Recent blood test

[Benson22]

My latest test shows Thyroid Stimulating Hormone at 0.12 and Free T4 22.6, I am currently on 100 mgs. Why is the first below range and the second above range?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

You haven't quoted the range for each test so we can't see by how much your result is outside the range.

With FT4 it is important to remember not to take Levo just prior to the test. Allow 24 hours from last dose of Levo to the blood draw otherwise you will be measuring what you have just taken if you take it a few hours prior to the test and your FT4 result will be a false high.

Its also possible that you are taking slightly too much Levo which is why your TSH is below range. To know for sure we would need to see an FT3 result to check if you are converting well. Often the NHS do not run this test however so you will need to get a private blood test. See link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost.thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

There is also a new company offering walk in (includes free blood draw) & mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...

Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.

What were your latest results for ferritin, folate, B12 & D3?

What supplements are you taking?

[greygoose in reply to Jaydee1507]

It's also important for us to know at what time of day the blood was taken. TSH varies throughout the day and is highest before 9 am, lowest around midday. So, we always advise having the blood draw before 9 am.

TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone - is a messenger from the pituitary to tell it to make more thyroid hormone. The higher the thyroid hormones are - T4 and T3 - the lower the TSH, and the lower the thyroid hormones, the higher the TSH. In theory. But, that is assuming that everyone has a perfectly functioning pituitary. And not everyone does.

Therefore, we need all the details you can give us: diagnosis; results and ranges of tests; time of blood draw; whether you are on thyroid hormone replacment or not - if so, what and how much; length of gap between last doses of thyroid hormone and blood draw. Only then, can we give informed, intelligent answers.

[Bearo]

Just to add that many of us have TSH below range and just live with it. Whether this is harmful at all is a matter for debate.

If your FT4 is above range this might be ok (depending on how close to the top of range it is) or it might mean you are slightly over medicated. So it’s essential that you post the range (numbers in brackets) and ideally get FT3 tested as that’s the most important number.

How are you feeling?