Help with Thyroid test results

[Kazzyloulou]

Hello. I'm new here and hoping to get some advice after receiving my Thyroid test results back from Genova. Is anyone able to advise if these are in the normal range, or do I need something else other than T4, levothyroxine 50 a day. Any help much appreciated. Thank you.

[Lalatoot]

Karen Please remove your photo of results as it shows your name and date of birth. It represents a security risk for you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Was test done early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

How long have you been taking just 50mcg levothyroxine

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Have these been tested by GP

Thyroid antibodies are low so this suggests not autoimmune thyroid disease

However 20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

Have you had ultrasound scan of thyroid

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Kazzyloulou in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much fof your reply. I've been on 50mcg for 15 years plus. Brand is Accord. I had the bloods done at midday, I can't remember if I had taken it before the test.....I didn't know I had to do that! B12, Vit D and Folate have recently been tested and are fine. Always have issues with ferritin, currently it is 51 and doc has told me to stay on it to maintain levels.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kazzyloulou]

Please add actual results for folate, vitamin D and B12

Within range is not necessarily high enough

Yes ferritin is too low

[Kazzyloulou in reply to SlowDragon]

B12 is 856, folate is 5.4 and Vit D is 81. Are able to confirm what they should be and the ideal Ferritin too? Thank you for your help? Also, Thyroid UK confirmed that I take a safe dose of Biotin (under 20mg) and it wouldn't have upset the test?? I weigh 85 kg.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kazzyloulou]

B12 and vitamin D good

Folate is too low

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

A good quality daily vitamin B complex can be beneficial. One with folate in, not folic acid

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

Difference between folate and folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

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

Almost any dose of biotin risks upsetting tests

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Reading your profile page (helpful thanks)

Looks like you have been left on just 50mcg levothyroxine for years?

This is only the standard starter dose levothyroxine

Typically most people (unless extremely petite) will need to slowly increase dose levothyroxine up to at least 100mcg daily

But if been left under medicated long time will need to increase slowly…..eg up to 62.5mcg …..wait 6-8 weeks retest

Then to 75mcg ….wait …retest ….etc etc

Which vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Important to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before all blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

Suggest you get vitamin D tested next

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Then at next thyroid test in 6-8 weeks time …..use Medichecks or Blue horizon to test folate, ferritin and B12

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...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

[Kazzyloulou]

That's so helpful thank you. Yes, given it 15 plus years ago and despite regular testing since I've just been told that levels are fine and keep taking 50mcg. The list of vits I take is too long to add but I do take Biotin and I didn't stop taking it before the test.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kazzyloulou]

Suggest you book a test via Monitor My Health at £26.10 (using money off code from Thyroid U.K.)

ALWAYS do private testing of thyroid levels early Monday or Tuesday morning, before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

When dose is increased, Accord don’t make 25mcg tablets…..so request get extra 50mcg tablets per month on prescription and cut tablets in half to get 25mcg …..and initially into 1/4’s to increase by 12.5mcg

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

Guidelines on eventual dose levothyroxine by weight is approx 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo per day …..some need more …a few need less

[SlowDragon Administrator]

pathlabs.rlbuht.nhs.uk/tft_...

Guideline Treatment with Thyroxine:

In the majority of patients 50-100 μg thyroxine can be used as the starting dose. Alterations in dose are achieved by using 25-50 μg increments and adequacy of the new dose can be confirmed by repeat measurement of TSH after 2-3 months.

The majority of patients will be clinically euthyroid with a ‘normal’ TSH and having thyroxine replacement in the range 75-150 μg/day (1.6ug/Kg on average).

The recommended approach is to titrate thyroxine therapy against the TSH concentration whilst assessing clinical well-being. The target is a serum TSH within the reference range.

……The primary target of thyroxine replacement therapy is to make the patient feel well and to achieve a serum TSH that is within the reference range. The corresponding FT4 will be within or slightly above its reference range.

The minimum period to achieve stable concentrations after a change in dose of thyroxine is two months and thyroid function tests should not normally be requested before this period has elapsed.