Blood test results help please

[Lottielou7]

Hello, I'm new to this forum so I apologise if this has all been asked before.

I have been being investigated for hypothyroidism by my GP - several blood tests over the past year have shown my T4 level to be lower than 12, so my GP referred to endocrinologist.

Endocrinologist ordered a fasting blood test which I had done this week, with the following results:

Serum LH level: 34.4 iu/L

Serum FSH level: 37.1 iu/L

Serum prolactin level: 407 mIU/L

Serum cortisol: 266 nmol/L

HIGH SENSITIVITY OESTRADIAL: 452 pmol/L

I have no clue what all this means, and am hoping someone can interpret this for me please?

Thanks in advance

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Approx how old are you?

These results should have ranges (figures in brackets after each result)

What time of day was test done

Can you add Thyroid and vitamin results too

Normally if Ft4 is low TSH will be high

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally 9am latest

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

Have you had all these tested yet?

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, only drink water between waking and test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

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...

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.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Lottielou7 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I've had many thyroid tests done over the course of the last year and every time FT4 was lower than 12 and TSH within normal range. Thus the referral to the endocrinologist and this next level testing which I believe is to rule out anything more serious underlying.

I'm 50 and this fasting blood test was done at about 9.30am.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lottielou7]

TSH within normal range.

where within range…..

Range is too wide

Graph showing median TSH in healthy population is 1-1.5

web.archive.org/web/2004060...

Next step is full thyroid including Ft3, thyroid antibodies and vitamin levels

Low Ft4 and Ft3 will result in low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH

many many patients have to get full thyroid and vitamin testing done privately to make progress if GP or endocrinologist won’t test

[Blondiejayjay]

those results look like menopause test results ask doctor to explain meaning

[Beads in reply to Blondiejayjay]

FSH, LH, cortisol, prolactin are all pituitary hormones, oestradiol is made in the ovaries and decreases after menopause. So they’re looking at the pituitary, central hypothyroidism, but checking to see if they need to use pre or post menopause levels for comparison. Or that’s how it looks to my non-medic brain.

We still can’t comment if we don’t know the ranges.

Normal oestradiol but lower others would suggest pre menopause but pituitary issues; lower everything would suggest post menopause. Beyond that, no idea. You need to chat with the endo, but don’t be fobbed off. The type of phrasing you need is ’so what IS wrong with me’, ‘so why are my T4 levels so low’, ‘why do I feel so ill all the time’.

[Lottielou7 in reply to Beads]

Thank you.

the only result that has a range next to it is the cortisol (normal range; 140-700) so that looks ok.

[Hidden in reply to Lottielou7]

Hi Lottielou7 , if that cortisol was taken at 9am then that is a very low cortisol result. You may need adrenal support to get the best out of your thyroid medication.

[Lottielou7 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. It was taken at 9.30am.

[Lottielou7]

Ok, I've just been to give blood and got sent away as iron levels too low 114g/l which gets me suspended from donating for a year and need to go back to GP

[TorcHouse in reply to Lottielou7]

And that should be a hellova wake-up, Lottie. You need your major vitamins tested pronto.

[Lottielou7 in reply to TorcHouse]

Thank you all.

My GP has prescribed iron tablets without seeing me, and the receptionist says my GP has also marked my test results 'Satisfactory'. As a result I've just ordered the Medichecks test that SlowDragon pointed me to.

I KNOW something is wrong with me and I will find out.

Thanks again

[Lottielou7]

Right, my Blue Horizon results are in:

What are my next options please? My GP has dismissed all my results as satisfactory.

Thyroid test results

[tattybogle in reply to Lottielou7]

tagging SlowDragon so she will see your latest results

[Lottielou7 in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you x

[Adlon57]

I am terminally ill, irreparable brain damage, from double epileptic seizures, medical services have agreed every six weeks I get a combination of blood tests to check my progress, PSA for PC, Liver, etc, have a DNR over me, agreed both sides easier for all concerned!