Thyroid test results help needed please :)

[Beansontoast75]

Hi there, please can someone help me understand the thyroid and antibodies tests. There was no notes regarding this from the doctors comments - private tests done through Blue Horizon. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Welcome to the forum

Are you wondering if you’re hypothyroid……or already diagnosed and taking replacement thyroid hormones

What symptoms do you have, if any

Was test done early morning, ideally around 9am

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Is BH sending new kit for ferritin and folate to be retested

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Welcome to the group. If you could complete your profile it helps members understand your thyroid journey so far and offer recommendations better. Click on your image icon to start.

In order to interpret your results we do need a few details.

What time of day was this test taken?

Are you looking for a diagnosis or already diagnosed and on treatment?

What treatment are you on?

Did you do the test as per the protocol recommended here? Recommended blood test protocol: Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, last levo dose 24hrs before the blood draw, last T3 dose 8-12 hours before blood draw & no biotin containing supplements for 3-7 days (Biotin can interfere with thyroid blood results as it is used in the testing process)? Testing like this gives consistency in your results and will show stable blood levels of hormone and highest TSH which varies throughout the day. Taking Levo/T3 just prior to blood draw can show a falsely elevated result and your GP/Endo might change your dose incorrectly as a result.

In this test your antibodies were both negative. They do fluctuate though so worth retesting at a later date. A percentage of Hashimoto's people are seronegative - never have positive antibodies.

[Beansontoast75 in reply to GlowCoach]

Thank you for replying so soon! I’m new to this and not even sure I’m in the right place but am very grateful for any advice. My symptoms include exhaustion, brain fog, food intolerances, lumpy tongue, outer eyebrows not growing….. all a bit weird! I have watched several TikTok videos about Hashimotos and wondered if this might be what’s wrong. I’m also a year into HRT - I’m 48.

I looked on Thyroid UK for specific blood tests recommendations and found Blue Horizon. I’m not surprised to see B12 low as this is common in my family. I used to have regular B12 injections but changed doctor when I moved and they said I didn’t need them (after testing 3 years ago) The iron and ferritin are typically low in previous tests for me too.

I obviously will get those levels checked and supplement etc. I will be asking for B12 injections too. My curiosity was the strange tongue and eyebrow hair missing. My hair is slightly thinning around my forehead too. These led me to Hashimotos but the tests are showing not. I really don’t understand the numbers of the antibodies - hence posting here.

I did the test at 9:45am - the recommended time was between 8-10am.

Hope this answers some of the questions. Thank you for helping

[Beansontoast75 in reply to Beansontoast75]

oh and IBS symptoms too! All the fun here!! 🤣

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Beansontoast75]

Low B12

What’s your diet like

Vegetarian or Vegan?

GP will most likely just look at B12 and say it’s within range

You can start supplementing B12 now

But don’t start vitamin B complex until tested folate levels

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

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Beansontoast75]

My hair is slightly thinning around my forehead too. These led me to Hashimotos but the tests are showing not.

Hair loss often linked to low iron/ferritin

Antibodies appear negative for Hashimoto’s

However 20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

IBS

Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue.

Request coeliac blood test via GP BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

Or buy test online

[Beansontoast75 in reply to SlowDragon]

This is amazing - thank you so much! Lots of reading to do! I’m not taking any supplements at the moment and I’ve just started to avoid gluten and dairy as I need to see if that helps at all. My diet isn’t great but I’m working on it… so busy and never really plan what I’m eating. Im just fed up of feeling rubbish. I will take all of your advice on board. Thanks so much

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Beansontoast75]

likely your iron/ferritin may be low

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

dailyiron.net

Come back with new post once you get ferritin result

If ferritin under 40 get full iron panel test