Latest blood test results - now including vitamin checks!

[Loopnova]

I love how knowledgeable and helpful people have been on here so I’m back!

Nov 22 - TSH was 0.13. Doc was concerned I was over-medicated but I felt great, so she left me on my dose which was alternating 75mg one day and 100 the next.

Jan 23 - TSH was 0.37. Not sure if it means anything that it’s gone up, or if it can fluctuate. I have Hashimotos so assume it will go up as my thyroid gets more attacked.

Both times blood was taken about 8:30am, last levo more than 24hrs before and no food or drink before. Had stopped taking anything else (vits etc) two weeks before.

Anyway, more interestingly, because the doc never tests anything other than just TSH, I got a medichecks test done.

These are the results:

Total cholesterol: 6.45 (range 0-5)

LDL : 4 (range <3)

Non HDL: 4.42 (range <4)

HDL: 2.03 (range >1.2)

Total cholesterol HDL: 3.18 (range <4)

Triglycerides: 0.93 (range <1.7)

So they say my cholesterol is high…which I’m not sure if this should worry me?

Inflammation was fine at 4.93 (range 0-5)

Ferritin was high at 239 . (Range 13-150]. I don’t take iron tablets nor eat high iron foods loads…apart from a bit of dark chocolate daily!

Magnesium fine at 0.87 (range 0.7-1]

vitamin B was >150, so considered high. (Range 37.5-150). I had been taking Thorne research basic B complex prior to two weeks before. Should I stop this now?

vitamin D was 89 which was in range (50-200). I was taking Betteryou D3000+K2 spray before now

With that and magnesium showing fine (which I’d also been taking), I’m not sure if they were still in my system for the reading and I should keep on, or I don’t need them?

It’s really interesting finding out all this but not quite sure what to do with it 😬

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Medichecks results for TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test?

High cholesterol suggests low Ft3 level

Higher ferritin can be due to inflammation of Hashimoto’s

CRP right at top of range…..so some inflammation

Approx how old are you

Pre or post menopause?

Suggest you continue vitamin B complex, perhaps 5 days a week

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

I didn’t get those from medichecks. Might order those next.

I’m 41. No signs of menopause yet. If I’m anything like my mum, I’ve got another ten years yet!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loopnova]

cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65 

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies) 

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here 

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

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. Last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

great stuff, I’ll come back with results! Thanks

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve got my other results now

TSH 0.45

FT4 21.2 (normal range 12-22)

FT3 3.9 (normal range 3.1-6.8)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loopnova]

Was test done early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test?

Had you stopped vitamin B complex 5-7 days before test

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

yes all same conditions.

I hadn’t started up vitamins again after stopping them for the first blood test.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loopnova]

You have Hashimoto’s

Are you on strictly gluten free diet and/or dairy free diet

Vitamin levels look pretty good

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

no I’m not gluten free or dairy free. It is something I’ve thought about experimenting with, it’s just so difficult!

Especially when going away on holiday etc.

I feel ok though so prob don’t have lots of motivation for it. I don’t feel quite as good as two months ago when my TSH was lower than range, but was feeling great then, if that was 100% im 98%now.

Main thing bothering me now is the weight I’ve put on (a stone)

I wasn’t sure if my vitamin levels are ok because I’ve been supplementing and I should carry on or not.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loopnova]

FT4: 21.2 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22) 92.00%

FT3: 3.9 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8) 21.62%

Shows really terrible conversion rate of Ft4 to Ft3

most people when adequately treated will have both Ft4 and Ft3 at roughly 70% through range

Things to try to improve conversion rate

Splitting levothyroxine in half…..taking half waking and half at bedtime

Getting all four vitamins at optimal levels

Strictly gluten free diet

Strictly dairy free diet

Both are much easier these days. Loads of dairy free alternatives and vegan options if eating out

Most restaurants offer gluten free options

Retest again 2-3 months after trying these changes

If Ft3 remains low Email Thyroid U.K. for list of thyroid specialist endocrinologists and doctors who will prescribe T3 if clinically appropriate 

[e-mail]

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

thanks so much! You’re much more helpful, and seem more knowledgeable, than my GP!

I don’t know if it’s worth taking these results and info to them to see what they say. Not really sure what response I’ll get.

I am interested to try gluten free and might have to make a determined effort for that. The only dairy I have is in cheese and chocolate but they’re the two best foods😂

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loopnova]

I never thought I could give dairy up …..but now after 6 months strictly dairy free I would never go back. I feel so much better and weight falling off without trying.

I don’t even miss cheese

There’s loads of dairy free alternatives

Vegan chocolate too. Most are too sweet, but some are good

I have been strictly gluten free since 2016. Again difference was so astonishing never considered going back

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

ok, that’s good to hear then. And inspiring!! It’d be interesting to see what difference it would make. I don’t feel bad at the minute but do wonder what difference it could me. How do I know if what I am is me at 100% or not eh!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loopnova]

best vegan chocolate in my view

waitrose.com/ecom/products/...

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi. Sorry to drag this up again but you said I show a terrible conversion rate. I showed the test results of T3 and T4 to my GP who said they look normal. Probably because the numbers are within the range shown. I’m not convinced she knows that much about thyroid conditions! Just wondered how I can explain the numbers/conversion rate thing etc? I want to be able to say I’ve got it from a reliable source, actual medical guidance etc otherwise she’ll dismiss me.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loopnova]

GP can’t do anything

Down to you to improve vitamin levels and trialing gluten free/dairy free

Next step

Presumably you have been working on Improving vitamins in last 2 months

Are you gluten free or dairy free now

Splitting levothyroxine ?

