New diagnosis hypo, any advice appreciated

[geranium]

Could anyone tell me if these blood test results are to be expected with a new diagnosis please

Thankyou

tsh 11.58

T3 3.9

T4 9.9

[greygoose]

Hi geranium, welcome to the forum.

What do you mean by 'expected'? I don't understand the question. You are hypo, there's no doubt about that, given your TSH. But, can't say anything about the FT4/3 because you haven't given us the ranges. Ranges vary from lab to lab, so we need those that came with your results.

Just for your information: a euthyroid (normal) TSH would be around 1, never over 2, and you're hypo when your TSH reaches 3. But, unfortunately, in the UK, the NHS likes it to get to over 10 before they will diagnose! By which time, you're very hypo and probably very ill.

But, it's not the TSH itself that makes you ill, that is just a chemical messanger from the pituitary to the thyroid to tell it to make more, or less, hormone. It's the low FT3 that causes symptoms, because it is needed by every single cell in your body to function correctly. Your FT3 looks pretty low, if it's the range we very often see on here: 3.1-6.8. A euthyroid FT3 would be about 50% through the range.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Please add ranges (figures in brackets after each result)

Was test done early morning

Has GP tested thyroid antibodies for autoimmune thyroid disease yet

Or vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

If not these need testing

Have you started on levothyroxine yet

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase

Typically dose levothyroxine is increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps over 6-12 months until on full replacement dose

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)

Link about thyroid blood tests

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

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...