need help with medichecks thyroid results - Thyroid UK

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need help with medichecks thyroid results

zu11y profile image
9 Replies

as title guys,

i was actually looking at vitamin b12 as i have alot of the symptoms of it being low. but that actually came back high.

the thyroid part of the test had two markers that are very high and i am abit worried as to what it means. anyone here able to interpret these please.

Iron- 26.9 umol/L

TIBC - 58.5 umol/L

UIBC - 31.6 umol/L

transfer saturation - 46%

Ferritin - 133 ug/L

Folate serum - 4.84 ug/L (<3.89)

b12 active - <150 pmol/L (37.5 - 150)

Vitamin D - 26 nmol/L (50 - 200)

TSH - 3.52 mU/L

free t3 - 4.81 pmol/L

free thyroxine - 21.1 pmol/L

Thyroglobulin antibody - 1620 IU/ml

thyroid peroxide antibody- 296 IU/ml

any help is appreciated

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zu11y
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9 Replies
fuchsia-pink profile image
fuchsia-pink

Welcome to the forum.

I'm assuming you aren't currently on thyroid meds??

Your thyroid results show: high but not yet over-range TSH, which - as it's over 3 - would be treated in many countries, but not the UK. Instead, you will likely need two blood tests which show TSH over-range for your GP to prescribe thyroid meds - AND

(a) TSH to go much higher - maybe as high as 10 first (at which point you are likely to be really quite unwell) OR

(b) free T4 to be under-range - yours is actually nice and high. almost at the top of the range, although free T3 is lower in range at only 46% through range, showing you don't convert well [your thyroid produces T4, which is an inactive thyroid hormone, which needs to convert to T3, the active hormone need in every cell in your body] OR

(c) high antibodies - which you have! High antibodies indicates Hashimoto's (or Hashi's) - which is the biggest single cause of an under-active thyroid.

You should get the GP to re-test bloods in 3 months (always an early morning (before 9am), fasting blood test, when TSH is highest) to see what TSH is up to then. Note your antibodies will go up and down as they see fit - Hashi's is quite common but can't be "cured"so if you test them again and they're lower, you're not "getting better" - they're just lower and will go up again later

I'll ask SeasideSusie or SlowDragon to comment on your nutrients [can you edit - using the "more" button at the bottom of your post] to show the lab ranges. Obviously vit D is very very low ...

zu11y profile image
zu11y in reply to fuchsia-pink

hithank you very much for the reply.

no i currently do not take any meds for thyroid. this was the first time testing my thyroid and even then i was only doing it for the vitamins.

you did mention the timing of the test. i actually did the medichecks one at 2pm. did not realise timing was a factor.

im very reluctant to go to my gp as they always fob me off as ive been dozens of times since last year (major road accident) and only had symptoms since then.

i know something isnt right with my body as im tired, always feeling sick and recently had a few tiny bouts of a wierd dissociated feeling lasting a few seconds.

i was just concerned with just how high the antibodies are.

i will add the ranges for all the other markers.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to zu11y

To add or remove anything from your post, click the down arrow next to 'More' and select edit.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Welcome to the forum

Take these results to your GP

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

TSH is lowest early afternoon.

Had you tested early morning, before 9am result would have been higher ….but probably not over 5

See flow chart on top of page 2 and guidelines here - need 2 separate NHS thyroid tests (minimum 6-8 weeks apart) with TSH over 5 before starting on levothyroxine

gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...

Low vitamin levels can lower TSH

Vitamin D is deficient

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

So GP should prescribe 300,000iu in total of vitamin D over 6-8 weeks and then retest vitamin D levels

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol. Some CCG areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But with Hashimoto’s, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7. One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with hashimoto’s we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D and thyroid disease

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

GP should also do coeliac blood test at diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease

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

Recognition of coeliac disease

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.

Do you have any relatives with autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune disease often runs in families

Lastly….you mentioned car accident

Head trauma or whiplash can affect thyroid

Or stress can affect thyroid

zu11y profile image
zu11y in reply to SlowDragon

hi and thank you for that very informative reply.

i believe my late mother (ovarian cancer) had something with her thyroid as she had a big scar across her neck. i will confirm with my father what exact illness was.

i have been asking for neurology referall since my accident but have not got anywere hence my reluctance to deal with the GP. i have had alot of stress with my ongoing symptoms since the crash which as definatley given me health anxiety.

i understand that forums are not a replacement for pro medical advise but are my numbers a massive worry or can i make some adjustments and start vit d at 4000iu a day as recommended by the medichecks doctor and then retest both vitamin and thyroid in a few months.

Animal-lover2 profile image
Animal-lover2 in reply to zu11y

If you follow SD 's advice of 300 000 iu over 6-8 weeks that's 6-7000 iu per day. Changing your doctor sounds like good advice.

zu11y profile image
zu11y in reply to SlowDragon

hi i would just like to add to this message.

i retested via medichecks but this time first thing in the morning and fasted.

my TSH came back at 5.98. result attached below.

medichecks blood results
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to zu11y

Take this result to GP

GP will want to retest via NHS

You are likely to need two NHS tests a minimum of 6 weeks apart with TSH over 5

However high TSH, high thyroid antibodies and low vitamin levels should get you a diagnosis

Did your GP prescribe LOADING dose vitamin D, when you gave them previous test results

Or have you been self supplementing

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing

vitamindtest.org.uk

Have you had coeliac blood test done via GP yet

If not insist it’s done BEFORE considering cutting gluten out

Starting levothyroxine - flow chart

researchgate.net/figure/Flo...

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg

Unless you suspect you are lactose intolerant, best avoid Teva brand levothyroxine, initially. Teva brand upsets many people

mistydog profile image
mistydog

Some great advice from the very knowledgeable members of this forum already. If you are able to change surgery and GP that might help you feel able to approach a medical professional, although I realise that it isn't always possible.

If you can afford to retest privately and do the test as directed, early morning, etc, you might have better ammunition to take to your GP.

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