Do these Monitor my health results seem ok - Thyroid UK

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Do these Monitor my health results seem ok

Pen1966 profile image
25 Replies

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

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Pen1966 profile image
Pen1966
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25 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

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?

Pen1966 profile image
Pen1966 in reply to SeasideSusie

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

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Pen1966

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.

Pen1966 profile image
Pen1966 in reply to SeasideSusie

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

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Pen1966

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.

Pen1966 profile image
Pen1966 in reply to SeasideSusie

Thank you

Partner20 profile image
Partner20 in reply to Pen1966

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.

Pen1966 profile image
Pen1966 in reply to Partner20

Thank you

jrbarnes profile image
jrbarnes

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.

Pen1966 profile image
Pen1966 in reply to jrbarnes

Folate and ferratin

Folate and ferratin were deemed normal by gp
jrbarnes profile image
jrbarnes in reply to Pen1966

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!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to jrbarnes

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

jrbarnes profile image
jrbarnes in reply to SlowDragon

I've been advised to use iron supplements by my Dr. since ferritin is now below 20.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to jrbarnes

Optimal ferritin is at least half way through range

It typically takes 6-12 months to improve low ferritin

Unless you get iron transfusion

jrbarnes profile image
jrbarnes in reply to SlowDragon

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.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Pen1966

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

dailyiron.net

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...

Pen1966 profile image
Pen1966 in reply to SlowDragon

I am vegetarian

Pen1966 profile image
Pen1966 in reply to Pen1966

Take

Take these
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Pen1966

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

Pen1966 profile image
Pen1966 in reply to SlowDragon

Slowdragon

I take all these
Pen1966 profile image
Pen1966 in reply to jrbarnes

I'm being tested for RA on Friday

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to jrbarnes

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...

jrbarnes profile image
jrbarnes in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you for the links. I've slowly been searching the numerous posts with the keyword ferritin.

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to jrbarnes

I would go straight to humanbean via the link posted for you above. Excellent knowledge and will save you wading through all those Ferritin posts !

jrbarnes profile image
jrbarnes in reply to Marz

Thanks! I went to humanbean's page and read some informative posts there.

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