Blood test results

[PizzaPerson]

I have felt very tired, have a sore throat, sinus pain (diffuse pressure) and headhaches since June (with fatigue) - I struggled to go to work some days.

I have hypothyroidism for the past 27 years, with few symptoms.

My TSH is normally 1 but end of `june it was 5.36. My GP increase my Levothyroxine from 0.75 to 1. I saw a private endocrinologist, had various blood tests (I have family history of thryoid cancer on my dad's side), and a Utra sound scan. My Thyroid looked 'normal" on the scan, I had a slightly enlarged lymph node (near thyroid) and the lymph node's biospy came back normal). Blood tests showed that I have Hashimoto.

Since then, I have continued to have the sore throat, sinus, headaches. and fatigue. One of my tonsils is a bit swollen. I had an online consultation with a GP who said it might be chronic tonsilitis, and advised I see a doctor to have in checked which I will do ASAP.

I had new tests on 8 August:

Vit D: 51, range is 25-120 (insufficient 25-50). I am taking a Vit D complement (1000 since July)

B12: 685 pg/ml (range 197-771) - I took a B12 supplement but stopped 2 months ago

Serum Folate: 10.2 (range; 2.90-26.80)

TSH: 0.89 (range 0.27 - 4.20)

Serum free T4: 17.1 (range 12.00-22.00)

Serum free T3: 4.2 (range 4.00-6.80)

Serum alkaline phosphatase 37 (range 35-104)

Serum albumin 45 (34.00 - 50)

Serum calcium 2.31 (2.20 - 2.60)

Serum adjusted calcium conc 2.32 (2.20 - 2.60mmol)

Serum inorganic phosphate 0.98 (0.87 - 1.45)

I am going to see an ENT asap as I am concerned about the sore throat.

I find that my Free T3 is low which may explain the fatigue and other symptoms, maybe. My GP says that my blood test are "normal" and the thyroid should not be the cause of my symptoms.

Any thoughts?

[Lalatoot]

What was your ft4 when you were feeling ok? And your ft3?

[PizzaPerson in reply to Lalatoot]

Thanks for asking, @Laltoot,

In the past, when I felt OK, my FT4 was around 16-17 and my TSH close to 1.

This is my first free T3 blood test, so unfortunately, I have nothing to compare it to.

[Lalatoot in reply to PizzaPerson]

So you needed an increase in levo 8 weeks or so ago to bring your ft4 back to the level you usually feel ok at. Early days maybe for the knock on effects of the increase to fully work themselves out. Maybe you need to sit it out a few more weeks to see if things improve.

[greygoose]

When a doctor says 'normal', he doesn't actually mean 'normal' at all. All he means is that the result is somewhere within the range. Well, you don't need to spend 7 years in med school to see that your results are in-range. But, that doesn't make them right - either for you as an individual or for anyone in general. Most hypos would find that FT3 too low. A euthyroid FT3 - i.e. with someone who has no thyroid problems - would be around mid-range. But, hypos usually need it higher than that to feel well. But, doctors are so poorly educated in thyroid - and in interpreting blood test results, come to that - that they have no idea about any of that. If a result is within the range it has to be fine, as far as they're concerned!

Of course, we're all different - and the 'ranges' (or reference interval, as it's more correctly called) are far too wide - so we all need our FT3 at different levels. But, I doubt that FT3 result would be good for any hypo. And could very well be the cause of your fatigue - plus the fact that you possibly have something else going on, too. Never believe a doctor when he says that your symptoms have 'nothing to do with thyroid'. He wouldn't know a hypo symptom if it got up and bit him!

[PizzaPerson]

greygoose thanks for your comments. All the best!

[greygoose in reply to PizzaPerson]

You're welcome.

[PizzaPerson]

Hi all, I found this article from the Australian Thyroid Foundation that indicates "best results" for TSH, FT4 and FT3 (see table): thyroidfoundation.org.au/Do... and gives some

Quote from this: "It is not the fact that your Thyroid Pathology results sit in the normal reference range, but where in the normal range your results sits! Please refer to the Thyroid Jigsaw, above.

Please Note: Reference ranges for children and pregnant women may vary from the normal adult reference range. Laboratory reference ranges can also vary. Always use the reference range as your guide in regard to the ATF recommendations for your best result and consult your thyroid treating doctor."