Interpreting my results

[Nvinc]

Hello, I’m hoping someone can help me understand these test results. I have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism alongside several family members having it and have been fighting to be heard by my doctors for a silly amount of time. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and I have finally found a good GP who is listening, she has suggested if there is a trend in my bloods that she would consider a small dose of levothyroxine but is also investigating whether it could be endometriosis.

I have had NHS blood tests which were taken at 11:30am which read:

TSH 1.94 mu/L (0.20-4.50)

T4 11.5pmol/L (7-17)

I also had blood tests done through monitor my health which I did at midnight which read:

TSH 3.27 mu/L (0.27-4.50)

T4 17.7pmol/L (12-22)

T3 4.2pmol/L (3.1-6.8)

can anyone make sense of these, if they are indicating any signs of under active thyroid and why they are so different?

Thanks in advance!

[rosael56]

You've not had the tests done at good times unfortunately. TSH fluctuates throughout the day. It tends to drop from 9am onwards and rises at night. The best time to do them is 8-9am to get an accurate result. I've also heard a lot of people say its best to do them before you've eaten anything or had any caffeine that morning too.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

TSH should be under 2, so your thyroid is showing signs of struggling with your MMH reading. It is uncommon for GPs to offer Levothyroxine however until your TSH rises further in repeat tests, but good yours seems pro active👍

Did you have key vitamins tested (ferritin, folate, B12, vit D)? Having these optimal will support your thyroid health.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Strongly recommend you get thyroid antibodies and vitamins tested

via GP or privately

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

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...

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

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee