My Blood Test Yesterday - mentions Abnormal, Co... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

140,948 members166,081 posts

My Blood Test Yesterday - mentions Abnormal, Communicate Patient!

Ellie-Louise profile image
26 Replies

Feels scary, what do you think can be wrong?

(Abnormal. Communicate Patient).

TSH - 0.03 mu/L [0.35 - 4.94] below low ref limit.

FT4 - 20.1 pmol/L [9.0 - 19.0 ] above high ref limit.

FT3 - 4.89 pmol/L [ 2.6 - 5.7]

Vit D - 161.0 nmol/L [50.0 - 350.0] please note.

(Satisfactory. No further action).

Ferritin - 195 ug/L [15.0 - 200.0]

Folate - 9.4 ug/L [3.0 - 20.0]

Vit B12 - 675 ng/L [180.0 - 640.0] above high ref limit.

I also had a full blood count that seems to flag something wrong with my liver. That noted that I need to speak to doctor!

I am getting worried now.

Any help you can offer may put my mind at rest, I had these tests yesterday at 08:00 and have just checked them out on System Online test results.

Thank you.

Written by
Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
26 Replies

It looks like GP is responding to flag on low TSH and slightly raised FT4. I do hope that they consider all the possibilities for these results and don’t just decrease your Levothyroxine.

Do you take T3 too?

Ferritin - 195 ug/L [15.0 - 200.0

Ferritin result is very high but because it’s ‘in range’ it hasn’t been picked up by the computer flagging system. Nor will it be picked up by GP in all probability. This is what really annoys me about ‘ranges’. Bring back the days when GPs interpreted results themselves, using symptomology and context to reach conclusions.

Ferritin can indicate high levels of inflammation or, occasionally, liver disease.

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply to

No only 100 Levo.

Last September when I had the last blood test one of the doctors rang and told me I was on too high a dose and to drop it to 75 from the 100 I was on. Because he wouldn’t listen to me I dropped it and over the next months up to Christmas’22 I felt absolutely lousy, couldn’t stay awake etc. Then the night before Christmas Eve one of my cats died, she had developed kidney failure over that last week which led to numerous vet/hospital visits.

Consequently I decided that I had had enough and raised my Levo back up to 100mcg again. It put me back to feeling normal once more. So I told another doctor what I had done and he was ok with it but told me to get another test after 8 weeks. I tried to, but there was such a wait (weeks) at the surgery that it went out of my mind after that.

It was only after a really bad hemourage (sp) in my eye that made me call the ophthalmologist who in turn told me to see the doctor for a blood test, and that doctor also arranged my latest thyroid blood test.

in reply toEllie-Louise

With a high FT4 and a fairly low FT3 perhaps your doctor should be considering that you’re not converting well from T4 to FT3.

Inflammation is a big factor in poor conversion.

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply to

I know my knee must be inflamed, I smashed the side of it into some hard furniture when I swivelled my chair back to my pc a couple of years ago. I had an X-ray that showed nothing bone wise, but it has been painful every day since. I am just putting up with it. Plus my digestive system isn’t top notch either which is a worry.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

was test done as recommended

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

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

Looking at your helpful profile…..are you still taking 100mcg levothyroxine daily

Which brand of levothyroxine

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toSlowDragon

Yes, Accord Levo, Solar B12 and Thorne Basic B. I do take D3 and it’s helpers but only when I think about it which isn’t very often.

I’m wondering if I’m taking too much B12? My husband has just been looking up info on B12 and recommended dosage.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toEllie-Louise

You don’t need separate B12 and vitamin B complex

As your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you can stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 2-3 per week

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)

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toSlowDragon

I actually stopped my B complex for just over the 7 days, but continued the B12.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toEllie-Louise

And that’s reflected in the low Folate result

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Nothing to worry about as far as thyroid goes. A suppressed TSH is often unavoidable, and isn't a problem in itself. The high FT4 is best avoided if possible, but you are a poor converter, so you appear to need it that high. T4 is basically a storage hormone that doesn't do much until it is converted into T3. Your FT3 is well within range, so you're not over-medicated.

Don't know about liver results because you haven't posted them. :)

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply togreygoose

Would you know about those results if I posted them for you?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toEllie-Louise

Not much, no, but if they're only slightly out of range, you GP is going to say it's nothing to worry about, anyway. That's what was said to me.

But, I'm not the only one reading posts. Bet there are plenty of people on here that know about liver testing. It's not uncommon to have liver problems when you're hypo.

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise

I photographed the page but it doesn’t seem to want to go. Does a picture take long to load? It doesn’t look as if anything is uploading.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toEllie-Louise

Add photo in a reply

Click on the rectangle with mountain in to add image

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toSlowDragon

That’s what I did, twice and then once again on a different browser but although it shows up it isn’t loading the picture. I waited a while but nothing happens, then a message pops up with ‘error’ and tells me to refresh the page. I have no problem posting pictures on my knitting forum. Same method btw.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toEllie-Louise

Can you write out the actual results and ranges

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toSlowDragon

Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase level 66 iu/L [0.0 - 38.0]. Above high ref limit.

