Please help me understand advanced thyroid test results

[Roo32]

I’m returning here after following advice to get my mum a full thyroid check via medichecks as her GP had dismissed her previously marginal results. She is switching to a new surgery and we are hoping she will be taken more seriously, following these additional test results.

I’m hoping someone can tell me if these results are significant enough to be causing her symptoms - weight loss with increased appetite, poor memory and concentration, anxiety, exhaustion.

It would also be amazing to hear from anyone who was able to get treatment for similar and hear how long it took to feel improved. She’s been suffering a long time now and I’m praying we can get her some real help with it swiftly now she is moving closer to me.

her results are:

TSH

0.117

mIU/L

FREE T3

4.4

pmol/L

FREE

THYROXINE

14.9

pmol/L

FOLATE -

SERUM

5

nmol/L

VITAMIN B12 -

ACTIVE

100

pmol/L

VITAMIN D

68.3

[TiggerMe]

I'm picking out very low folate (assuming the range is 3.89 - 19.45?) and Vit D could do with being 100-150 (range 50-200?)

Free T3 & 4 look ok quite low even though TSH is low in range 🤷‍♀️

TSH 0.117 mIU/L (0.27 - 4.2) -3.9%

Free T4 (fT4) 14.9 pmol/L (12 - 22) 29.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 4.4 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 35.1%

T4:T3 Ratio 3.386 

But you are thinking she is Hyperthyroid rather than Hypo?

Do you know where her iron levels are?

No antibody results? You say she has a goiter which flares up which suggests autoimmune

[Roo32 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you for replying. All her other results, antibody etc were normal/in range. The TSH was flagged as low, is that not very low?/low enough for her to be treated?

[TiggerMe in reply to Roo32]

Treated for what? Hyper or Hypo? Her free's are nearer hypo than hyper but might be where they have been all her life 🤷‍♀️

I would suggest first off getting a good methylated folate and some Vit D + K2 MK7 and see how she feels when this are optimised

grassrootshealth.net/projec...

I believe 400mcg of folate is the RDA

What is her resting heart rate, BP and temperature doing?

[Roo32]

For hyperthyroid sorry.

I’m not sure as these weren’t part of these checks but we have registered her with a new GP and an appointment made for January. In the meantime she will get started on the supplements but I am trying to get clear whether the thyroid results specifically could account for her symptoms. I realise there’s a fair amount of overlap with vit d and folate deficiencies, but her weight loss seems like it must be associated with her thyroid. It’s been so pronounced.

[TiggerMe in reply to Roo32]

Sorry, only just came across this, it doesn't alert people unless you use the reply button.

From what I can see it looks more likely that your mothers thyroid is under performing rather than overactive, with a low TSH it suggests it could be pituitary issue not signalling the need for more...

I'll tag in some knowledgeable Admin... SlowDragon Buddy195

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Folate very low

Please add ferritin and thyroid antibodies test results

What’s her resting heart rate

Has she had cholesterol levels tested

High cholesterol suggests hypothyroid

Was Medichecks test early morning

Suggest improving vitamin D and improve folate with good quality daily vitamin B complex

Retest in 8 weeks

[Roo32 in reply to SlowDragon]

FERRITIN

30 - 650 R

70.2

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES

0 - 115 R

16

kIU/L

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES

0 - 34 R

15.8

I can’t check her resting heart rate as she isn’t with me at the moment but I will follow up. However I’m very confused as the comments from the doctor on medicheck suggest the results point to overactive thyroid.

[Gingernut44 in reply to Roo32]

Unfortunately, the Doctor’s report from Medichecks and any other private blood test isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. S/he is only looking at the TSH which is totally wrong. It’s the FT4 and FT3 results that are the important ones and they point more to hypothyroidism (under active thyroid).

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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 and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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...

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