hi, my GP said this TSH of 0.37 is normal. everything I have read says that it is low....is it low enough to indicate hyperthyroidism?my symptoms are more hypothyroidism...severe fatigue, brain fog,weight gain. sore glands, gravely voice
fatigue/brain fog has been for years. I have had a scan in the past which showed my thyroid is enlarged with nodules...but not considered significant
I am desperate for answers and to feel normal again
TIA
Hello Tangawizi :
I presume you are not taking any thyroid hormone replacement medication.
Your TSH is in the range and though low it will not be seen as needing further investigation.
Ideally we really need to see a Free T3 and Free T4 result and range alongside this TSH reading along with readings for thyroid antibodies to say anything of any substance.
Looking back I think I read of nodules, if these are thyroid nodules a scan could be useful to ascertain of these are growing and affecting your thyroid function.
You are right in that as cats do suffer with hyperthyroidism and as with cats we too should always be offered a full thyroid panel run when we e feel the thyroid is not functioning normally.
Many of us are forced to run these blood tests for ourselves as a TSH seen in isolation when the patient clearly has thyroid malfunction symptoms is insufficient.
Strongly recommend getting full thyroid and vitamin testing redone
Test results from 6 years ago showed B12, folate and ferritin all far far too low and borderline deficient
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
When were vitamin levels last tested
What vitamin supplements are you taking
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
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 if/when on levothyroxine 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...
Just Thyroid includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies -£49
randoxhealth.com/at-home/Th...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies 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...
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
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
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...
wow, thanks! I think I'll get private T3 and T4 just for peace of mind. GP did test B12 and ferritin...B12 normal but ferritin 33 which is still considered normal but I haven't had a period for 5 years so should be higher really. I have had chronic low ferritin and anaemia for a long time, despite supplements...is one of the reasons that I had a hysterectomy. have also had low vit D a few times, so I regularly take a supplement. any other vitamins that should be tested?
Ferritin is all but deficient and NOT normal
Anaemia is prime cause of fatigue
Please add vitamin D, folate and B12 results
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Medichecks iron panel test
medichecks.com/products/iro...
Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
List of iron rich foods
Links about iron and ferritin
irondisorders.org/too-littl...
davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...
Great in-depth article on low ferritin
oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...
drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...
Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Iron and thyroid link
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Excellent article on iron and thyroid
cambridge.org/core/journals...
Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Shellfish and Mussels are excellent source of iron
healthline.com/nutrition/he...
Heme iron v non heme
hsph.harvard.edu/nutritions...
Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Great research article discussing similar…..ferritin over 100 often necessary
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidism
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Ferritin range on Medichecks
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
We have received further information the lab about ferritin reference ranges. They confirm that they are sex dependent up to the age of 60, then beyond the age of 60 the reference range is the same for both sexes:
Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L
Female's: 16-60: 30-150
Both >60: 30-650
The lower limit of 30 ug/L is in accordance with the updated NICE guidance and the upper limits are in accordance with guidance from the Association of Clinical Biochemists. ‘
RBC 4.19 (3.8-5.3)
Haemoglobin=128 (120-150)
Haematocrit=0.397 (0.37-0.45)
MCV=94.7 (83-100)
MCH=30.5 (27-32)
MCHC=322 (310-350)
RBC distribution width=14.4 (11.5-15.5)
Vit B12=276 ng/L (180-900)
Ferritin=33 (33-400)
Folate=5.3 (2.5-19.5)
TSH=0.37 (0.27-4.2)
No vitamin D result
Optimal vitamin D at least over 80nmol
Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing
when were these vitamin results from?
Optimal vitamin levels are
Serum B12 at least over 500
Folate at least over 10 and ideally over 15 minimum
Ferritin at least over 70
Clearly your vitamin levels are very poor and bordering on deficient
Low vitamin levels extremely common with thyroid disease
Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH
Essential to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together and both TPO and TG antibodies
just see you found my old test results!! 😊 thankyou, I forgot I even posted! x
Full iron panel test is
TIBC = Total iron binding capacity
Serum Iron = self explanatory
Transferrin saturation = measures how much protein is saturated by iron
And
Ferritin
low iron/ferritin and B12
Are you vegetarian or vegan?
low B12
Do you have any Low B12 symptoms
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...
If you do have symptoms of low B12 you need testing for Pernicious Anaemia via GP BEFORE starting on any B12 supplement or separate vitamin B complex
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a daily separate B12 supplement initially and after 2 weeks add in a daily vitamin B Complex as well
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
B12 drops very effective
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
B12 sublingual lozenges
amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...
cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...
B12 range in U.K. is too wide
Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Vitamin B complex
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Difference between folate and folic acid
healthline.com/nutrition/fo...
Many thyroid patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)
Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or eBay
If you want to try a different brand in the meantime, one with virtually identical doses of the ingredients, and bioavailable too, then take a look at Vitablossom Liposomal B Complex. Amazon sometimes has it branded Vitablossom but it's also available there branded as Yipmai, it's the same supplement
amazon.co.uk/Yipmai-Liposom...
or available as Vitablossom brand here
hempoutlet.co.uk/vitablosso... &description=true
Or
Igennus Vitamin B complex. Nice small tablets. Full dose is 2 tablets per day. Most people are fine with just single tablet
igennus.com/products/super-...
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement and continue separate B12
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