21/05/2022
5 pmol/L
FT3 levels normal (normal range 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L)
THYROXINE
21/05/202219.9 pmol/L
FT4 levels normal (normal range 12 - 22 pmol/L)
THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE
21/05/20221.94 mu/L
TSH levels normal (normal range 0.27 - 4.2
Also awaiting nhs results from Frid for tsh and t4 has MMH ones done to get T3 as dont want to take t3 if not needed
Pen1966
FT4 and FT3 are nicely within range, TSH is higher than one would expect to see with those other results. A couple of questions:
1) What thyroid meds do you take?
2) Did you do the test as we advise:
* No later than 9am
* Water only before test
* Last dose of Levo 24 hours before test
* Last dose of T3 (or NDT) 8-12 hours before the test, splitting dose into 2 or 3 and adjusting time the day before if necessary
* No biotin or B Complex or any supplement containing biotin for 3-7 days before test.
3) How do you feel?
Take 125 of levo test done at 8.20 Last levo was 25 hours before test and no biotin or b complex for the week before I'm still feeling rough legs feel like there giving up on me arms ache and swelling in all my joints not sleeping well.Have other bloods on Frid to test for RA etc
So on 125mcg Levo FT4 and FT3 look good but strange about the TSH being that high.
See what your other tests come up with.
Pathology Request (Awaiting Sample):Anti-Nuclear Antibody ANA (Postponed), IgA Anti -Tissue Transglutaminase (TTG) (Postponed)Test requestPathology Request (Awaiting Sample):
Bone Profile (Postponed), CK (Postponed), ESR (Postponed), IgA (Postponed), Liver Profile (Postponed), Renal & eGFR (Postponed), Rheumatoid Factor (Postponed)
Fridays tests
As I said, see what those results come up with. Post results/ranges in a new post on the forum and some members may be able to help. I have no experience of them so I wont be able to comment.
Thank you
This is a broad-spectrum testing for kidney, liver and skeletal issues, plus autoimmune investigations for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. If any of those return positive results, a referral to the appropriate specialist will be made. There are excellent HU groups for all these conditions. I would say your thyroid levels are good, and the suggestion by some that tsh is slightly higher than expected could be explained by inflammation due to other conditions, which should be addressed in the first instance.
I have the same issue. My last results in March showed my TSH at 1.99 and my T4 was the same as yours but my T3 was much lower. I just discovered that my ferritin is very low and was advised to go on iron for 4 weeks. Have you checked that? The symptoms of iron deficiency and hypo can be the same. I read online that low ferritin can increase the TSH. I've also started tracking calories to make sure I'm eating a well balanced diet to improve conversion. I also don't want to take T3 unless necessary so I'm doing everything possible to improve conversion. If I have to add T3 then I want it to be the lowest amount possible. If that's not the issue you could try and increase your Levo by one day per week for a few weeks to see if it improves your symptoms. I've had so many anti nuclear antibody tests done when the doctors couldn't see that it was my thyroid conversion issue the whole time. Of course, the first one they looked for was RA and LUPUS. One Dr even sent me a letter in the mail explaining she thought I had LUPUS.
Folate and ferratin
Last year my ferritin was at 47 and now it's 19. It can drop fast. Your folate is on the lower side. I take a B12/folate supplement to bring mine up. I've read various articles online that suggest ferritin should be around 70-100 but some claim it should be 40-50. My Dr says she likes to see a ferritin level of at least 50. It's something to consider and look into. She also told me the iron will help the T4 to T3 conversion. I never knew all these minerals and vitamins had such an effect on thyroid conversion. It's been one discovery after enough for the past two years. Take care and good luck!
Ferritin is storage form of iron
B12 and folate supplements won’t help improve low ferritin
Eating increasing amounts of iron rich foods in diet
GP has presumably prescribed iron supplements if ferritin is below 30
I've been advised to use iron supplements by my Dr. since ferritin is now below 20.
Optimal ferritin is at least half way through range
It typically takes 6-12 months to improve low ferritin
Unless you get iron transfusion
Oh goodness 6-12 months. That's good to know. I'll need to make sure to eat iron rich foods and take the supplements. Thank you for the advice.
Folate and ferritin are too low
They are within range….therefore “normal “ as far as GP is concerned
NHS only tests and treats vitamin deficiencies
Optimal ferritin and folate should be at least half way through range
Which vitamin B complex are you currently taking
In week before blood test when stop vitamin B complex, do you then take separate folate and B12 instead
Low ferritin
Look at increasing iron rich foods in your diet
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
List of iron rich foods
Links about iron and ferritin
An article that explains why Low ferritin and low thyroid levels are often linked
preventmiscarriage.com/iron...
irondisorders.org/too-littl...
davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...
Great in-depth article on low ferritin
oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...
drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...
Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Medichecks iron panel test
medichecks.com/products/iro...
Iron and thyroid link
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
I am vegetarian
Take
You don’t need folic acid and folate……just folate
Difference between folate and folic acid
chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...
And might be more effective taking good quality vitamin B complex with folate in rather than just folate
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance
Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Thorne Basic B or Jarrow B Right are recommended options that contains folate, but both are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement (eg the Solgar one you have there) and separate B12
As vegetarian likely to need separate B12 ongoing
I just discovered that my ferritin is very low and was advised to go on iron for 4 weeks.
It can take many months to improve low ferritin
Suggest you read the many posts and replies by humanbean on iron and ferritin
retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.
It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Medichecks iron panel test
medichecks.com/products/iro...
Iron and thyroid link
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thank you for the links. I've slowly been searching the numerous posts with the keyword ferritin.
How do my results look?
Monitor my health Test results
Blood test results for Erfa medication, do I need to increase or decrease dosage?
Thyroid results any help in understanding these 
