My daughter has her first blood test results from Monitor My Health, Please can anyone give me more information/advice?

[Robbiebobs]

My daughter (19) has been feeling up and down with various symptoms for a couple of years and recently we delved further and we realised she ticked lots of boxes to have a Thyroid problem.

She has just got her results back from Monitor My Health advanced Thyroid blood test but she hasn't been to see a GP as yet.

Could you lovely people give me your option on the test results please?

TPO 206 IU/ml

TSH 4.3 mu/L. Normal range 0.27 - 4.2 mU/L

THYROXINE 12 pmol/L. Normal range 12 - 22 pmol/L

TRIODOTHYRONINE 4.4 pmol/L. Normal range 3.1 -6.8 pmol/L

From my understanding she has Hashimoto and subclinical hypothyroidism. The test result summary says this normally does not need treatment at this stage.

She took the bloods around 7:30 - 8am after just drinking water, no food, she isn't on any medication. She stopped taking multivitamins about 2 weeks ago.

As far as I am aware I don't know anyone in our family with Hypothyroidism although one of her Grandmothers had Rheumatoid arthritis and her other Grandma Type 2 Diabetes and Pernicious Anemia.

Just a bit of extra information as I'm not sure if this is linked..My daughter has always had a slow heart rate and she thinks its getting slower and changes rhythm (monitors it on her Fitbit) She hasn't been to the doctors about it, when she was little she woke up a couple of times with a racing heart that would not slow down, she went to the doctors but by the time we were seen it had gone back to normal and he didn't seem at all concerned.

She is at Uni at the minute and was hoping to get a doctors appointment when she's next home.

[radd]

Robbiebobs,

TSH is over range, FT4 bottom of range and FT3 higher with the body’s effort  in retaining some sort of wellbeing.  

To us she is hypothyroid and in need of Levothyroxine but guidelines are becoming greyer with some GP’s still waiting until TSH reaches 10 but others prescribing if antibodies are high with an over range TSH. 

At worst I guess they willl agree to monitor her at this stage. At best they will offer Levothyroxine which will reduce TSH and higher FT4 levels. Replacement of missing thyroid hormones is thought to quell thyroid gland activity and help reduce Hashi swings which can make the heart race and jump about. 

My son (although much older) is in the same position but has managed to alleviate symptoms by reducing thyroid antibodies (inflammation) and supplementing to induce better thyroid function. He takes the usual B Complex, Vit D, selenium and zinc, adopted a gluten free diet long term, tried dairy free but felt no different so came off it 3 months later. 

Others in your daughters position find supplementing thyroid glandulars help top up hormone levels if Levothyroxine isn't yet offered but if the GP is going to be monitoring be aware glandulars can alter labs quite significantly. They also don't agree with everyone.

I would recommend you both read ‘the Root Cause’ by Isabella Wentz. 

[Robbiebobs in reply to radd]

Thank you so much for your reply.

It’s a lot to take on board isn’t it, especially when it’s your child going through it.

I will send on your good advice and information to my daughter

[Noelnoel in reply to Robbiebobs]

Bear in mind that it’s entirely possible her TSH levels might’ve been higher had blood been drawn closer to 9am. I think it’s SeasideSusie who can provide you with a graph that demonstrates this

[Beads]

She needs a doc appointment for a blood test. They won’t treat her at the moment because they need 2 tests 3 months apart with out of range TSH. If her T4 is resting on the bottom of the range then in 3 months it’s likely to be worse. If she’s not got a doc near uni or wants to stay with the family doc then book one for the Easter hols and make a note to book a follow up when she comes home for the summer. If the first one comes back in range (there’s a bit of up and downing with levels, TSH of 4.19 with that range would be considered by a doc to be in range) she’ll need to lay it on thick for the doc the be retested, but if she’s still feeling rough then push for it.

[Robbiebobs in reply to Beads]

Thank you I really appreciate your advice.

Seems a lot to take on with the doctors. Reminds me the battle I had with my old dr for HRT!

It’s very reassuring to have so much support on here

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Next step

So your daughter needs appointment with GP and take printed copies these results and Fitbit record of low heart rate to appointment

They will retest thyroid levels

Make sure she does early morning test

Request/insist on also testing vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Multivitamins not recommended on here

What exactly is she taking

She also needs coeliac blood test done

[Robbiebobs in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your advice.

Okay She'll make sure to request all the test when seen by her doctor. I understand the vitamin testing results should show a clearer picture.

She often describes having a fuzzy head and things are not clear but symptoms are up and down. She gets fluid retention in her hands and also ankles. Constipation, fatigue and what only she describes as blood sugar rushes. She eats incredibly healthy. I'm assuming she has spikes of bad days and better days as once in a while she says she feels like her spine is longer and her head clearer?

Up to now she has just generally taken a supermarket multivitamin, has done for years and more recently digestion enzymes which she has found has helped with her stomach/ibs symptoms/ bloating. I understand the importance now from this site about getting the vitamin levels right and not to use multivitamins.

The concern is if she is only just subclinical why is she feeling so rubbish. Then there's the worry that a doctor will dismiss her symptoms because the test levels aren't 'bad' enough to warrant any intervention.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Robbiebobs]

Iodine in multivitamin may cause issues, especially with Hashimoto’s

Recommend she stops multivitamins and get vitamins tested

Come back with new post when get results

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Robbiebobs]

Treatment for hypothyroidism is life long so they do need to be sure that blood results are not just a one off or caused by any other illness or something else affecting TSH.

The name subclinical is a medical term. When the thyroid is slowly declining there will be symptoms all along the way and long before blood results become overt hypothyroidism. Her thyroid is still doing its utmost just it cannot do quite enough, hence the symptoms. This process can be very long before TSH rises enough to go out of range.

[Robbiebobs in reply to GlowCoach]

This makes sense thank you. We have to keep our minds open to underlaying conditions that may be causing her TSH and symptoms to be out.