Problems with Thyroid

[alancollier61]

I have issues that I have been living with and have been put down to Long Covid. A new practitioner looked at my file and wasnt happy with a blood test carried out 6 months ago and suggested that I speak to the Doctors and get tested again.

I had my test and the Doctor called me to say that that my thyroid test came back ok.

I now have the results on my phone which says that i need to speak to a Doctor as my results are abnormal. My results are

Serum TSH 1.64mlU/L (0.28 - 4.2)

Serum free T4 level 13.3 pmol/L (12.0 -22.0)

can anyone advise if this is normal or abnormal

[Forestgarden]

Hi there, are you on thyroid medication at the moment? Your results are within the normal range, but your ft4 is very low. What symptoms have you been getting?

[alancollier61 in reply to Forestgarden]

Extreme tiredness, weight gain, depression, sensitive to cold, muscle pains, brain fog, major procrastination problems, mood swings etc etc

[Forestgarden in reply to alancollier61]

All hypo symptoms. Have you been diagnosed as hypothyroid? Are you on levothyroxine?

[alancollier61 in reply to Forestgarden]

never diagnosed and not taking any medication

[Forestgarden in reply to alancollier61]

See SlowDragon response. Central hypo seems a possibility. You need to get some new blood tests done.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you undiagnosed or already on levothyroxine?

Just testing TSH and Ft4 is completely inadequate

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

Low vitamin levels much more common as we get older

Might also be affected by Covid

Your Ft4 is very low at 13.3 (12-22)

Low vitamin levels highly likely

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH

Are you vegetarian or vegan

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG 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)

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

if on levothyroxine last dose 24 hours before 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 BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG 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

[alancollier61 in reply to SlowDragon]

I am not diagnosed, I have been struggling and been with Long Covid clinic for a couple of years but a new practitioner was worried about thyroids. Results say abnormal but doctor says they are ?

results

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to alancollier61]

FT4: 13.3 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 13.00% through range

Was test done early morning?

This gives highest TSH

With such low Ft4 (thyroid hormone) your TSH should be much higher (message from pituitary to tell thyroid to work harder)

So very strongly suggests possibly central hypothyroidism and/or low vitamin levels

Next step get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

GP could /should test vitamin levels

Vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

But you may just want to get full thyroid and vitamin testing done privately

Come back with new post once you get results

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thousands of U.K. thyroid patients forced to test privately to make progress

See examples here

Medichecks results

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Blue horizon results

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[alancollier61]

The test was carried out at 17.00hrs

[J972 in reply to alancollier61]

It’s therefore likely that, if tested at 8am, fasting, your TSH would be higher. Which is important in terms of being treated.

Monitor my Health tests have 20% off until midnight. This test includes FT3 and antibodies:

monitormyhealth.org.uk/adva...

Code: MMHJAN20

[alancollier61]

test

test

[alancollier61]

Vitamin test

vitamin test