Help to understand my brother blood test results.

[Latucu]

I have hypothyroidism and here I found all the help to try to understand my symptoms and conditions. I’m at the moment on NDT and things are getting better every day.

My brother have some of the symptoms that can be related to hypothyroidism, lack of energy, stomach issues, brain fog…

He finally agreed to do some blood test and the doctors told him the results were “normal”.

Unfortunately there’s no vitamin tests and he now doesn’t want to do a new blood test because he’s “normal”.

I’m not convinced… can you please share some thoughts and opinions.

Many thanks.

TSH- Método: EQLM. 2.76 μUI/ml (0.27-4.20 μUI/ml)

T4- Método: EQLM. 8.88 μg/dl (4.50-12.60 μg/dl)

T4 L- Método: EQLM 1.01 ng/dl. (0.93-1.70 ng/dl)

T3- Método: QLM. 0.96 ng/ml. ( 0.60 a 1.81 ng/ml)

Test time - 09:10:54 am

[humanbean]

1) TSH- Método: EQLM. 2.76 μUI/ml (0.27-4.20 μUI/ml)

2) T4- Método: EQLM. 8.88 μg/dl (4.50-12.60 μg/dl) 54% through range

3) T4 L- Método: EQLM 1.01 ng/dl. (0.93-1.70 ng/dl) 10.4% through range

4) T3- Método: QLM. 0.96 ng/ml. ( 0.60 a 1.81 ng/ml) Approx 30% through range

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TSH

The reference range used is a very standard one, and with that range, most healthy people with a healthy thyroid would have a result roughly between 1 and 2. See this thread :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

By the time TSH goes over 2 the thyroid is struggling, and (in the opinion of many on this forum, although most doctors would disagree) once the TSH goes above 3 the patient is hypothyroid.

So your brother's thyroid is struggling and it wouldn't be a surprise if he became hypothyroid within the next few years. There is no way of predicting when the failure of the thyroid would happen. It could be in the next six months or it could take years.

Total T4 / Free T4

I'm not sure which of the two T4 results is Free T4 and which is the Total T4.

If Free T4 is 8.88 and 54% through the range, this is "normal" for people with a healthy thyroid.

If Free T4 is 1.01 and 10% through the range then your brother's thyroid is almost certainly failing quite quickly because it is much too low even for a healthy person with a healthy thyroid, and wouldn't be considered "normal" by many people with thyroid disease.

T3

I'm not sure if the T3 result is Free T3 or Total T3.

In either case, at 30% through the range it would be considered low by anyone with thyroid disease, but for a healthy person with a healthy thyroid it might be just about okay - not great, but they might feel fatigued often, or have little stamina.

...

I think your brother ought to retest his thyroid every 6 - 12 months because I think, overall, his results suggest his thyroid is struggling and could be on a fast track to failure.

...

Getting his nutrients optimised - Vitamin B12, folate, Vitamin D and ferritin (iron stores) - would make him feel better (more energetic) and should help to improve his Free T4 to Free T3 conversion.

[Latucu in reply to humanbean]

thank you so much for your reply! T4 L is free T4, so it’s the one at 10%.

Very helpful. I appreciate it. I’ll have a serious conversation with him. Thanks again!!

[humanbean in reply to Latucu]

You're welcome.