Latest results and still feel horrific. - Thyroid UK

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Latest results and still feel horrific.

RLM84 profile image
21 Replies

Finally got a copy of my latest results, took yesterday 24/10.

I still feel tired, body aches, feel very weak and have to sit down all the time.

They have normal

Written next to them, but not sure where to go with these now, so sick of feeling rubbish.

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RLM84 profile image
RLM84
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21 Replies
J972 profile image
J972

Hello, can I suggest that you type out the results in a reply to yourself (including ranges), it’s difficult to make out the characters on the print out 🙏

RLM84 profile image
RLM84 in reply toJ972

TSH LEVEL - 0.39 (range 0.30-4.20)

T4 - 23.2 (range 9.0-19.0)

T3 3.9 (range 3- 5.4

B12 normal

Ferritin normal

Folate normal

Vitamin D normal

RLM84 profile image
RLM84 in reply toRLM84

TSH LEVEL - 0.39 (range 0.30-4.20)

T4 - 23.2 (range 9.0-19.0)

T3 3.9 (range 3- 5.4)

B12 normal

Ferritin normal

Folate normal

Vitamin D normal

WitchingHour2point0 profile image
WitchingHour2point0 in reply toRLM84

Can you type out the actual results and ranges, please?

Normal isn't optimal.

RLM84 profile image
RLM84 in reply toWitchingHour2point0

Here are my actual sand the ranges;

B12- 502 (range 180-900

Ferritin - 92.4 (range 30-336)

Folate - 5.6 (range 3.0-20.0)

Vitamin D - 123 (range 50-250)

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Not surprised you still feel terrible. You FT3 is scraping along the bottom of the range, but just inside, so that's why they say it's 'normal'. It isn't 'normal' at all!

Your FT4 is well over-range, which isn't 'normal' either! You are a poor converter.

Can't quite make out the TSH, is it 3.39?

RLM84 profile image
RLM84 in reply togreygoose

My TSH is 0.39 (range 0.30-4.20)

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toRLM84

OK, so that's not too high. But that is the least important number. The most important is the FT3, because that is the active hormone. :)

RLM84 profile image
RLM84 in reply togreygoose

Okay thanks. So any suggestions on how to move this forward as I feel so rubbish. Do I take this back to the GP?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toRLM84

Well, you could, but the odds are that he won't accept them, making some excuse like their laboratories are rubbish, or something - in general, they do not like patients doing private blood tests, for some weird reason.

What you really need is some T3 added to a reduced dose of levo. But your GP cannot authorise that - and probably wouldn't if he could. You need to be referred to an endo. One that is not anti-T3!

RLM84 profile image
RLM84 in reply togreygoose

What a nightmare this is! Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be a battle to get your results, appointments and meds! All at a time when you can’t lift your head off the pillow let alone fight for yourself. Thanks you for the advise,

I have a private scan booked on my neck as it hurts a lot next week. Will get my GP to do a referral to a private endo 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toRLM84

Yes, it is a nightmare. And I think some doctors take advantage of your weakened state to gaslight and bully us. They do not want to treat us, and that's the beginning and the end of it all.

Chose your endo carefully. They are not all sympathetic towards the need for T3.

RLM84 profile image
RLM84 in reply togreygoose

That’s great advice, thank you. I shall sit and stress about finding a decent one now that will actually help.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated 👍🏻

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply toRLM84

Well, you could write another post asking for recommendations in your area.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

was thyroid test done early morning, ideally before 9am, only drinking water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Which brand of levothyroxine are you taking

How long had you been on 100mcg when this test was done

Folate is too low

Can’t read ferritin…is it 52 or 82?

No vitamin D result visible

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

ESSENTIAL to get thyroid antibodies tested at least once for autoimmune thyroid disease

RLM84 profile image
RLM84 in reply toSlowDragon

It was done at 9.03am

The make of Levothyroxine is ‘accord’

I have been on 100mg for 6 weeks at this point.

My folate is 5.6 (range 3.0-20.0)

Ferritin is 92.4 (range 30-336)

Vitamin D 123 (range 50-250)

I’m

Currently not taking any vitamin supplements

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toRLM84

It was done at 9.03am

The make of Levothyroxine is ‘accord’

so was last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test ?

Vitamin D, ferritin are good

Folate needs improving

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

You need to improve low folate

Low folate

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

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....

Igennus B complex popular option too. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose

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...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Was last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test ?

How much levothyroxine are you taking and which brand

Depending on when last dose levothyroxine was ……if it was 24 Hours before test ……You may need to reduce levothyroxine a very little as Ft4 is over range

Ft3 is extremely low and that’s what’s making you feel so terrible

What’s vitamin D result?

Optimal vitamin D is at least over 80nmol and between 100-125nmol may be better

Ferritin at least over 70

Me1157 profile image
Me1157

I know how you feel and it sucks! I get similar issues when I'm hypo. Selenium, zinc, a good b complex, vitamin D, and B12 help me. What's normal is what's normal for you.

Your T3 is on the low side, remember this is very important to be higher and could be a reason for your symptoms. You might be a poor converter from T4 to T3 like me. Ask for a low dose of Citomel (t3) in addition to your levothyroxine, or amour thyroid might be better for you.

When you get the referral to the ENDO - check them out to see if they specialize in Thyroid or Diabetes. Endos can treat both but most specialize in diabetes. If they do, cancel and ask for a referral for an endo that specializes in thyroid. Stand your ground respectfully and they will hopefully accommodate your request.

You want one that's passionate about solving thyroid issues and not just looking at the TSH result. Otherwise, they might not be able to help you properly and think they know about your thyroid but don't know enough to treat you properly. They may tell you, you have fibro or chronic fatigue like they did me, which are both symptoms of being hypo. I also get high BP when I know I'm hypo, but they think I'm hyper based on my TSH being zero. It's been mostly zero for 40+ years since I was treated with Radioactive iodine.

Most NHS endos believe the TSH is the be-all and end-all. You know your body, be polite and persistent. We are more than our TSH levels.

When you take T3, your TSH will probably be much lower and that's okay as in my opinion, the T3 is the star player and captain of the team of t's.

I'm not a doctor and not qualified to give medical advice but after 45 years of dealing with hashimotos and reading all kinds of thyroid books. I can honestly say that when I've been in a thyroid fog, I can't do much of anything, let alone read books. So the advice and support from the knowledgeable members on here has been extremely helpful.

Trust your gut, you're not a basket case, and you know your own body. It's called medical practice because it's not perfect. Medicine is an art as well as a science, and there isn't just one type of thyroid medicine that helps all thyroid sufferers.

Alternatively, see a private one that specializes in thyroid issues and understands them, like I do. It's worth it to me so I can feel better.

I've been back on amour just over two months and have no aches and pains as of Tuesday. My left knee, both hips and lower back were bad. My TSH is zero again - woo-hoo and my T3 is climbing. Give me another couple of months on amour and I'll be back doing exercises 4 mornings a week! I'm so pleased to say, my energy is returning, and the brain fog has cleared. I can also walk upstairs again without my knee buckling on me.

I'm also gluten-free and don't eat anything with additives and preservatives. I find eating this way, helps me a lot too.

I wish you all the best in your thyroid recovery and take great care of yourself! If you haven't already signed this petition, please do so. Ask your friends, neighbors, and friends on social media to sign it too - we need more support for our thyroid issues in the UK. petition.parliament.uk/peti...

McPammy profile image
McPammy

Your T4 is far too high and T3 far too low. If you can you need to reduce T4 and combine with added T3. It could be tricky if you’re consulting with an NHS Endo though as they generally are reluctant to prescribe T3. You could try and push for this though. If not there are private Endocrinologists that could help you. I had to go private to finally get T3 which has been nothing short of a miracle for myself.

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