Understanding results in x4 pieces.. Slow Dragon

[Neon65]

Hi, Sending x4 photos hopefully but all separate, I'm a bit clueless with this. Here goes. Help with understanding my results..

Ferritin high and what to do etc

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Neon65

I have turned off replies to your other 3 posts and linked back to this one. It gets confusing when spreading test results over multiple posts so it's best to have them all together in one post. You can do this by either typing them out in one post or by using "Reply" to add another image by using the last icon in the row beneath the reply box, the rectangle with mountains inside. We can put one image in an opening post and one image in each "Reply".

[Neon65 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for update, I just find everything confusing including IT..lol

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Haemoglobin - the comments clearly say that your result is pre-diabetic. I imagine your GP will want to discuss this with you.

Full blood count - all good except for eosinophil count which is a little above range and the comments explain what this means.

Liver function test - all in range, no problems showing.

Ferritin - over range. Do you supplement or did you have liver or other iron rich food in the couple of days before the test? Inflammation or infection can falsely elevate ferritin level, having an inflammation marker test, eg CRP, done at the same time would clarify if it was raised due to inflammation and I assume this was not done.

Your 4th photo is a duplicate of your HbA1c result shown here.

Were no thyroid tests done?

[Neon65]

HiForgot last one, but it says

Serum TSH level (xaELV) 1.53 MU/L [0.27_4.2]

IS THIS WHAT U MEAN?.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Neon65]

Yes, that's one of the thyroid tests but its the one that is least important. It's not a thyroid hormone, it's a pituitary hormone, a signal from the pituitary to the thyroid.

The thyroid hormones are FT4 and FT3, with FT3 being the most important one but rarely done. These are the tests that show our thyroid status.

TSH varies throughout the day, highest midnight to 4am, then dips, then goes back up a bit at 9am then lowers throughout the day with the lowest point being around 4pm then it rises again.

Thyroid tests should be done no later than 9am to measure TSH at it's highest point at a time when surgeries are open and it's possible to have blood taken.

We need the highest possible TSH if we are looking for an increase in dose of Levo or to avoid a reduction. If a GP sees a low TSH they tend to reduce dose of Levo regardless of where FT4 and FT3 lie in their range and regardless of how the patient feels.

Many hypo patients feel best when TSH is 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges.

So the most important questions regarding your thyroid test are:

What time was test done?

Were FT4 and FT3 tested?

How do you feel?

[Neon65 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks! Will get info from Doctor .

[Neon65]

Supplements High strength evening primrose, vitamin d spray on occasion.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

How long on this dose

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription, if yes which brand

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Have you ever had thyroid antibodies tested?

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally before 9am last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests

Just testing TSH is completely inadequate. You need TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 tested together. Plus vitamin D, folate and B12

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

[Neon65 in reply to SlowDragon]

I take 100mg been up and down for a few years now. Never right and now just comes back satisfactory.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Neon65]

Well just testing TSH tells you nothing

Getting full thyroid and vitamin testing is next step

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning, last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[telmanchicks in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, i too have underactive thyroid and it flutates quite a bit. I have been feeling lethargic, tired all the time, High cholesterol level, patches of hair loss appearing fast on my head. I want to be put on a right path as to what actions to take.after reading some posts here I decided to go for some blood tests. Once the results of the test came out my Gp says I could lower the dose from 100 mcg to 75mcg if I wish. Just wonder if you can help me if I post my blood tests here. May be you can guild me with further actions to take. I m 72 years old and have been diagnosed with underactive thyroid about 40 years ago. Let me know. Will greatly appreciate your help in this matter.

Regards

telmanchicks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to telmanchicks]

telmanchicks

Please write a new post of your own with some background info

Dose levothyroxine ?

Brand levothyroxine ?

Do you have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Before considering reducing dose levothyroxine we would ALWAYS recommend getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

Always Test thyroid levels early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning, not in a heatwave

Low vitamin levels extremely common on levothyroxine, especially as we get older

Are you currently taking any vitamin supplements

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

[telmanchicks in reply to SlowDragon]

I have the blood test results but trying to work out how to post them here.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Afraid that all four (or was it three?) images had your name visible in full. Despite the fact that some of the rest was exceedingly difficult to read - your name was easy to read. For that reason, I have removed all the images.

Please obscure your name (and anything else that would identify you or the surgery or the doctor. You could use a black felt tip if you are not comfortable doing it any other way.

If you can frame the text better, make it flatter, and avoid including white space round the edges, they should be more legible.

You can edit your original post on this thread - and re-add the appropriate image.

Then, reply to your self, and add the next image to you reply. Repeat as many times as needed.

If you post separate posts, anyone trying to follow will find themselves jumping around posts - which is awkward. And, as SeasideSusie has already pointed out, replies could be spread across four threads. Both people trying to reply and you will find that confusing and messy.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to helvella]

Afraid that all four (or was it three?) images had your name visible in full.

I never noticed that H, I saw which hospital it was at the bottom, and probably thought whatever name was showing was whoever printed it at the surgery as often happens.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SeasideSusie]

Well - could have been but it had an honorific which suggested a patient name to me!

Regardless, we should not have legible person names on forum!

[Neon65 in reply to helvella]

Oh sorry, should have covered I was rushing..☺️

[Neon65 in reply to helvella]

😊

[Neon65]

If I have medical plan in work,, I wonder if it would cover tests etcI think I had antibodies done once couple of years ago, also ft3/4 once as well a while back.. I just feel at a loss, thought my doctor was testing correctly. X2 blood tests a year at the moment ...but keeps coming back satisfactory.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Neon65]

The range of cover from company plans can vary hugely.

I think you will have to discuss with work and their insurance/healthcare providers.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Neon65]

Were antibodies high

NHS often only tests TPO antibodies

Medichecks test is £79 …..often on offer on Thursdays

Money off codes on thyroid U.K. website

[Neon65]

Thank you all..😊