help with thyroid

[Luckygirl1]

hi, I have just had my thyroid checked.

It’s all within the normal but would just like someone to confirm that it is ok?

vitamin D is 54nmol thanks

[greygoose]

I wouldn't have said so, no. Your TSH is too high. But, as it's within the so-called 'normal' range, doctors think it has to be ok. They don't understand about thyroid and they don't understand about ranges.

But, before I go any further, please answer two questions:

1. what time was the blood draw for this test, and had you eaten before it?

2. is this the first thyroid blood test you've had? If not, what were preveious results and ranges?

[Luckygirl1 in reply to greygoose]

Firstly thank you both for replying.

In 2020

T4= 80 (59-154)

TSH =2.85 (0.27-4.2)

Ft4 = 12.2 pmol (12-22)

Ft3 =5.1 pmol (3.1-6.8)

Anti thyroid periodise = 9.6iu/ml

Anti thyroglobulin antibody =13.3iu/ml

Taken between about 7:45am

Jan 2022

T4= 78nmol (59-154)

TSH= 1.37mlu/i

Ft3= 4.6 pmol

Ft4=12.2 pmol

Anti thyroglobulin antibody = 14.3 (0-115)

Taken 7:45am

The test I took in 2023 (above) was taken at 8:30am I have had a anaemia test done but it has come back that I need to redo it sadly!

Vitamin D is 54

cholesterol is 7.1

I feel bloated and sick and cold all the time! Hair is thinning (pcso symptom) missing periods had a couple this year when I’d usually have one every 5 weeks.

Stomach churning so much usually after I eat it then makes me feel sick like I’m going to have diarrhoea but more constipated than diarrhoea! Have hairs on my chin (again pcos symptom) pain in my lower right side but occasionally cramps by my belly button! Feel so tired all the time!

Thanks ☺️

[Wua13262348 in reply to Luckygirl1]

As Dippy Dame pointed out, you need to check your Vitamin B12, folate and ferritin, which are usually checked alongside Vitamin D.

I was deficient in Vitamin B12 and felt nauseous continually when below range. Folate was 0.01 into the bottom of the range, so too low, but ignored by G.P. Ferritin was 22, and under 30 is a deficiency-it was ignored-no action required!

You need Vitamin B12, folate, ferritin and Vitamin D done in the same blood draw, ideally with TSH, FT4 and FT3. Medichecks advanced thyroid test will check all of these in one blood test. Alternatively the NHS, Monitor My Health private blood test service also have a test.

[Luckygirl1 in reply to Wua13262348]

Hi thanks for the reply.

I had a full health test done with monitor my health, they said they couldn’t do the following

HB

Ferritin

TSAT

Active B12

Folate

They will send me another test.

I will wait until the new year and redo another test. The first two thyroid tests I’ve done was with letsgetchecked, but this is my first test with monitor my health.

[Wua13262348 in reply to Luckygirl1]

Great! The medichecks test can be requested as a vacutainer test where they supply the test kit for a venous draw which a nurse can easily take for you if you know someone who can draw the blood for you. You can pay extra for a nurse to do it too.

The Monitor My Health kit is finger-prick only. If you can't manage not to spoil the blood when doing the finger-prick test, a venous draw kit may be necessary. My G.P. surgery use vacucontainer( called that or something similar) for blood draws and are not allowed to draw blood with a syringe to fill the finger-prick tube. A friend who is a retired nurse does this for me, successfully, for MMH kits. I asked my G.P.surgery to do this for an MMH kit whilst attending for an unrelated blood test. The nurse drew my blood by vacutainer in , I think, a yellow topped tube . This was then poured into the finger-prick MMH tube. The blood was spoilt and couldn't be used , and I had to redo the test. My friend then successfully drew blood with a syringe and filled the tube via syringe.

[DippyDame]

Based on the above results you may be undermedicated...but without more detail that's a rough quess!!

Have you been diagnosed with hypothyroidism? If so how much replacement hormone are you taking

"Normal" is not a diagnosis it just means the result is within range which is not very helpful. We aim to find the point within the range where symptoms are resolved.

Do you (still) have any symptoms?

Your vitaminD level is far too low ...aim for 100 to 150nmol/L

Do you have any results for vit B12, folate, ferritin and thyroid antibodies TPO and Tg?

The nutrients need to be optimal to support thyroid function/ T4 to T3 conversion.

Though, your T4 to T3 conversion appears good.

If antibodies are high this suggests thyroid autoimmune disease/ Hashimoto's....a commoncause of hypothyroidism

[Luckygirl1 in reply to DippyDame]

Thanks for the reply

not on any medication

In 2019 I had a lump appear on my neck so I got it checked. It was a swollen lump node and although it was nothing concerning it was confirmed to be just a lump node that was swollen! He also scanned my neck and said there was nodular changes noted in my thyroid , although within the limits.

So since then I felt it best to keep testing my thyroid…. Just for peace of mind! Doctors have never tested my thyroid! Just me being cautious 😁

[DippyDame in reply to Luckygirl1]

Sensible decision.

Your FT3 is relatively high which suggests your thyroid may be struggling, so it raises T3 production to compensate.

