After weeks or trying to get my blood test results, the chemist in our GP surgery has said my thyroid is fine.
She said the results were as follows
TSH 1.34 (0-3.5)
T4 18.1 (11-23)
The thyroid function test did not includeT3, TG antibodies or TPO.
The bloods were taken 6 weeks after I stopped taking Statins for high Cholesterol.
Could I have advice as to whether they are all fine and I should just try another statin, or should I get the full private blood tests as there could still be an issue, for example autoimmune Thyroid?
I have a lot of hypo and hyper symptoms that come and go, which have been going on for years, but have been blamed on Fibromyalgia.
Any advise would be appreciated...
Thanks
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lownook
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Without a full thyroid blood test it's difficult to comment :
You need at least a TSH, T3 and T4 and thyroid antibodies run but I'm afraid you may well have to get this run for yourself, privately.
If you go into the Thyroid UK website who are the charity who support this forum you will find a dedicated page of private companies who can run the appropriate blood tests for you.
Once with the results simple start a new post and forum members will talk you through the results and ranges.
Sounds like Hashimoto's auto immune disease but we need the medical evidence of positive and over range antibodies.
I can ' ditto ' those feelings - several times over - and it simply exacerbated my symptoms - I'm with Graves Disease and post RAI thyroid ablation :
I gave up and now self medicate and run my own blood tests :
Try not to get upset, the reality is in primary care it seems doctors hands are tied and even they can't order the appropriate blood tests so this may well explain the attitude we are met with when we ask questions.
An early morning blood draw is suggested as this should give the highest TSH reading which is what NHS ' look at " - fast overnight, just taking in water and take breakfast after you have taken the finger prick blood sample and pop it back into the post and choose the beginning of the week to do this so your sample is actioned without any weekend delays.
P.S. If you can afford it get a full thyroid panel TSH, T3, T4 plus thyroid antibodies plus inflammation, and ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D :
Well that makes me wonder if todays Thyroid level results are accurate because I have always had them taken in the afternoon after eating lunch and having coffee to keep me going. The doctor has never told me to "fast" before and she did not ask me when the bloods were drawn.
The fasting and other suggestions are more patient to patient tips shared on here.
Just keep reading up and you will become better able to handle your GP appointments and hopefully with the appropriate blood tests we'll see some evidence that will help get you a diagnosis and some medication.
Read thoroughly all the details offered in your replies, as I just work from my memory and don't understand, cut and paste ( I know - please don't try and explain ) and am liable to miss something especially when my energy dips in the afternoons.
ESSENTIAL to also test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Fibromyalgia is frequently linked to low Ft3 and/or low vitamin levels
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis) usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
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
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Are you in the U.K.?
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
Thank you for this, It is alarming how many of my symptoms are on the list, but they come and go in cycles. I do try to avoid gluten as I know pasta, bread and rice and other foods make me bloat badly, but I end up craving them so "just have a bit". Which I know is then a waste of time. So I am unsure if a coeliac test would be helpful until I eat it all the time, for a while..I have tried to avoid so many different foods because I think I must react to them, but now wonder if it is not the food that is the issue.
I was taking Vitamin D 5000 iu per day for years, magnesium and B12 which I hoped was helping my immune system and bone health, but I have stopped as a doctor said that could be causing my bone pain.
The doctor tested these on 10/3/22 and the following results were when I was still taking the supplements.
Vitamin D test was 211.1 (50-250). I expected this to have been higher, based on what he said.
Vitamin B12 1350 (170-730) way too high, but I have already stopped them.
TSH was 1.29 (0.3-5.00)
T4 was not tested.
All this because I am trying to sort myself out, when I do not know what I am doing..
The chemist at my GP surgery said she would ask the doctor but she said he is not likely to do the T3, TPO and TG antibodies. She has not got back to me, so I will have them all done at the same time.
So suggest you get full thyroid and vitamin testing done yourself
If not had ferritin tested, you need to include this
Vitamin D is on the high side
Suggest you reduce dose to 3000iu per day and retest in early September
B12
Instead of taking just B12
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help maintain B12 levels
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
Thank you for that. I have read the link and will start on a B complex. As my brain is not working well at the moment, could I ask, does Vitamin B12 cause the same issues as Biotin, in relation to thyroid?
Blood test results also flagged these but I do not know if they have any reference to the Thyroid either?
It’s only vitamin B complex that needs to be stopped a week before blood tests (due to biotin)
Reading previous post you are diagnosed as having hyper mobility
Have you had diagnosis of EDS (Elhers Danlos syndrome)
EDS and autoimmune thyroid disease often linked
Gluten intolerance also often an issue with EDS
You need thyroid antibodies tested
And coeliac blood test BEFORE considering trial cutting gluten out
Well that makes me wonder if todays Thyroid level results are accurate because I have always had them taken in the afternoon after eating lunch and having coffee to keep me going.
ALWAYS test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and only water before test…..to get highest TSH
Low GFR (kidney function) is strongly linked to low thyroid hormones
And is reversible by correcting thyroid levels to optimal
Hypothyroidism results in a reversible elevation in serum creatinine due to the reduction in GFR as well as possible myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. There is a reduction in serum cystatin C levels in hypothyroidism due to reduced production, consequent to reduced cellular metabolism.[30] Both these changes are reversible with treatment of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism also results in increased glomerular capillary permeability to proteins.[47] The consequent proteinuria often precedes the reduction in GFR in hypothyroidism.[48]
Come back with new post once you get full thyroid, thyroid antibodies and vitamin testing results
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