults)

first‑degree relatives of people with coeliac disease.

[Pastelart in reply to SlowDragon]

None of the above apart from not knowing what d b12 and folate are at the moment. My B12 and folate were good last time I checked. I had no antibodies for hashimotos and no nodules on neck scan.Still, I’m happy that the doctor is doing something. I kept telling her that it wasn’t normal to have low ferritin and I want to know why!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pastelart]

Well you have unexplained low iron

[Pastelart in reply to SlowDragon]

🤪😩 I don’t do things by half!

[Pastelart in reply to Pastelart]

I received this text from the doctor! What is going on with the nhs?

Text from doctor

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pastelart]

They won’t test vitamin D more than once every 2 years

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Pastelart]

Pastelart

The optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is said to be 90-110ug/L. See

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Scroll down to

2. Consider Nutrient Depletions

Iron

Normal ferritin levels for women are between 20 and 200 ng/mL. According to some experts, ferritin levels of at least 40 ng/ml are required to stop hair loss, while levels of at least 70 ng/ml are needed for hair regrowth. The optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is between 90-110 ng/ml.

[Pastelart in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie, my doctor checked my ridged split nails, examined my scalp, and interrogated me about headaches and discombobulating and said that nails due to age, scalp healthy and headaches, lack of energy and funny dizzy light headed feeling down to stress. I have been very stressed to be fair; we’ve moved and my husband very poorly and no help.She refused further investigations, suggested iron supplements, which I refused without full iron panel. She then sent me a message saying that they were going to do something, starting with checking for coeliac disease.

She then looked at my new thyroid test results and with some input from myself, has increased my levothyroxine by 25mcg. She thinks that my symptoms are thyroid related!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pastelart]

She then looked at my new thyroid test results and with some input from myself, has increased my levothyroxine by 25mcg. She thinks that my symptoms are thyroid related!

That’s a result 😀

Make sure the 25mcg is same brand as you normally take

[Pastelart in reply to SlowDragon]

She is a nice lady and actually sits and listens rather than having her nose in the computer.I will check with the pharmacy, but they are aware of my Teva aversion and always accommodate.