Retest thyroid levels again after 8 weeks since adding last vitamin supplement or change in diet

See if results are improving……Ft4 is lower and Ft3 higher

If Ft3 still under 50% through range

Will need to see thyroid specialist endocrinologist for small doses of T3 prescribed alongside levothyroxine

Email Thyroid U.K. for list of thyroid specialist endocrinologists and doctors who will prescribe T3 if clinically appropriate 

[e-mail]

initial consultation £250 Approx

Follow up cheaper

It’s possible, but difficult to get T3 prescribed via NHS endocrinologist……but often about year wait for appointments and might only get junior assistant not the endocrinologist you want to see

[Loopnova in reply to SlowDragon]

ah ok, thanks. I’m gluten free. It’s been a month. I was trying one thing at a time otherwise won’t know which makes a difference.

I’m consistent with my vitamins though.

I’ve got the list from Thyroid UK should it come to that.

[tattybogle in reply to Loopnova]

it's difficult to find bombproof ammunition for the 'poor conversion' argument with GP's.

However you might find a well placed 'visual aid' helpful .

Data taken from this research : journals.sagepub.com/doi/10...

Intraindividual variation in serum thyroid hormones, parathyroid hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1

T Ankrah-Tetteh, S Wijeratne, and R Swaminathan [e-mail]

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry: International Journal of Laboratory Medicine March 1, 2008 Volume 45, Issue 2 doi.org/10.1258/acb.2007.00...

These are 10 healthy people's fT4 / fT3 and TSH levels ( tested over a period of 6 weeks to show they are their 'usual' levels, not 'one-off', none are taking thyroid hormone )

Their levels are converted to '%'s through range' for this graph .( graph produced by Tania S Smith ~ ThyroidPatientsCanada)

ask your GP to compare your T4:T3 % through range to these healthy people.

Your '% through range' are fT4 92% fT3 21%

it is NOT 'normal' to have such a huge difference between fT4 and fT3 %'s as you have .

The healthy human body 'normally' keeps fT4:fT3 ratio in much closer balance.

.

[Loopnova in reply to tattybogle]

that’s great thanks, I’ll have a good read of it so I can understand 😀

[tattybogle in reply to Loopnova]

Sometimes easier to get your own head round by reading the articles on thyroid patient canada site (has helped me a lot.. has pictures, lol ).

I can't remember which of Tania's many article's i took that image from as she uses data from that study quite often . have just put ankrah - tetteh et al 2008 into their search box here : thyroidpatients.ca/?s=ankra...

it is probably from one of those.. if not, site-map has list of all articles here thyroidpatients.ca/home/sit...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loopnova]

Your high cholesterol is directly linked to low Ft3

It will reduce as Ft3 levels improve

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

hey good for you getting all those a tests. I’m just learning about all this, but have read posts where they say only leave off the B complex 3-5 days before testing. Was there a reason why you stopped everything for 2 weeks?

Inflammation is right at the top of range, worth working on why this might be the case. Recent bugs, thyroiditis (under medication) other conditions any ‘itis’.

Do you have FT4 and FT3 results to share? Did you get a thyroid panel with your vitamins?

I’ve read that raised cholesterol is common with under medication in hypothyroidism, a FT3 result would help confirm this.

I’m pretty sure over medication can’t be identified from TSH alone, I think you’d need FT4 and FT3 to confirm this.

how do you feel? Any jitters, sweats, palpitations?

🌱

[Loopnova in reply to Regenallotment]

Not sure why two weeks actually, I seemed to have that time in mind from somewhere but prob misremembered

I’m generally healthy otherwise. no jitters, sweats or palpitations. Had some headaches this last week. Had another low heart rate notification off my watch last week. I was getting them nearly every day til they upped my meds

The only new symptom is a pulse sound in one ear, which when I Google, it immediately brings up pulsatile tinnitus Haven’t got around to speaking to doc about that yet (they’ll think I’m a hypochondriac!)

oh, also, re the inflammation, I was told once that I have psoriatic arthritis. One patch of scalp psoriasis and one swollen knuckle

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Loopnova]

just stop vitamin B complex 5-7 days before test

All other supplements continue, just don’t take on morning of the test

[Charlie-Farley]

Hi Loopnova 😊

Re cholesterol - statins are not good for hypothyroidism as they can cause tissue damage. It’s in the NHS guidelines. If only doctors knew. Please don’t be forced into statins by an ignoramus. They have dropped the guidelines on threshold anyway. It’s a personal decision, but I would never take statins. Hubby and I run a hospitality business and we see so many people come through who have had problems/ serious side effects with statins. So even before the addition of hypothyroidism into my mix of issues I had sworn off them.

We have a dear friend bit older than us and he was diagnosed but untreated for hypothyroidism. He was put onto statins though! Years later he’s had a heart attack, THEN been put on thyroid medication and now has a pacemaker. He still isn’t adequately managed re thyroid. His cardiologist has ‘suggested’ GP might want to up dose of levo. [updated] Wish I could sit down with a family member - go through the basics with them, but that won't happen 😔some people have closed ears and sadly have to leave them to it.

I think the takeaway from this is you have to read and learn and do your own due diligence….. cause it’s by no means guaranteed by seeing a medical ‘professional’ sadly. 😬👍