blood test result: I had a text to make appt with... - Thyroid UK

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blood test result

sidneymark70 profile image
13 Replies

I had a text to make appt with my GP after full blood count has been done. Receptionist gave me one piece of paper (will ask for more when I see the doctor)

Serum TSH level (XaELV). Range 0.3 - 5.0

Result 2.41 mU/L

Serum free TSH level (XaERr) Result: Above Range 20.3 pmo/L (Range 7.9 - 16.0) Above high reference limit

Hope to see GP Monday

In the meantime is this bad please. I’m unbelievably tired, anxious and heart pounding

Thank you Sheila

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sidneymark70
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helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator

I think there is something wrong!

Fairly sure XaERr is Serum Free T4 level. :-)

Superficially looks like TSH showing under-dosed/hypo - with FT4 showing over-dosed.

Is that the sum total of the testing?

sidneymark70 profile image
sidneymark70 in reply tohelvella

Yes.

Serum Free T4 level (XaERr) - Above range Result: 20.3 pmoI/L (7.9 - 16.0); Above high reference limit

This is on one page titled: Thyroid Function test (X77Wg)

And on Serum TSH level (XaELV) the result was 2.41 mU/L (0.3 - 5.0)

This was all I was given by the receptionist but I’m sure there’s more pages which I hope the Doctor will give me on Monday

HealthStarDust profile image
HealthStarDust

These tests don’t look right. Are sure these are right????

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Was test done as recommended

all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, 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)

ESSENTIAL to get TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 and vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin too

what vitamin supplements are you taking

TSH shows you very likely need dose increase in levothyroxine

sidneymark70 profile image
sidneymark70 in reply toSlowDragon

Yes I think you’re right. I expect I’ll be given a higher dose. I take vitamin D with K2

I’m afraid I couldn’t get a blood test until the afternoon and I had taken my thyroxine

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tosidneymark70

TSH would have been higher early morning….possibly over 3

Ft4 is falsely high as took levothyroxine before test

sidneymark70 profile image
sidneymark70 in reply toSlowDragon

I really find it almost impossible to understand all this medical information. I don’t understand why you say they don’t make sense. So because my FT4 is falsely high I suppose I’ll be falsely medicated by my GP. I know I won’t be allowed to do another test. My surgery is unbelievably overstretched with the number of patients they have. I know they don’t have enough knowledge of the thyroid so I know I won’t be treated as I’d like to be. I feel quite depressed about it. I just wish I could afford private tests and a private endocrinologist.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tosidneymark70

Your GP may want to reduce levothyroxine dose because Ft4 (levothyroxine) result is high

You may need to explain you took levothyroxine before test and therefore test result is inaccurate

Your low TSH shows you need dose INCREASE in levothyroxine

Request GP retest including vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

ALWAYS only test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test any last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

or if GP won’t test …..do so privately

Likely low Ft3 and/or low vitamin levels

Thousands of U.K. thyroid patients test privately

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, 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)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

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.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

See detailed reply by SeasideSusie

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

examples of private test results

Medichecks

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

blue horizon

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

HealthStarDust profile image
HealthStarDust in reply tosidneymark70

That’s why the results make little sense. This test needs repeating as per protocol described above.

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie

Hello Sidneymark :

Once on T4 thyroid hormone replacement we generally feel best when the TSH is under 2 likely under 1 and towards the bottom end of the range -

and just explain that you took your dose before the blood draw and that should explain away your false high T4 reading and because you are still symptomatic a dose increase in Levothyroxine the next step.

If you could get your core strength vitamins and minerals run that would be useful as no thyroid hormone replacement works well until ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained at optimal levels.

I now aim for a ferritin at around 100 - folate around 20-active B12 75 ++ ( serum B12 500++ ) and vitamin D at around 100:

sidneymark70 profile image
sidneymark70

Thank you everyone for your replies. I envy you all for having so much understanding of what seems (to me) such a complicated illness.

HealthStarDust profile image
HealthStarDust in reply tosidneymark70

Oh no! I do not fall into that camp of forumites. I’ve been learning as I go too, from the forum to reading outwith it.

We’ve all got to do it to survive what is a global disgrace in diagnosing and treating thyroid diseases.

Start by reading the news feed everyday. That helps a lot! Ask a lot of questions! These lot are wonderful at answering them. Use the search facility, although it isn’t the greatest. If you have an audio app, I like listening to podcasts on hypothyroidism.

And, you too will be able to pass on the knowledge you’ve learned to others who desperately need it.

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie in reply tosidneymark70

No worries -

I knew nothing when I fell in this forum researching low ferritin some 6/7 years ago :

I presume the message was for me - we can all read all you write but if wanting to reply to someone in particular you need to make sure you reply in the reply box within their message as then they get notified there is a message for them.

We generally try and answers questions as fully as possible within the 24 hours of posting - and you can see all that you have ever written and all your replies by pressing the Profile icon above to right if you get a bit lost as the forum gets very busy.

If you wish to read anybody else's thyroid journey simply press the icon alongside their name and that shoud take you to their Profile page and all they have ever written on this patient to patient forum.

You can also ' edit ' your post, once posted, I'm dyslexic and do this often - simply press the More button within the post you are wanting to correct.

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