Latest blood test results

[Lucy1988]

Do these look ok?

T4 = 20.6

TSH = 0.24

T3 = 4.5

Thyroglobulin = <0.1

Thyroglobulin antibodies = 743

TSH is been suppressed due to cancer

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Do you have the lab range they are needed to interpret accurately.

Do you feel well?

What is your current dose? Do you always have same brand?

What time of day was blood sample drawn? Did you fast before hand & delay dose of levo after draw?

[Lucy1988 in reply to PurpleNails]

Current dose 125/150 and have the same brandBlood was drawn at 9am I fasted and last dose was 24 hours before.

Lab ranges are -

T4 = 11-25

TSh = 0.27 - 4.2

T3 = 3.1 - 6.8

Thyroglobulin = no range

Thyroglobulin antibodies = no range

Feel ok in myself just get tired more quickly

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Lucy1988]

TSH= 0.24 (0.27 - 4.2). FT4 = 20.6 (11-25) 68.57%

FT3 = 4.5 (3.1 - 6.8) 37.84%

TSH is low & just under range but not suppressed.

FT4 is 68% of range so there’s room for a little increase as you feel you have symptoms.

FT3 is 37.84% so lower side of range, most feel well if in top half of range. This might be too low for you.

Optimal nutrients can improve conversion of T4 : T3 which is what you need to aim for, so check key nutrients as next step.

[Lucy1988 in reply to PurpleNails]

TSH has gone from 0.06 -0.24 in 6 months, should I be worried I thought it needed to be suppressed to stop cancer returning. Why would it increase if I have no thyroid?

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Lucy1988]

Ok. The TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is a pituitary hormone which stimulates the thyroid to produce hormone.

It senses the thyroid levels (FT4 & FT3) and rises or decreases to signal the thyroid to increase levels or decrease levels.

The mechanism still functions even though there is no thyroid to produce hormone.

In those without history of cancer - even if there is no thyroid or significant damage to thyroid function doctors still aim to keep TSH in range as they are taught if the TSH is in range the thyroid levels are also sufficient.

As you had cancer the thyroid levels are often kept higher to ensure the TSH remains suppressed - this is so any possible residual thyroid cells are not stimulated.

Has your TSH risen as your thyroid levels have gone down slightly.

Doctors are also taught having a undetectable / suppressed TSH causes risks. Many will quote bone thinning & atrial fribulation as examples - although this not accurate as the issue is with high FT4 & FT3 which usually accompanies low TSH.

Not all doctors keep the TSH completely suppressed years after thyroidectomy. They have differing opinions regarding the risk of low TSH verses cancer reoccurring.

The TSH is quite an unreliable measure. It’s the FT4 & FT3 which you need to ensure are at an adequate level for you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As per previous post 5 months ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

It’s ESSENTIAL to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

On levothyroxine we must have OPTIMAL Vitamin levels

Very common for vitamin levels to be extremely low

Are you now making sure you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

[Lucy1988 in reply to SlowDragon]

GP doesn't test vitamins so will be ordering a private test, once I have the results back will post on here 🙂