13/12/23

FT4 is 41% through ref range

FT3 is 64.86% ditto

Both Frees should roughly be approaching 75% through the ref range

You are hypothyroid

Calculator for this...

thyroid.dopiaza.org/?utm_so...

Suggest you need to initiate thyroid medication....starting dose 50mcg levothyroxine.

TSH rises as thyroid levels fall....but science shows it is not a reliable marker for dosing. Medics insist it is...be prepared!

FT3 is the important number followed by FT4

thyroidpatients.ca/2021/07/...

The hospital levels you quote ( I assume you mean maximum ref range levels ) vary because different test machines are calibrated to different ranges.

You are correct to be cautious!

PS

Luckygirl1

To reiterate

A healthy thyroid produces, on average, about 7 mcg T3 but this can increase substantially as the thyroid starts to fail, with FT4 falling and so pushing up TSH.

Note your results above!

Like me, you have more than one thing going on here and PCOS is obviously causing problems but along side that your failing thyroid/ hypothyroidism is problematic. Unravelling symptoms can be difficult.

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

You can download from this link, a tick box list of symptoms of hypothyroidism.

my vitamin D is 54 so maybe I just need some vitamins to perk up!

As already pointed out you do need to raise your vit D ....but I'm afraid it's going to take a bit more than "some vitamins to perk up!"

I realise I'm flogging this issue but it is important to address the state of your thyroid hormone levels because I'd suggest the decline will slowly continue.

As you have noticed already, and asked, "Does anyone know the reason why TSH has risen quite a lot in two years?"

I've travelled this road.

Your levels are not OK so don't be sidelined by ignorant medics!

Take care.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post

You have PCOS so autoimmune thyroid disease is frequently associated with this

So currently NOT on levothyroxine

Did you say you have High cholesterol ?

High cholesterol is hypothyroid symptom

ESSENTIAL to test TPO and TG antibodies

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and 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...

[Luckygirl1]

Does anyone know the reason why TSH has risen quite a lot in two years?

Also, some nhs hospitals say freet4 should be upto 14.4 but some others say upto 22~ why would that be?

[TSH110 in reply to Luckygirl1]

the TSH is telling your thyroid to make more thyroid hormones, the higher it is the more its demanding them to be made and is suspicious because the thyroid is not able to carry out its instruction so something must be going wrong with it.

Different machines are used for blood tests and have different ranges, so ranges are important, they are not one standard number

[janeroar]

Advisable to have any unexplained ongoing pain investigated. Especially as you feel sick too. Eg pancreatic /gall bladder issues could be causing it. Go and nag your doctor til you’re satisfied you’re ok.

[Luckygirl1 in reply to janeroar]

Thanks everyone.

I went to the doctors a few weeks ago but he said all my problems sound like a Pcos symptoms and said if they persist come back in 3 months. The pain isn’t as intense lately but sickness (not vomiting) is unreal. Oddly when I feel sick and take my temp it’s 35.9 or early 36 and when it creeps up to 37 I don’t feel as sick! Feel bloated so worried to eat too much!! (Still eating a good amount) ~ probably should add more fibre though as I am constipated 🤦🏻‍♀️ belly makes lots of churning noises so Maybe it’s intolerance or food allergy just a case of ruling things out first I suppose. I don’t take any medication or vitamins and just found out my vitamin D is 54 so maybe I just need some vitamins to perk up!

Thanks

[janeroar in reply to Luckygirl1]

Have you had a pelvic scan recently ?

[Luckygirl1 in reply to janeroar]

The last time I had a pelvic scan was in 2005 (a long time ago)

My serum prolactin level was 211

Lh level 18iu/l

Fsh 5iu/l

TSH 1.8 mlu/l

From what was said even though all my results were in the normal she said it had a 2:1 ratio so put me in for a scan ~ then I remember getting told I wouldn’t have that by another doctor because I was slim…. But scan showed pcos and a random cyst. I remember her saying one was twisted slightly too!

It’s a shame the same doctor isn’t still at the surgery

[janeroar in reply to Luckygirl1]

I would suggest you get a scan to rule out any issues

[Hectorsmum2]

As a side issue. I also have PCOs and have been greatly helped by taking an inosital supplement. It has slowed down my facial hair growth and helped me lose weight. I am not aware of stomach pain and sickness being a symptom of PCOS, that needs investigating.

[Luckygirl1]

hi, I have just received my cholesterol results.

My mum has high cholesterol and my Nan had high cholesterol.

Cholesterol =7.1 mmol

High density lipoprotein = 1.51 mmol/l

Non -hDL cholesterol = 5.6mmol

Triglycerides 1.42mmol

I haven’t eaten before and tested at 8.30am

I am 38 years old ~ diagnosed with pcos.

Are these results bad?

how do I know if it’s hereditary or lifestyle!?

I wouldn’t say I’m unhealthy. I walk 7-10 miles at work. Do eat a lot of processed food but still eat veg and fruit. Cut out fizzy drinks 2 years ago and drink only squash… drinking water makes me gag(always has 🤣)

I’m 5”2 and weight 9stone

Should I tell my doctor of these results? It was done privately!