Liver Function Tests:

Serum total protein level 70 g/L 60.0 - 80.0]

Serum albumin level 40 g/L [35.0 - 50.0]

Serum total bilirubin level 6 umol/L [2.0 - 21.0]

Serum alkaline phosphatase level 118 u/L [20.0 - 150.0]

Serum globulin level 30 g/L [20.0 - 35.0]

Serum alanine aminotransferase level 20 u/L [5.0 - 40.0]

Serum urea level 3.5 mmol/L [2.5 - 7.8]

Actually while I was typing all this out, the surgery rang me. The doctor is going to ring me about this result on the 19th. October. It was also mentioned that the doc will probably want to reduce my Levo!

I refused to consider doing that and told them I was staying on the 100. I did explain why and it was accepted for the time being on condition that when I get my call it will be discussed. Details of the phone call just now is going to be passed along to the doctor anyway.

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toSlowDragon

A few days ago I received the letter confirming what the call from the surgery about the doctor wanting to call me on the 19th.October, in it she says there is nothing to worry about.

This morning I received another letter telling me that in one of the tests it shows my blood sugar is high and that I’m pre-diabetic! Along with that was information about what to eat and what not to eat, exercise etc.

Well, from reading through that lot I already am eating the right things, the only thing I don’t do is loads of exercise. My arthritic big toe puts paid to long walks that we used to do. I can walk round the supermarket occasionally or a short walk but I do suffer after getting back and taking my shoes off. (Still waiting to hear back for the treatment promised by consultant last December, so have given up on that).

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toEllie-Louise

You might get better conversion rate of Ft4 to Ft3 if you’re Ft4 was slightly lower

Perhaps agree to small dose reduction to 87.5mcg 4 days week and 100mcg 3 days week

Retest in 6-8 weeks

Suggest you reduce and slowly stop separate B12

Just take daily vitamin B complex. But stop this week before test, taking just folate supplement instead

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you, I have stopped the B12 already, it was when you mentioned it. So I have passed the bottle on to my husband who needed to order more for himself anyway.

I looked up blood sugar today and pomegranate juice is recommended to reduce it. I have ordered some in the shopping. 🙂

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toEllie-Louise

I don’t care for pomegranate juice, it’s like drinking thick dark blood. Uggh!

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toSlowDragon

Hi, can I just ask you about the dose you suggested please?

I worked it out just now and 87.5 x 4 = 350 plus the 100 x 3 which all comes to 650 per the week, which is only 50 less than I am taking now.

So would it make any difference if I took 100 x 6 days and only 50 on the 7th day?

It would be much easier than trying to chop a 50 into quarters. Do you see what I mean?

Thanks so much SlowDragon.

Edit: maybe it won’t matter too much because I do on rare occasions forget to take my Levo anyway.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toEllie-Louise

So would it make any difference if I took 100 x 6 days and only 50 on the 7th day?

It would probably be fine

Some people find it better to stick to roughly same dose every day

Edit: maybe it won’t matter too much because I do on rare occasions forget to take my Levo anyway.

That’s really not a good idea….can mess with TSH

Get weekly pill dispenser so you can see immediately if forgot to take

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise in reply toSlowDragon

I had a lovely chat with the doctor yesterday, she appears to be on the same page as we are regarding thyroid. She is also aware of thyroidUK. I’d never seen this one before even though she is down as my doctor in the practice.

We discussed my T4 issue and what to do, she never once mentioned my low TSH which surprised me. In the end I told her that I would try the new dose to bring my T4 down a bit and she agreed, wrote it on my files and told me to get another test in 6-8 weeks. I said I’d do it in 8 weeks and she said ok.

She was really nice. I felt so relieved. 😁

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toEllie-Louise

Brilliant 👏👏👏👏

Ellie-Louise profile image
Ellie-Louise

Thank you, I appreciate that. I hope you had a good day.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Blood test results

Hi all Having been under the GPs radar for the last 18months due to possible thyroid/peri menopause...
Happygirly profile image

Blood test results for Erfa medication, do I need to increase or decrease dosage?

Hi I wonder if there is someone that would very kindly advise me about by blood results on this...
Scout1 profile image

My latest thyroid test results

Hi Slow Dragon, Here are my test results from 08.35 yesterday, somewhat scanty as usual for the...

Some blood test results

Good afternoon Could I have someones Opinion on my test results please all were taken as a...
ENGLISHTEA profile image

Understanding blood test results

Hi all. After 15 years on levo and constantly suffering from fatigue etc I have pretty much...
heatherj23 profile image

Moderation team

See all
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.