I went to the GP complaining of vertigo, insomnia, exhaustion, joint pain and mood disturbances amongst other things. I was given a blood test. I have been discharged and essentially told that there’s no reason for me to be feeling like this, but that I “may become hypothyroid in future”. I just want to know what’s happening to me! I know that what I’m feeling is not normal.
I’ve now received my full print-out in the post. The relevant results and (range) are as follows:
. Free T4 - 10.8 (12-22)
. TSH - 2.45 (0.27-4.20)
. Ferritin - 28 (13-150) *total iron was normal
. Bilirubin- 3 (4-21)
. CRP - 12.4 (0-5) *this is typical for me
. HBAC1 38 mmol/mol (20-42) *I’m not overweight
Can anyone please help me determine if these results are somehow thyroid related? I’ve never in my life had low ferritin or low bilirubin. I’m extremely stressed, and frankly very anxious, trying to work out what’s wrong with me and the root cause of my symptoms. I’m losing sleep over this. Thank you
Written by
Pink20s
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thank you for replying. Antibodies weren’t tested, and FT3 does not appear on the printout, so presumably wasn’t tested either. B12 & D weren’t tested, and neither was folate. I was told that my TSH is fine, and therefore that I am fine. I don’t feel fine at all, and the other abnormalities are worrying me. My HGB is 129 g/L, which is normal, however my HCT is only 0.374 (units not given) while 0.370-0.490 is the reference range
Is there another doctor at your surgery who you can talk with ?
Your TSH is not responding as it should - as you are already hypothyroid with a T4 under the range and you can't function with such a low support system.
Your CRP - inflammation - is very high - which you say is ' normal for you ' ?
Your ferritin is very low and I believe under ' 30 ' the NHS are obliged to run further tests - and if all clear - will be supplementing.
Both inflammation and this very low ferritin will be compounding your ill health further -
The treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone replacement and for this to work well we do need to maintain optimal core strength vitamins and minerals -
I now aim for a ferritin of around 100- folate around 20 - active B12 75++ ( serum B12 500++ ) and vitamin D up at around 100:
Hiya lovely, you need to ask for the t3 levels to be done as they not included on the normal thyroid bloods, they normally put a note on the form for t3 levels for the checked. Ask your doctors for this and for antibodies tests too. I have been exactly like this and it's awful feeling so I really hope you're okay. I was told I had to wait 3 months between the first blood test to the second for any treatment. However when I come on this forum I was told the opposite it can be 6-8 from the first blood test to the second one. I also looked on NICE guidelines too to say what the treatment was as they should go by symptoms too. Hope your feeling better soon, take care xx
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.
It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Thank you for your incredible patience while you have been awaiting the outcome of our ferritin reference range review. We conducted this with Inuvi lab, which has now changed the reference ranges to the following:
Females 18 ≤ age < 40. 30 to 180
Females 40 ≤ age < 50. 30 to 207
Females 50 ≤ age < 60. 30 to 264
Females Age ≥ 60. 30 to 332
Males 18 ≤ age < 40 30 to 442
Males Age ≥ 40 30 to 518
The lower limits of 30 are by the NICE threshold of <30 for iron deficiency. Our review of Medichecks data has determined the upper limits. This retrospective study used a large dataset of blood test results from 25,425 healthy participants aged 18 to 97 over seven years. This is the most extensive study on ferritin reference ranges, and we hope to achieve journal publication so that these ranges can be applied more widely.
In primary hypothyroidism the fault lies with the thyroid - TSH rises and FT4 falls. The GP diagnoses on the basis of the raised TSH.
But in the slightly more unusual presentation of secondary hypothyroidism the fault lies with the pituitary which fails to raise the TSH as FT4 falls. The GP just looking at TSH fails to diagnose hypothyroidism. You may have this version and should be referred to an endo for diagnosis on the basis of your below range FT4 and symptoms.
Your ferritin is really low which will be causing symptoms, too.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Help me please 
Please can anyone help Analyse these results for me
Can anyone help with these results please?
Help with iron results please 
Results to interpret please
