Test Results: I had tests done at Monitor my... - Thyroid UK

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Test Results

Ireness profile image
57 Replies

I had tests done at Monitor my Health which have come back without ranges on so I’ve had to guess. I did the tests as you’ve advised in the past.

So:

TSH 0.01

FT4 12.2

FT3 5.0

My endo is aware of the low TSH.

I’ve been feeling dreadful for a while now and seeing the doctor tomorrow about recurrent chest infections and also have heart problems.

I was just wondering if a low FT4 can cause such fatigue if the FT3 is normal?

I’m on Levothyroxine and Liothyronine as I’m a poor converter.

Thanks

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Ireness
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greygoose profile image
greygoose

There have to be ranges. Isn't Monitor My Health done with little graphs? The ranges are on the graphs.

It could be low FT4 causing your symptoms, but I'm guessing your FT3 is low-ish, too. 'Normal' is not a number, it's how you feel. So if you still don't feel good, it's probably because your FT3 is too low for you.

Did you not get your nutrients tested: vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin? If any of them are sub-optimal that can cause fatigue, too.

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply togreygoose

Many thanks for replying.

These are the results I got via email. There’s only folate that didn’t get tested along with a couple of iron ones.

I feel as though I’ve gone back to a zombie like state which is how I was before I got medication for my thyroid.

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cec57 profile image
cec57 in reply toIreness

Hi just looking at your results and I think your B12 levels are very low at 85. I think the range is around 160 up-to 1000 where 160 is still considered quite low. . This might be why you feel dreadful. If you are vegetarian or vegan you might need some tablets but if you are a meat eater you might not be able to absorb B12 and need injections. If you take a folic acid/folate supplement make sure you tell your doctor as it can cause issues

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador in reply tocec57

I believe MMH do Active B12 so 85 is probably around mid range, I agree it looks bad if you use the total range that GP's use 🤗🤗

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply tocec57

Many thanks for replying.

This is all the information I got (below) with the results so I thought 85 was okay as it says below 38 is a deficiency. I haven’t been taking folate as I ran out of it. What issues can it cause?

‘Cut-off values for tests:

Haemoglobin: below 120 g/L for females and below 130 g/L for males indicates anaemia Ferritin: below 15 ug/L suggests iron deficiency

Transferrin Saturation: below 16% suggests iron deficiency

Folate: 3 ug/L or below suggests folate deficiency

Active vitamin B12: below 38 pmol/L suggests vitamin B12 deficiency

Iron and Transferrin are used to calculate transferrin saturation’

BenLabrador profile image
BenLabrador

Monitor My Health’s results display differently depending on the device you use to view them. I need to see them on my laptop.

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toBenLabrador

Ah okay - thanks. I haven’t got a laptop so just use my phone

QUE6T-33 profile image
QUE6T-33 in reply toIreness

Does anyone know if Moniter My Health send results over PDF format please

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

MMH ranges are

Ft4 12-22

Ft3 3.1-6.8

Was test done 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)

On T3 - day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test

How much levothyroxine are you taking

How much T3. Do you normally split your dose

do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

And same brand T3

FT4: 12.2 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 2.00% through range

FT3: 5 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 better at 51.35% through range

Many members find they need BOTH Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

So push for dose increase in levothyroxine as next step

Was dose levothyroxine reduced when T3 added. If yes, by how much?

What vitamin supplements are you taking

When were vitamin levels last tested

Do you have Hashimoto’s ? Autoimmune thyroid disease

Presumably yes, as looking at recent posts you also have Mitral Valve Prolapse (also considered autoimmune)

Assuming you have Hashimoto’s

Are you on gluten free/dairy free diet

If not get coeliac blood test before trialing gluten free diet

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks for replying. I did the test at 7.30am. My last split dose of T3 was at 8pm the night before and levo 24 hrs before.

I’m taking 75mcg Levothyroxine and 20mcg Liothyronine. I felt pretty good on that for a while but for the last few months have quickly gone downhill. I get the same brand of Liothyronine but sometimes the brand of levo changes.

I’m taking Vit D, Magnesium Taurate, Selenium, Multivitamin, Omega 3 and one called Healthy Lungs which is a Chinese supplement.

I was supposed to have folate checked as part of the test but some of them weren’t done.

I have got Hashimotos and been following a gluten free diet. I do have the occasional relapse which I know I shouldn’t.

Would you suggest I ask for a 25mcg increase in levo or an increase in Liothyronine?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toIreness

Definitely increase in levothyroxine

What multivitamin.

Multivitamins never recommended on here

Not taking a daily vitamin B complex?

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toSlowDragon

It’s an ‘ethical nutrition’ multivitamin.

I ran out of B complex. It’s affording all these supplements that’s a problem.

The doctor is going to do more blood tests then see about an increase. It’ll probably be another battle.

