hi all,
I recently went to the docs to get a blood test on an unrelated issue and was told my thyroid levels were not normal and over active.
I’m going for a scan in a few weeks..
I don’t really have many symptoms, ie throat seems normal. Feel ok etc.
I guess the scan will tell more but I dont really want to have radioactive stuff injected into me. Is it possible that I’ve just always had not normal thyroid levels and it’s only been noticed now because of a blood test?
Welcome to forum.
Do you have any blood test results? You can view your own record.
Have you been started on any anti thyroid medication like carbimazole?
Often propranolol is given for heart palpitations/ anxiety but as you have no symptoms this might not have been suggested.
Sometimes doctors say “hyper” when the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) drops low. The TSH is a pituitary hormone which signals thyroid. When it low it’s sometimes mean thyroid levels are high, not not in every case. So yours may not be high over range.
A slight or temporary rise can cause low TSH but it not always for a prolonged time.
You need to know exactly what your FT4 & FT3 levels are - the thyroid levels. Free thyroxine & triiodothyronine.
Antibodies can also help to diagnose you.
TPOab (Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies)
TGab (Thyroglobulin antibodies)
These are present with thyroid autoimmune issues
If Graves suspected you need either:
TSI (Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin)
TRab (TSH receptor antibodies - measures stimulating, neural & blocking antibodies)
Are you having a ultrasound or nuclear uptake scan?
An ultrasound looks at health & size of thyroid and would detect nodules but a nuclear uptake scan plots function throughout thyroid.
I have had uptake scan to confirm suspicion of hyper nodule, it’s all straight forward with no issues. Try not to worry about it.
Radio active Iodine is injected in very small quantity for uptake scans, or given as drink or pill in higher doses as a treatment.
An injection is given which is similar to a blood draw. The syringe is in a lead lined cover with a window. Then there may be a wait of eg 30 mins later. You should have appointment letter advising how the procedure will be done and you if you need to alter any medication you are taking.
My hospital said all women under 50 must sign a form confirming they are not pregnant..( I see in your profile you don’t say your age or gender - but I’ll mention it here in case any one else reading needs to know.). You may be asked to take off any jewellery off.
I took a big bottle of water with me they advise you to drink plenty after the scan.
The radiation level is very low but you usually have to minimise close contact for 24 hours afterwards.
The scan I had was open but the overhead screen (CT scan) bit was pulled very close to my face. I had stickers placed near my collar bone, this helps mark the area they are scanning. What I remember most is how the table was too narrow for my arms so held them in front on me but they asked me to take them down so the scanner screen could come very close.
Has GP prescribed anything
Or are you getting more tests first
ALWAYS get actual results and ranges on all thyroid and vitamin results
There are two main autoimmune thyroid diseases
Genuine hyperthyroid disease - called Graves’ disease MUST be confirmed by testing TSI or Trab antibodies
Autoimmune HYPOthyroid, also called Hashimoto’s (with goitre) or Ord’s thyroiditis (thyroid shrinks and shrivels up) - generally both referred to as Hashimoto’s
Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms before becoming increasingly hypothyroid
It’s not true hyperthyroidism
We see small steady numbers of patients arrive here with GP thinking they are hyperthyroid……when actually they have early stage Hashimoto’s
In U.K. medics rarely call Hashimoto’s anything other than (autoimmune) hypothyroidism
With BOTH Hashimoto’s and Graves it’s ESSENTIAL to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
Link re access
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet
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...
Link about Graves’ disease
First of all, don’t panic. It could be a temporary thing—you could have a case of thyroiditis. Without knowing what your blood test results were, it’s hard to know whether your levels were much out of range or not.
You might want to ask your doctor’s receptionist to print you off a copy of your blood test results (if you don’t have any kind of Patient Access—that’s a service which allows you to view your results online).
If you do get hold of them please feel free to post them here for comment.
You’re quite a way off needing to worry about whether you’ll need radioactive iodine—there are other ways to treat hyperactive thyroids, especially in the short term.
Hello Ppppcccsss and welcome to the forum :
You do not need to have RAI thyroid ablation, you do not need an operation but first off you do need is to find out why your doctor ' thinks ' you have become overactive and the first step is for your doctor to run a full thyroid blood panel :
What were the results from this first blood test and are you taking any medication ?
You need to see the results and ranges of a TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 blood test and hopefully thyroid antibodies which may look like TPO, TgAB, TR ab and/or TSI : initials and readings.
My thyroid has been off my entire life. The first half it was over active. Now it is under. And it never bothered me or had any effect on my life at all. I never liked the meds they gave me, especially for the over active thyroid. And the stuff for the under active never seemed to do anything, but I never had any real symptoms or complaints before either. Until now in my 60's, with the hypothyroid. The last few years levothyroxin has been helpful. Just don't worry too much, be patient, and listen to your doctors.
thanks all for replies, I have had blood tests but I haven’t got a copy so will call them today and get a copy. The test I’m going for is an iodine one, where they inject me with radioactive stuff to scan. Interestingly the hospital has also asked that I get another blood test in 4 weeks time (I am hoping they’re checking whether it’s a blip in the result due to a cold I had at the time).
Will post blood test results when I get a hold of them. Thanks for the info above, very helpful
oh and no I haven’t been prescribed anything yet!
ok I have result, they are:
Tsh 0.01
T4 36
T3 7.1
Do you have lab ranges?
Ranges vary between labs so alway needed to interpret results.
Always use online results or ask reception for a printed copy. [Which will have lab ranges]. NOT verbal or handwritten or typed / emailed (they won’t include ranges & too high chance of error)
I can see TSH is 0.01 (suppressed) & FT4 & FT3 are over range by most ranges but more elevated rather than very high.
It may be transient rise so repeating test very important & antibody results will help diagnose you.
Doctors are often quite keen to start carbimazole or PTU (antithyroid medications) even when levels slightly high, I had borderline high FT4 but higher FT3 at nearly double the range & was stated straightaway. Establishing cause is preferred option for many, and as you reported no symptoms it might be best approach.
Sometimes when levels fluctuate quickly you do develop symptoms, but if levels have risen gradually you adapt without realising, my elevated levels were missed & were likely over range many years.
I had the uptake scan several months after antibodies were tested & negative & had been placed on carbimazole.
ah yes sorry didn’t realise they were jmportant, they are
Tsh 0.01 (0.23-5.6)
Ft4 36 (9-28)
Ft3 7.1 (3.1-6.8)
TRAB <1.2 (0-2.1)
They did an antibody test but the doctor didn’t mention it again as he was checking to see whether it was some autoimmune disorder.
And yes I’m keen not to start anything until the scan and re test of bloods are done. My gut feeling is still that it was a blip as I was fighting a horrible cold when the bloods were done, but that’s just gut feeling and based on nothing else )
FT4: 36 pmol/l (Range 9 - 28) 142.11% of range
FT3: 7.1 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8) 108.11% of range
So this represents an elevation.
Waiting to see if temporary or continuous seems appropriate.
Autoimmune Graves can typically reach 3x normal range.
Although any continuous elevation would require treatment.
Sometimes antibodies test take longer to process, or GP may be expecting specialist to organise.
thanks for the reply, will be interesting what the second bloods come back with, hoping they are back to normal!
Hello again ;
You also need the results of the antibody test - which was probably run from this same blood test - we are looking for abbreviations looking like - TPO : TgAB : a TSI and or a TR ab receptor reading and range :
We also need the ranges on the above blood test results you have just shared - maybe arrange ' on line ' access with your surgery so you can read the accurate fully results of all your blood tests so far and in the future, it is your legal right and mot surgeries are now able to offer this service.
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