Abnormal test results

[Lag67]

Last month I had my thyroid tests done, I have been hypo since I was born in 1967, my results came back abnormal, TSH 0.28 (0.38- 5.33) FT4 18.5 (7.9-14.4) I asked for a doctor to contact me but had a text message from a gp to say he had tried to ring me several times last Friday, on checking my phone he tried once and only let it ring 2 times. I have waited a month for that call and been told I will have to waited another 2 weeks for another call, that will have been 6 weeks with abnormal results. I am struggling so much with fatigue, have had a cold for 3 weeks now and feel so poorly everyday, why can't GPS realise that thyroid conditions don't just right themselves that sometimes they get worse as we age or when we are not given the right medication when we need it, I just cry everyday with frustration over GPS not caring.

[Regenallotment]

oh poor you that sounds rough. My GP surgery are similar. I get so cross when they don’t ring for long enough for me to grab my phone.

What time of day was that blood test?

Had you taken any thyroid hormone medication before the blood test?

🌱

[Lag67 in reply to Regenallotment]

Test was at 10am, take 150mcg levothyroxine at bedtime.

[Regenallotment in reply to Lag67]

Ah ok, so 150mcg taken less than 24 hrs before if it was bedtime, maybe 10 hours or so? Others more experienced than me will explain but…I’m thinking your blood test results could be showing higher FT4 levels related to your 150mcg being in your system. When actually you feel undermedicated from the symptoms you describe.

My GP and all the phlebotomy nurses say time of day or timing of meds don’t matter, I’m not sure I agree with them, it matters for me, if I always test under similar conditions, 8-9am no Levo for 24 hours and no breakfast, then I have a consistent set of tests to compare.

I’d stress to the GP what your symptoms are and ask for a retest as you feel undermedicated.

Could you also have low vitamin levels?

🌱

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

When were vitamin levels last tested

Suggest you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing done

Are you pre or post menopause

Levels may need adjustment after menopause

Lower vitamin levels common as we get older

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...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then 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...

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes

[tattybogle]

Hi Lag67

How do these results compare to your usual TSH / fT4 levels on the 150mcg dose ?

is your fT4 usually fairly high in range ?

is your TSH usually fairly low ?

(by the way ...has the lab range for fT4 recently changed to [7.9-14] , or have you had some previous tests done using that lab range ? )

Assuming you usually take your Levo at bedtime and have had previous tests done in the morning , then don't worry about the time gap from last doe being only 10 hours rather than 24 .. you can compare your result to your previous ones well enough .

I'm same age as you . and a couple of years ago my fT4 went wildly over range for no apparent reason . never found the reason why ,but it came down by itself a year later. however i have autoimmune hypothyroidism ,which can cause wandering levels of fT4 /TSH, whereas you have congenital ? which you would expect to be more stable (i think).

Your GP will probably want to suggest you reduce your levo dose a little since your fT4 is over range and the TSH is under range.

they may suggest a small reduction to 137.5mcg or a slightly larger one to 125mcg .. depending on your history of previous results / doses .

A more 'trigger happy' GP may suggest reducing to 100mcg but that is a very large reduction and it is usually a mistake to make big adjustments to dose .. smaller adjustments are often all that is needed ,and the body can get used to the change easier .

Do you have any of the classic symptoms of overmedication ?

increased bowel frequency .

anxiety / jittery / jumpy

not sleeping well.

Try this test .( GP's used it to check for overmedication before the blood tests were invented) ....it is a fairly reliable indicator of overmedication :

Hold arms out straight in front , palms down ~ fingers loosely outstretched .

look for a 'very fine tremor' in the fingers .

A sheet of A4 paper balanced on the back of the hand can make it easier to spot.