test results

[raine-wager]

just wondered if my results are normal as they always say normal thanks in advance

[greygoose]

When a doctor says 'normal', all he means is that the result falls somewhere within the so-called 'normal' range. But, the ranges are far too wide, and where your results fall within them may not be normal for you.

Your TSH, for example, could be called 'normal' if you just look at it in isolation, because a euthyroid TSH is around 1. But, the three results have to be looked at in conjunction with each other. And, your FT3 is on the low-side, especially compared to your FT4. So, one would really expect your TSH to be slightly higher.

However, when one is on thyroid hormone replacement, and the TSH gets below one, it is a very bad indicator of Thyroid status. The FT3 is then the most important number. And, as I said, that's on the low-side. So, how do you feel? Symptoms are also important.

Your two antibody results are negative - there's no such thing as 'normal' for an antibody. But, that can't completely rule out autoimmune thyroiditis because they fluctuate all the time. And, not only that, but some people with AT never even have high antibodies. So, you can prove you have it, but you can't prove you don't.

In conclusion, I would say that what these labs tell us is that you are a poor converter. And, that's about all.

[raine-wager in reply to greygoose]

Thankyou I haven’t felt right for years but I have so many other things wrong I don’t know what what😩

[greygoose in reply to raine-wager]

Well, often we think we have other things wrong with us, but when we get our FT3 up high enough, the other things can just disappear - or at least improve. The problem is, doctors like to treat all hypo symptoms as separate diseases. They just can't join up the dots. So, if it were me, I'd procure some T3 and self-treat with it, until my FT3 is a lot higher, and I feel a lot better. And, to hell with the TSH, which will become suppressed. The TSH doesn't cause symptoms, low T3 does.

[raine-wager in reply to greygoose]

to be honest I can’t get my head around any of this. When I was on liothyronine I felt worse. I’ve only had telephone consultations with my endo for the past 2 years. Even though you all try to explain things to me I just can’t take it in😩

[greygoose in reply to raine-wager]

With your low FT3, you probably have brain-fog, so not surprising you findit difficult to get your head round. It is quite complicated, but once you start to understand it all gets easier.

T3 is the active thyroid hormone - T4 is basically a storage hormone that doesn't do much until it is converted into T3.

T3 is needed by every single cell in your body to function correctly. If your T3 is low, you can get all sorts of symptoms, anywhere in your body, that you probably wouldn't associate with thyroid, unless you knew.

T4 is supposed to convert to T3, but not all hypos are good at that, so might have very good levels of T4, but low levels of T3, hence all the symptoms.

If you are a poor converter, there's often nothing you can do about it. You can try optimising all your nutrients, but whilst that might make you feel a bit better, it doesn't always improve conversion. So, that's why a lot of us need to take T3 along with our levo.

The problem with endos prescribing T3 is that they don't really understand what it is, what it does or how to dose it. They very often start the patient on too high a dose so the patient feels unwell, and then the endo tells them that in that case, T3 is obviously not for them. Whereas if they started the patient on a smaller dose, and increased slowly, and didn't reduce the levo by too much - sometimes not at all - then the patient will often flourish. And, I can never work out they do that out of ignorance, or deliberately because they don't really want to prescribe T3. But, of course, the end result is the same: it puts the patient off T3.

[Watamu in reply to raine-wager]

Hi, this 'Normal NFA' always appears on my test results, and it did used to upset me until it reported 'Normal NFA' on my blood test even with a low level of MCV, RDW and my MCH was 0% at 27 in a range of 27-34, I guess I would have to be dead before it would read anything else. I have come to the conclusion that these 'Normal NFA' must be computer generated.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Free T4 (fT4) 18.3 pmol/L (12 - 22) 63.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 4.3 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 32.4%

Your previous results looked better. Not sure what dose you were on then and now?

You posted vitamin results 3 months ago. Have you strated supplementing with a B complex yet to raise your B12 & folate?

Your FT is too low now and will be causing symptoms.

When did you take your last Levo before this test?

It's ideal if you can always get the same brand of levo at every prescription. You can do this by getting GP to write the brand you prefer in the first line of the prescription. Many people find that different brands are not interchangeable.

Do you know if you had positive thyroid antibodies? Many with autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's benefit from a gluten free diet. A smaller percentage of those also need to remove dairy from their diet to feel well. These are intolerances and will not show up on any blood test. It’s worth trialling a strictly gluten free diet to see if it helps symptoms.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients with Hashimoto’s never have high thyroid antibodies

Ever had ultrasound scan of thyroid

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

 

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies 

 paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin at least annually

Ever had coeliac blood test

If not …..get tested BEFORE considering 3-6 months trial on strictly gluten free diet

This rash ….suggests autoimmune disease

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...