Can someone explain these results please 🙏

[andie25]

Recently diagnosed with over active ...ive requested access to my results but would just like to know what they mean ...is it excessively over what it should be or just a bit etc ....thanks

[andie25]

This is the other result

Results

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Wecome to forum.

FT4 (thyroxine) and FT3 (triiodothyronine) are the thyroid hormones. The FT3 is the more powerful active hormone.

When thyroid level rise the TSH thyroid stimulating hormone which is a pituitary hormones drops (it’s reducing the signal to produce new hormone)

So low TSH and high thyroid levels shows you are over active.

Your FT4 is high but still in range but your FT3 is over 2 x the normal range. Usually the FT4 & FT3 are balanced but your FT3 is disproportionately higher which occurs is some cases.

FT4 83% of range

FT3 223% of range

Your first step is the find the cause of your hyperthyroid levels.

There are a number of reasons.

Sometimes is can be transient. This occurs with Hashimoto’s or autoimmune thyroiditis. The immune system attacks the thyroid and as cells are destroyed hormone can surge, over time the damage leads to under active levels.

With Graves - another autoimmune conditions the immune system mistakenly stimulates the thyroid. This causes continuously high levels, it not unusual for both FT4 & FT3 to reach 3x the normal range. With medication the high levels can be controlled and the condition can go into remission.

There are other possibilities, such as a overproducing nodule (what I was found to have) but hashis or Graves are the most common reasons.

Ensures thyroid antibodies are tested:

TPOab (Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies) autoimmune - Hashimoto’s (& Graves)

TGab (Thyroglobulin antibodies) autoimmune- Hashimoto’s (& Graves)

If Graves suspected this must be confirmed with:

Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI) Graves (and or TRab)

TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) Graves.

So In answer of your question - no your levels aren’t “excessively bad”. I’ve seen much higher FT4 & FT3 levels, but any continuous hyper should be recognised as a serious health issue, carefully monitored & properly treated.

What symptoms do you have?

My FT3 wasn’t quite double when I was diagnosed but my FT4 was over range. I hadn’t noticed symptoms are levels rose slowly (over years). It may be very different for you if your levels spiked suddenly you can feel extremely unwell.

[andie25 in reply to PurpleNails]

Thank you for the very detailed reply ...I started having heart palpitations about 10 wks ago which would carry on all day even when resting...I mentioned it to my nurse when I had a contraception pill check and she got the doctor to ring me ...he organised blood tests ecg and 24hr heart monitor ...I have started carbimizole 15mg and propranolol 10mg and have to go see the consultant at the hospital on the 30th May....quite worried that the two causes that you have mentioned haven't been tested for ....would these be done when I see the endo consultant ???

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to andie25]

They should be, but sometimes endocrinologist just “assumes it’s Graves’ disease “

Request that all thyroid antibodies are tested and ultrasound scan of thyroid

Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroid

[andie25 in reply to SlowDragon]

Just checked back on my results and no vitamin tests done so will ask to have them done too

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to andie25]

Most GPs leave it for specialist to arrange antibody testing.

We do hear of no antibody testing being done and medics assuming all low TSH is Graves, so something to ensure is completed,

Thyroid function should be tested 6 weeks after starting Carbimazole, to make sure levels have come down into range ( not still too high or becoming too low)

It’s is likely the dose will need adjusting. This should be by accessing FT4 & FT3 as the TSH can take longer to respond & stay low when FT4 & FT3 are low.

Has that been arranged? Might be a chance to arrange them antibodies & nutrient suggested to be added to blood request form. Don’t attempt to add them at time of draw. Needs to be arranged in advance.

Medics are expected to limit the time antithyroid is given eg 18 months (although many do take it long term). So don’t be too alarmed if they mention further permanent type treatments early on. I was given a leaflet about Radioactive iodine (RAI) as I left my 1st appointment.

My hyper doesn’t have potential to go into remission so doctors informed me by telephone soon after I was to undergo RAI. I was very rushed & when I tried to ask questions I was told all the information would be sent to me, but all that was sent was consent form and another leaflet. I delayed treatment and that was 3 years ago.

[andie25 in reply to PurpleNails]

I have my next bloods on the 19th May and then hospital visit on the 30th so will probably have to wait till the 30th to ask consultant to do the antibody testing