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TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador in reply toIreness

This has 200ug of Iodine which won't be doing you any good 😕

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toTiggerMe

Oh crikey I thought I’d found a good one that would cover most things.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toIreness

I very much understand the cost of supplements! Some are outrageously priced.

However, that specific product does not appear to state which form of B6 it includes.

helvella - Vitamers of Vitamin B6

Some time ago, I mentioned that the form in which we take vitamin B6 is important. I think I linked to this paper:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply tohelvella

It says it’s Pyridoxal-5-phosphate whatever that is.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toIreness

That's good! I tried to find it but my eyes didn't locate that!

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply tohelvella

Is that a good one? It says they use methylated vitamins. Although I guess if the iodine isn’t good for me it’s not worth taking anyway.

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toIreness

Yes - it is the other forms that are questionable.

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply tohelvella

Thanks

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply tohelvella

The Healthy Lungs one was nearly £50. I’ve had so many chest infections this past year and was hoping they’d help. I’ve got to see a chest specialist now. Altogether I’ve had 46 days worth of antibiotics which is dreadful.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toIreness

What’s in the Healthy lungs supplement?

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toSlowDragon

I haven’t got a clue about these but just hoping they’ll help.

.
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toIreness

No idea….. right mix of different herbs

Have you noticed any difference taking it

Personally I wouldn’t take it as it contains licorice

I had lengthy chest infection this January. It took 3 different courses of antibiotics to finally get rid of it

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toSlowDragon

I’ve only been taking it for a week but I haven’t noticed a difference. I can’t get rid of this infection. I’ve had 46 days of antibiotics since it started and 10 days of that was a double dose. I’m being referred to a chest specialist now.

I don’t think my thyroid or my heart helps. I think my heart is getting worse and affecting my lungs but they won’t see me until next August. Maybe if the chest specialist comes to that conclusion they’ll see me earlier but they all seem to focus on one part of the body and not the whole self.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toIreness

Chest infection Nurse said to me ….as I am on Levo, dose antibiotics often takes longer so the initial 10 days dose didn’t do the trick

The fact you are not on high enough dose levothyroxine won’t be helping

Are you taking a probiotic

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toSlowDragon

I only got 5 day’s of antibiotics the first time. I said it wouldn’t be enough and it came back like a raging bull. The next time I got 10 days: the next time a double dose of 10 days then after the second x ray showing possible infection, pericardial fat pad and course lung markings I got another 10 days. Last time I got another 10 days of a different one.

I’ve got a problem with mould where I live and I think that’s causing it all.

Bearo profile image
Bearo in reply toIreness

The government is supposed to be cracking down on mould in rental properties. If you are housing association they are supposed to do something about mould. Private landlords should act, too. Of course if it’s your property it’s up to you to get it sorted.

Have you reported the mould, in writing/email supported by photographs?

See Citizens Advice or local housing action group to see if you can get this sorted. Failing that contact the local council and your MP.

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toBearo

I own the property but I think the problem is coming from outside which the management company are responsible for. They were reluctant to get anyone to inspect the building but months ago they agreed they would but nothing has happened.

I’ve got a dehumidifier on, windows open and spray every day with a mould eliminator and sanitiser. I just can’t keep on top of it.

Bearo profile image
Bearo in reply toIreness

Actually I have a similar problem. The front door and windows were open most of the summer but there’s light blue mildew everywhere!

Maybe my house is too cluttered for decent air circulation! Also the dehumidifier broke….awaiting new one.

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toBearo

I’ve never known anything like it. Looking at all the other flats I can see their windows covered in condensation so I’m pretty sure it’s a building issue.

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toSlowDragon

I’m not taking a probiotic.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toIreness

you really don’t want anything with iodine in it

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toIreness

Also your ferritin is already well over 150, so you don’t need any extra iron

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks. That’s actually come down from what it was.

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador

Monitor my health ranges...

TSH 0.01 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.2) -6.6%

Free T4 (fT4) 12.2 pmol/L (12 - 22) 2.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 5 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 51.4%

T4:T3 Ratio 2.440 

Not surprised you feel awful certainly need an increase or two in Levo to start with 🤗 and like GG says get all your other levels checked

What doses are you on currently?

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toTiggerMe

Many thanks for replying.

I’m on 75mcg Levothyroxine and 20mcg Liothyronine.

I’m hoping my Dr will increase it today but she usually goes on what my endo says. My original endo wanted to reduce my meds so my GP contacted another one at a different hospital. She did a Dexa bone scan and said it was okay for me to stay on what I was on and it’d be monitored.

QUE6T-33 profile image
QUE6T-33 in reply toIreness

I was thinking about ordering blood test from Monitor my Health, but surprised to read above that they hadn’t included the reference ranges on Ireness’s results. Was that an error on their part or don’t they include ranges generally? Surprised if they don’t.

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply toQUE6T-33

I think its the way that results are presented in that they arent very clear.

