PLEASE CAN SOMEONE DECIPHER MY THYROID TEST RESULTS… THANKYOU

[Shpa]

I am 40 years old and I have had low thyroid, hypothyroidism for the past 10 years. I have been taking 50mg levothyroxine. Last December the doctor increased my dose to 75 mg. So I now I take a 50 mg tablet and a 25 mg. I have had at least three blood tests since then and doc has said everything is fine.

I still feel very tired sometimes, even more so recently. I also have battled some strange sore eye problem, which I read on someones feed that it can be a symptom of hypothyroidism.

Please can one of you lovely thyroid experts, whose input I love reading on other peoples feeds, decipher my blood tests results for me. Are they average, too low or ok.

Thankyou

[greygoose]

As far as I can see - and it's not easy to read - there are no thyroid or nutrient test results on that sheet. If I've missed them, can you type them out so they can be more easily read?

[Shpa in reply to greygoose]

That’s my mistake I will take a closer pic. My results are a standard blood test. I just wanted to see if the bits about the thyroid and iron are all with the correct range or abit low.

Standard

[greygoose in reply to Shpa]

That's better!

Well, your TSH is below range, and your doctor probably won't like that. Your FT4 is 75.89% through the range. Which might be ok for you or not. How do you feel at this level? You're certainly not over-medicated, but only you can tell if you're under-medicated by the way you feel.

Sorry, I don't know anything about iron.

[radd in reply to Shpa]

Shpa,

There is no iron panel but haemoglobin levels are adequate which is a good indication that iron is sufficient and working correctly. Haematocrit is also within range. An iron panel would offer more info on iron mechanism workings but I would assume your GP will be reluctant to perform with haemoglobin levels so good.

Blood glucose levels, cholesterol, liver function & kidney test are all good. If blood was drawn early in the morning and 24 hours after last Levothyroxine dose, then your FT4 levels are good and you shouldn't require a dose increase. TSH is low as is often the case with adequate amounts of exogenous replacement thyroid hormone meds.

If you feel symptomatic look towards making Levothyroxine work better for you by ensuring essential co-factor nutrients are optimised (eg Vit B12, folate, Vit D, zinc, magnesium, etc). Having FT3 and thyroid antibodies tested (TPOAb & TGAb) would also be useful in assessing if your symptoms are actually thyroid associated. Sometimes supporting the adrenals glands can provide that extra required for finicky thyroid meds.

[pennyannie]

Hello Shpa and welcome to the forum :

This is just a general blood test and not really detailed enough to know if your thyroid medication is working well for you or not.

To offer you considered opinion we really do need to see a TSH, T3, T4 antibodies, inflammation and ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D from the same blood draw.

T4 - Levothyroxine is storage hormone and needs to be converted by the body into T3 the active hormone that runs the body and your conversion of the T4 into T3 can be compromised by inflammation, antibodies, and low vitamins and minerals so why we need these 10/11 blood analysis.

If your doctor can't help you, there are details of private companies who can on the Thyroid UK website - thyroiduk.org who are the charity who support this forum.

You need an early as possible appointment for the blood draw - fast overnight just taking in water and take your T4 medication for that day - after the blood draw :

Stop any supplements around a week beforehand so we can see exactly what your body is holding onto and post the results and ranges on here in a new question and we can then talk you through what it all means and give you constructive thoughts on how to improve anything that looks amiss.

[Shpa in reply to pennyannie]

Thankyou for your reply.

I have never had private thyroid testing but am definitely considering it now:

I understand that it can be bought and thank you for sharing the link.

My only concern is once I buy the test, would I be doing it myself or do I have to go somewhere to have it done.

[pennyannie in reply to Shpa]

The company I use offer finger prick tests you can do for yourself and then post back to the company, however if arranging the full thyroid panel you will need a venous blood draw and you have the option of going to a designated clinic - I think I read on here that SuperDrug now carry out blood tests ( ? ) or arranging a nurse ' home visit ' at an additional cost - what ever suits you best.

Best to arrange to have the blood drawn at the beginning of the week, rather than have the sample sitting in a post box over the weekend - and simply follow the instructions and now see that SDragon has detailed below all the information you may need, so hopefully between us, we have answered all your questions.

[Shpa in reply to pennyannie]

Thankyou.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

There’s no Ft3 result, no vitamin D, no folate, no B12, no ferritin results

Ever had thyroid antibodies tested for autoimmune thyroid disease?

Suggest you get full thyroid and vitamin testing done yourself privately

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

 

Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

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

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

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.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

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 just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

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

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...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

[Shpa in reply to SlowDragon]

I really appreciate the reply.

I see that my blood test was a standard one. If I had known I would have requested Ft3, Folate, B12 and ferritin etc.

I think the doc will reluctant to give another blood test as he has okayed these results and said they are ok.

I have been told that they don’t test for vit d anymore because everyone is deficient.

I’v never had a private thyroid test for anything it but will definitely look into it now. My only concern is, once I buy the test, how is the test/s taken. Do I have to go somewhere to have it done. I’m assuming I wouldn’t be doing it my self.

My current blood test was first thing in the morning.

My levothyroxine brand is for the 50 mg either accord or Teva (always one of these two) and for my 25mg it’s always Wockhardt.

My weight is 45kilo. ( I have always been slightly underweight)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Shpa]

Was last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test?

Private testing

Most people do DIY finger prick test

But you can pay extra for private blood draw

Both Medichecks and Blue Horizon have list of local to you clinics

medichecks.com/pages/clinic...

For levothyroxine to work well we must have GOOD Vitamin Levels

Essential to test vitamin levels once year

Thousands upon thousands of people in U.K. forced to test privately to make progress

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[Shpa]

Thankyou.

no last dose of Levothyroxine was not 24 hours before the test. I took my tablets that morning about an hour prior to the blood test.