test results explained

[Valerina]

just had these test results from monitor my health and wondering if I should be on some sort of medication, have had symptoms of underactive thyroid for several years but GP tests always come back normal however they don’t test for antibodies , any help appreciated

[greygoose]

Did you test for antibodies?

Is this the first over-range TSH result you've had? Because if you have high anti-bodies and two over-range TSH results about 3 months apart, then you should be started on thyroid hormone replacment.

Technically, you are hypo - you are hypo when your TSH gets to 3 - and both your Frees are too low, but the NHS likes it to go over ten before they will diagnose! Having high antibodies - and thus Autoimmine Thyroiditis - can change that

[Valerina in reply to greygoose]

no I ve had high antibodies before 4/5 years ago but I changed my diet and cut out gluten and mostly eat lots vegetables as I have diverticula disease, I ve put on 2stone in less than a year despite being well under 1400 cals a day and walking 5miles a day, my memory is awful and terrible muscle pains and swallowing issues, just had my throat stretched 3wks ago, I had suspected hashimotos for while now, after reading posts from yourself and others , antibodies were much higher last time, can’t recall exactly what I spoke to go at that time and she said we could talk about medication but I wanted to see if could lower them myself but I feel I need something now, many thanks

[greygoose in reply to Valerina]

It's not the antibodies themselves that cause hypothyroidism, so you don't take thyroid hormone replacement because of them. Lowering them yourself, even if that were possible, won't change the fact that you have Autoimmune Thyroiditis - aka Hashi's. The antibodies are the result of the disease, not the cause.

With those Free levels, you need thyroid hormone replacement - levo/T3/NDT - no matter what the levels of antibodies - which fluctuate all the time. It's the low FT3 causing all those symptoms, not the antibodies. So, I'm sorry to tell you but you've been suffering for nothing for all those years. Get yourself on levo as soon as possible.

What's more, you need to eat more. It's not calories that is making you put on weight, it's lowered metabolism due to low thyroid hormones. And, not eating enough calories will make your FT3 even lower because you need calories to convert T4 to T3. And your weight gain probably isn't even fat, it's water-retention, and no amount of low calorie diets will get rid of that.

Plus you probably have low nutrient levels, anyway because low T3 usually means low stomach acid, meaning that you're having difficulty digesting food, and therefore difficulty absorbing nutrients. Not eating enough will make that worse. Have you had your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested?

[Valerina in reply to greygoose]

Ahh I see, that all makes sense thanks so much, not had vitamins done in few yrs but I take vit d spray and b 12, I m organising med checks apt to check all that , current GP argued with me bout the low acid, said in 30 years she’s never prescribed anyone with it, but told me there’s no test for it lol, my husband was tested few months before that, so I don’t have much faith in getting good response from her, I m registering with new practice and hopefully have better reaction

[Valerina in reply to Valerina]

Also I struggle to eat due to the swallow problem and digestive issues, would protein shakes help do you think?

[greygoose in reply to Valerina]

If you never look for something, you're never going to find it, are you. And some doctors refuse to believe that low stomach acid is even possible. For them, it's always high stomach acid that causes digestive problems. The symptoms are the same.

She's got rather a closed mind, hasn't she. I hope your new practice is more informed.

[Valerina in reply to greygoose]

That was my exact response to her lol, they misdiagnosed me several years ago with too much stomach acid, gave me load of stuff that made my low acid worse and caused havoc, they re still trying to give me them even though camera has proven I don’t have too much, unbelievable, I ve had more understanding in few hours of reading here than I ve got in 5 years chasing doctors and asking for 2nd opinions🙄

[greygoose in reply to Valerina]

Well, that doesn't surprise me at all! Sigh.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Next step is to get FULL thyroid including thyroid antibodies and vitamin testing

Give these results to GP

Request thyroid and thyroid antibodies tested plus vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

Alternatively test privately

all thyroid blood tests 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)

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

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

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.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO are high, so would need to test privately if TPO negative

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)

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

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH

Starting levothyroxine - flow chart

You need 2 tests with TSH over 5

gps.northcentrallondonccg.n...

[Valerina in reply to SlowDragon]

I m not on medication, I had raised antibodies 4/5 years ago and had low vitamin D at that time and high CRP which suggested autoimmune disease, I got those down by changing diet, removing gluten etc, have had lot of gut issues, low stomach acid and swallowing problems, have zenkers diverticula and diverticuler disease, I ve constant inflammation so use cold water emersion to help with that, eat lots vegetables and take digestive enzymes which were game changer, but weight gain is excessive I am 4 stone overweight despite healthy diet and exercise, I feel I need medication to control that as I ve family history of heart disease etc, thank you for your response have followed lots of these posts last few years and I did all my tests as specified early in morn and only water

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Valerina]

I had raised antibodies 4/5 years ago

Which antibodies

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

Test vitamin D twice year when supplementing

[Valerina in reply to SlowDragon]

Think it was both the TPO and Tg🤔 it was with Randox , would have to search for them it was few yrs back, vitD is 3000 IU /75ug spray

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Valerina]

So get vitamin levels retested

High TPO or high TG antibodies confirms Hashimoto’s

[Valerina in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I will, I noticed a lot of similarity’s in yr profile to my own , I tested negative for celiac disease but have 2 copies of celiac genes, I assumed I had non celiac gluten sensitivity and have avoided it and dairy for while now, was diagnosed with M.E bout 30 years ago, almost bed ridden for 2 yrs but diet changes and gentle exercise helped me recover, though each covid jab seemed to activate flare ups of this , I regularly struggle with any exercise it seems to cause inflammation in muscles and I get so sore for days after even gentle exercise, magnesium supplements helped me so much

[McPammy]

With that high level TSH and your T4 so low you’re definitely heading towards thyroxine medication. In fact you do need it now. Unfortunately the NHS has a stupid rule to not medicate until the TSH has reached 10. By that time you’ll be in a right state. They left me until mine was 36. Criminal. If I was you I’d go private only. Meaning no NHS involvement for diagnosis. My private only endocrinologist explained to me that if your TSH is above 2.5 you’ll be feeling symptoms. Best figure to aim for is 1.00 ish. That means T4 high but in range and T3 also optimal and in range. That’s the only way you’ll be symptom free mostly. But you also need to check your vitamins b12, folate, D and ferritin. Optimal not scrapping in. Lots of thyroid sufferers have deficient vitamins. When my T3 was too low I struggled to exercise. I’d get bad headaches and have little energy. I’d collapse when it got worse. Not fainting just no strength or energy to hold myself up. Eventually privately I got the T3 medication. Now I’m full of energy and life. Thank god for some private only endocrinologists that know what they’re doing and want to actually help.

[Valerina in reply to McPammy]

Thank you, so I can actually go to a private endocrinologist and buy medication etc🤔

[McPammy in reply to Valerina]

Yes you can

[Hidden in reply to Valerina]

Hi Valerian,

I have just got myself an appointment with a private endocrinologist as I was getting nowhere on the NHS.

My appointment is not until 28th March though. I wish it could be sooner, feeling as I do, but I’m on a cancellation list in case an appointment comes up before then.

Good luck with you going private if you take that route.

[Valerina]

that’s terrific thanks for your help