monitor my health thyroid test results advice please

[flosslechops]

hello,I had a blood test with gp surgery recently and asked for t3 and t4 to be tested as I have a soft swelling on right side of neck that comes and goes for about a month now,also have a red/purple mottled rash on front of neck for at least a year,maybe more.

so results came back and only TSH tested .I have been reading this site and decided to do MMH test,took advice ,tested at 9 am,fasting and am not taking any medication

TSH;1.34 mu/L (same as surgery one) (0.27-4.2mu/L)

FT4;16.8 pmol/L (12-22 pmol/L)

FT3;3.7pmol/L (3.1-6.8 pmol/L)

I have also been referred for a neck ultrasound which is on the 10th May,my recent hba1c was 145mmol,don't know if that has any meaning where thyroid is concerned.

I know these results are within range but would appreciate any comments,thank you

forgot to mention-anti bodies negative

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to thyroid forum

Looking at other posts on PAS unlocked - do you have Pernicious Anaemia or just low B12

Are you currently diagnosed as being hypothyroid and on Levothyroxine

If yes how much Levothyroxine

Was test done early morning, ideally just before 9am (and last dose Levothyroxine 24 hours before test)

Essential to test both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies at least once for autoimmune thyroid disease

Plus vitamin D, folate and ferritin too

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[flosslechops in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you SlowDragon,no PA,I was diagnosed with not absorbing b12 by practise nurse,no diagnosis of anything thyroid,investigations only at moment,did test as advised-9am, fasting,I have had anti-bodies tested but looking through my blood test results they aren't the ones you mention,I SI b12 at least once a week,take folate and D,I use cyclogest 400mg as hrt

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to flosslechops]

Ft3 is obviously very low

Next step

Get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing including BOTH TPO and TG antibodies

all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am

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...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

[flosslechops in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you SlowDragon

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to flosslechops]

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)

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

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...

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

 

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies 

 paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to flosslechops]

From your profile

type 2 diabetes dx aged 54(2018)

I don't absorb b12 dx same year as above

Are you on Metformin for diabetes?

Metformin often lowers TSH and B12

Metformin and TSH

cureus.com/articles/50564-e...

Metformin and B12

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/m...

[flosslechops in reply to SlowDragon]

not on any meds for diabetes,metformin didn't touch my blood sugar,just made me feel grotty,all other diabetic meds gave me side effects and didn't bring sugar levels down either,I've lost a stone in weight over the past year and my blood sugar hasn't fallen,really don't know whats causing it ,doctors say to me doesn't matter what the cause is,treatments the same,I've been reading the paul robinson site about atrophied thyroid-very interesting-at least I've been referred for an ultrasound,that may give some answers(I hope!!)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to flosslechops]

Good vitamin levels are essential for good thyroid health

So after ultrasound get vitamins and thyroid antibodies tested

Come back with new post once you get results

[flosslechops in reply to SlowDragon]

yes I'm going to ask(in case I have missed them) whether I've have had the thyroid anti-bodies tested when I have my diabetic review next week,thank you so much for your help,I will update after ultrasound

[waveylines in reply to flosslechops]

Hi..... How often are you getting b12 jabs? Effects of low b12 can we wide and varied. This is often overlooked. Do you take a B complex as well as B jabs?I have to have b12 jabs daily to maintain myself.

Am not suggesting this is the cause of the swelling on your neck though. Am glad they are investigating.

[flosslechops in reply to waveylines]

Hi waveylines,thanks for your reply,I had been jabbing daily since last summer even tried 2mg a day for a while,titrated down to a couple a week for the blood tests,also take the health leads methylfolate daily,did take a multi b last year but gave up with trying different supplements as I'm just so tired of it all,sticking to b12,folate and d for now,these have helped me an awful lot and cleared up a lot of symptoms,but I still feel 'wrong'

[waveylines in reply to flosslechops]

Awww bless u. I'm still injecting daily.... Been 3yrs. If I drop lower symptoms return. I don't retain it.It really important with daily injections that you supplement with the other bs too.... As they all work together best. You just need a daily dose of some thing like Thorne basic B. B6 is the only one you don't excrete excess. I tried dropping my B complex but after a few months I felt dreadful so started it again... Feel much better. Just a thought.... x

[flosslechops in reply to waveylines]

I agree with you,think I'm going to have to make the effort and start jabbing more regularly-its why I started daily in the first place-bone numbing fatigue-and my physical system feeling depressed-thanks for that,the brain fog certainly gets in the way😬

[waveylines in reply to flosslechops]

Indeed. For me tremors, numbness, weakness etc didn't help. For a while I was twice per day but recently I've allowed it to drop to mainly once a day with some days twice for top ups. Seems mad to have to inject so frequently... Hey ho... It works! Also had to go GF in the end.... Then I hope after 18minths I'd be able to. lower B12 jab frequency.... No not really happened!

I hope you get your neck sorted very soon.

[flosslechops in reply to waveylines]

I thought I could get away with less jabs too,went and injected after your post and feel much better already,thanks for the nudge,will keep it going now,

[waveylines in reply to flosslechops]

Awww so glad it's helped. I think the thing is we are led to believe we won't need as frequent in time... I now think that's a myth.And good luck with the neck issue... Keep us posted

[flosslechops in reply to waveylines]

I will 👍 thank you

[Hidden]

apparently MMH test results are not valid at the moment…? X

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Hidden]

dontforgetcortisol, This will depend on when the blood was tested by MMH. It's my understanding that those affected have been notified.

If anyone has any concerns about the validity of their most recent MMH test resuts, they should email MMH for clarification: [e-mail]

[flosslechops in reply to RedApple]

thanks RedApple-my test was 23rd march-think I missed it

[flosslechops in reply to Hidden]

I read the posts,was a bit worried-mine was 23rd march-hopefully missed it,thanks