QUE6T-33 profile image
QUE6T-33 in reply toJaydee1507

Ah, ok. Do results come with graph & doctors comments like Medichecks?

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply toQUE6T-33

The doctors comments aren't worth having if you are posting results here. They also take an extra few days.

There is a graph yes.

QUE6T-33 profile image
QUE6T-33 in reply toJaydee1507

Thanks Jaydee - only interested in the typed results with range & guessing as same Lab as NHS those results should be clear ?

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply toQUE6T-33

Many members here use MMH with no issues at all. The results will be clear. See post lower down that Eeyore100 has posted.

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply toQUE6T-33

I've used MMH for a long time now. It's excellent. Fast and reliable and the results come through as a graph with previous tests listed on it so you can see how you are doing compared to the last few tests you did. The ranges are clearly available on the results.

I have never seen MMH results like those above. That's a simplified version for mobile phone viewing and might even be android specific. Just look on a tablet or laptop or desktop and you will have the full results and ranges visible.

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toFancyPants54

Thanks. I haven’t got a laptop. I’ve only got my mobile phone.

Bearo profile image
Bearo in reply toIreness

Try local library to see results on computer screen.

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toBearo

Good idea - thanks

QUE6T-33 profile image
QUE6T-33 in reply toJaydee1507

Just read Trustpilot recent reviews on MMH. Complaints about the result reporting! That the header follows you down page obscuring previous results. Difficulty printing out clearly so that you can have a paper copy. The colours used on report, light pink & green as I recall, make it less than clear. And this seems to have been the case since 2020. MMH say they are working on it, but it hadn’t yet improved. And it sounds as though you can’t contact them by phone.Have any of you found the same issues? Grateful to hear from you if you have.

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply toQUE6T-33

Its a cheap, accurate, respected test. Quite a few organisations are not providing phone support to keep costs down.

If you have specific issues around MMH testing then do start your own post rather than piggy backing this members thread.

Ireness profile image
Ireness in reply toQUE6T-33

I found them easy and quick to respond by email. I didn’t try phoning them. They offered a partial refund for being unable to get results for some of the tests.

I was disappointed not getting those results though as it’s an extra cost doing them again.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toQUE6T-33

QUE6T-33,

You've commented and queried MMH several times recently, on other people's posts. It's beginning to look as if you are deliberatley trying to berate them in public.

MMH are more affordable and very useful for many of us. But If you're unhappy with this test provider, then it's quite simple, just don't use them.

QUE6T-33 profile image
QUE6T-33 in reply toRedApple

Hi Redapple, “deliberately trying to berate them in public” ? I’ve never used MMMH, just querying some reviews I’d read. I’m a long time user of this forum. Having offered advice over the years whenever I felt able. I think your comment is to put it mildly harsh. I am fully aware that MMMH are offering a great service otherwise I wouldn’t be considering using them, but after reading reviews (outside of this forum) I wanted to check with those who have used their service on this website. As I trust their feedback. As for “piggy backing” on this post, just seemed logical in a discussion going on between those who had or were using MMMH, to ask what I thought was a simple question. A number of replies, it didn’t turn out to be. There have been discussions in the past on TUK about other labs frequently used too, We can learn from others experiences. That’s the point of a community forum. I have emailed MMMH, although I would have rather not bothered them.

RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator in reply toQUE6T-33

QUE6T-33 ' There have been discussions in the past on TUK about other labs frequently used too, We can learn from others experiences. That’s the point of a community forum.

Discussing test labs on forum is of course absolutely fine. I have not suggested otherwise. But the OPs post was not about the lab, but asking for help with her test results in relation to how she was feeling.

We know that it happens a lot, and is a natural result of discussion, but this post has been running for three days, and many of the comments are not helpful to the OP.

As advised by   Jaydee1507 if you want to know about the experiences of others that have used the lab, it's much fairer if you start a new post of your own.

Other members will benefit more from information shared in a dedicated post, than snippets of info interspersed amongst other things on someone else's post.

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador in reply toQUE6T-33

They are clear if you view on a laptop, they give ranges and also show on a graph logging previous results... hard to get a decent screenshot.. they won't comment if you are on treatment

What does this result mean?

16/10/2023

Your result is 16.8

FT4 levels normal (normal range 12 - 22 pmol/L)

MMH
QUE6T-33 profile image
QUE6T-33 in reply toTiggerMe

Great - thanks for that Eeyore! Just to be clear, do they report results in numbers plus range in numbers? As Doctor only accepts the traditional style of reporting - not graphs.

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMeAmbassador in reply toQUE6T-33

The writing in bold above is how it appears under each graph… don’t know if there is a printable view? Sorry out walking

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply toQUE6T-33

Please start new posts for new subjects.

There are now around 16 replies off on a tangent (at best) from the original post.

This is unfair on the Original Poster.

There is now a post about viewing MMH results without the graphs.

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