Thyroid results

[Nesting]

Had some NHS blood tests done December 2022 and March 2023 and was diagnosed with persistent low TSH levels and had follow up appointment with local doctor but no further action required

So did advanced thyroid test with medichecks and the results today were

TSH 0.27 miu/l . Range is 0.27 to 4.2

Free T3 5.3 pmol/l . Range 3.1 to 6.8

Free thyroxine 13.1 pmol/l . Range 12 to 22

Does this mean I could have subclinical hyperthyroidism , I have the usual aches , pains and tiredness

Was diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome few years ago , current medication is clopidogrel , atorvastatin and lansoprazole.

Medichecks are advising a follow up test in 4 months time which I will do .

[SlowDragon Administrator]

More likely autoimmune hypothyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s .

Especially with diagnosis already of APS which is autoimmune

Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid symptoms before becoming increasingly hypothyroid

Low TSH can be misleading

Ft4 is very low - suggesting hypothyroid

Suggest you retest in 6 weeks getting FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

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 

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

This gives highest TSH 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 and includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies -£29 

randoxhealth.com/at-home/Th...

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

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...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Current medication clopidogrel , atorvastatin and lansoprazole,

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

Being hypothyroid results in high cholesterol and low vitamin levels

Lansoprazole will lower vitamin levels even further

[Nesting in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for getting back to me , yes the test included the vitamins as well and I was low on vitamin D ,

And yes having aps seems to overlap a few autoimmune disorders but I’ll get retested sooner

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Nesting]

were TPO and TG antibodies tested

please add B12 and folate results and ranges

How low was vitamin D

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing 

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7. 

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D and thyroid disease 

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease 

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[Nesting]

hello , here’s the rest of my results

CRP Hs 0.71 mg/l . Range 0 to 3

Ferritin 117 ug/l . Range 30 to 400

Folate-serum 20.8 nmol/g .Range 8.83 to 60.8

Vitamin B12 active 60 pmol/l . Range 37.5 to 118

Vitamin D 61 nmol/l . Range 50 to 250

Thyroglobulin antibodies 13 Kiu/l . Range 0 to 115

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies 8.8 Kiu/l . Range 0 to 34.

I usually take along with my prescription a multivitamin, centrum advance 50 +

Simon

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Nesting]

You need to click on reply button, otherwise other poster doesn’t get notification

Multivitamins never recommended on here

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Better to just supplement individual vitamins if test shows necessary

Considering you have been on multivitamin folate and B12 are low

Likely to need daily vitamin B complex and (initially) daily separate B12

Low B12 symptoms 

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and add a separate vitamin B Complex after a week 

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 

natureprovides.com/products...

Or

B12 sublingual lozenges 

uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...

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...

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 Hashimoto’s 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 try ebay 

Other options 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

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 folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12 until high enough

Ferritin

Look at increasing iron rich foods in your diet