Weird T4 result

[Girlslovescifi]

Ten days ago my surgery gave me a blood test and I was told to take my t3 before. My t4 was 15.3pmol/L (7.8-18). I then decided to buy a Monitor My Health test to compare results when not taking my morning dose. The T4 results have freaked me out. It’s 2.4pmol\L (12-22). Why on earth would it be so low? Have I got some awful disease that’s developed in 10 days? I’ve asked my GP for reassurance.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Seems more likely a test error

How much levothyroxine are you taking

What were Ft3 and TSH results

[Girlslovescifi in reply to SlowDragon]

They seemed as expected: t3 4.6pmol/L (3.1-6.8) and TSH 0.1 (0.27-4.2). I take 100mcg and 75mcg Levo on alternate days and 15mcg t3 in 2 doses. I have dreadful health anxiety.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Girlslovescifi]

When you log in on your Monitor My Health account you can see 3 separate graphs for TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

Looking at the Ft4 graph labelled Thyroxine ……

Is the result in Green section ?

[Girlslovescifi in reply to SlowDragon]

I don’t get any graph. This is all I see.

Text

[SlowDragon Administrator]

you said in previous post

I’m currently taking all Levo and 7.5mcg t3 at 5am, 5mcg t3 at 11am and 2.5mcg t3 at 4pm.

So when did Monitor My Health test at 8-9am ……

day before test ideally you would have taken levothyroxine 8am and last dose T3 at 9pm

[Girlslovescifi in reply to SlowDragon]

I drew my blood around 6am. I took my Levo on waking day before. I changed to only taking t3 twice a day. I took 7.5mcg at 3pm the day before.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Girlslovescifi]

I would question Monitor My Health and request a new test kit

Day before test move last dose T3 to maximum of 12 hours before test

[pussycatwillow]

I did a test with MMH recently and received an odd result that I did not expect. I am not convinced their tests are accurate right now.

I did query my result but didn’t get a satisfactory response.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to pussycatwillow]

Thank you for sharing! This makes me feel calmer. My GP isn’t concerned and said I can have another test with them for reassurance if I choose. I think they’d be getting straight in for another test if they were worried.

[Aurealis]

I usually use Medichecks and have recently done my first Monitor my Health test. Was planning to move to MMH as it’s cheaper. I’ve had recent NHS and Medichecks tests - I don’t usually have this many tests, but have been checking correspondence between tests prior to planned switch to MMH

I have no confidence at all in MMH t3 result. It’s much higher than NHS and Medichecks.

My T4 results are a bit lower than expected, not as low as yours but lower than both Medichecks and NHS.

I know MMH are cheaper but I have no trust in them and won’t be using them again.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to Aurealis]

Thank you. I won’t use them again.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Girlslovescifi]

Nothing is ever perfect. Medichecks have had their own testing hiccups too over the years.

[Aurealis in reply to RedApple]

it is quite worrying when you receive strange results. And this ‘pay as you go’ approach to health is very expensive for those like me, forced down a private route. Medichecks are pricing themselves out of business but i have developed trust in their tests. Unfortunately for MMH I feel they’ve fallen at the first hurdle. You are right though, all organisations can have problems from time to time.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I have responded on your other thread as I had notification of you posting a reply to me there.

[Girlslovescifi in reply to SeasideSusie]

Just had this from Monitor My Health. 🙄

Text

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Girlslovescifi]

Good to know they are aware and are looking into it. I expect there could be a great many tests they need to check, possibly in the hundreds, also of course there will be the hospital tests as I presume they're all done within the same lab at Exeter hospital using the same equipment. What a nightmare for them.

I wonder if this is a result of them being contacted by members here. It also begs the question why didn't they cotton on to this themselves, especially in the light of your very strange results, goodness me a suppressed TSH with a massively below range FT4 should have set some bells ringing! I can't remember if MMH require you to tell them if you are taking thyroid hormone replacement and if so what you're taking.

[RedApple Administrator in reply to SeasideSusie]

'I can't remember if MMH require you to tell them if you are taking thyroid hormone replacement '

Yes, you are supposed to tick a box to say you are on thyroid meds if I remember correctly, but they don't ask for any details of what you're taking.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SeasideSusie]

A fundamental justification for always doing TSH, FT4 and FT3 together.

You simply have no clue if you do one test and that is wrong.

But if you do three and one or two are off, there is a chance the discordance will indicate an issue with the test(s).

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to helvella]

Absolutely. Why is it the medical profession don't get this?

[ETHEL103]

Just had a message from MMH to say that in the past 36 hours they have had a problem with some test results and mine was done within that time.