Blood results

[Timmyroo]

Hi can anyone tell me what this means. My THS came back as 14.80 but my free TT4 Is saying normal range 17.3. My B12 is fine 409 and so is my cholesterol. If my T4 is fine do I need to put my dose up? I am just starting to feel a bit better. They haven'haven'done my T3 yet

[greygoose]

I think we need a bit more information, here, because this doesn't sound quite right.

To start with, what is the range for the FT4?

How much levo are you taking? And how long have you been on that dose?

When was your last test before this one? And how much were you taking at that point? And what was your TSH on that test?

I'm afraid there is no simple 'this means that and that means the other' guide to interpreting blood test results. There are so many varients. So, we need as much detail as possible.

That said, your B12 is not 'fine' at 409. It should be at least over 550. Do you have a folate reading?

[Timmyroo in reply to greygoose]

Hi grey goose. I was having awful reaction to Teva but didn't realise it till months later. I put it all down to virus or covid. I got so bad I couldn't function. Still can't very much. 5 and a half weeks ago. I went back to Accord I take 100 and have done for years. I still seem to be having an allergic reaction. Especially my mouth swollen and burning tounge and trouble swallowing. The tremors and stomach are still bad but dying down a bit. These are the only results I have had come through at the moment.

[greygoose in reply to Timmyroo]

OK, well, under the circumstances, it probably wasn't the best time to have a test. Things haven't settled down yet. And, without an FT3 test we can't really come to any conclusions. I expect your conversion is pretty bad at the moment, after covid, so your FT3 will probably be very low. You need to give that time to return to 'normal' - whatever normal is for you. So, I think you should just hang on for a few weeks and then retest.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Your TSH is very high for the level of T4 that you have.

How do you take your Levo tablets?

Recommended to take Levo on an empty stomach, 1 hour before food or caffeine drinks. Its a very fussy hormone.

You are likely feeling terrible with these results.

[Timmyroo in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hi yes I take it as soon as I get up with just water for an hour. And yes I have never felt so ill in my life.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Timmyroo]

Do you take any other medicines. It looks like you aren't absorbing the Levo for some reason.

Your B12 is still a little on the low side. The range for b12 is very wide and your result isn't optimal.

I'd recommend a good methyl B complex to help keep all the B's in balance.

Slightly cheaper options with inactive B6:

amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

Contains B6 as P5P an active form:

bigvits.co.uk/thorne-resear...

healf.com/products/basic-b-...

Explanation about the different forms of B6:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

B complex comparison spreadsheet:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Timmyroo in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hi no I'm not taking anything else. Starting B12 today not sure if it's a good one just Better You. Thank you for links I will look into them

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Timmyroo]

I was just trying to work out why your TSH is so high. Have you skipped a few days of Levo?

[Timmyroo in reply to Jaydee1507]

I skipskipped just one 5.5 weeks ago on doctors advice when I was so manic.

[Timmyroo in reply to Timmyroo]

Also my heart rate is really high. Would I be right in thinking I am high rater than low?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Timmyroo]

Symptoms of under medication can be remarkably similar to over medication but your blood results are clearly showing you are under medicated, so the symptoms you are experiencing are due to under medication.

You need to test ferritin, folate, D3 still. Maybe even get an iron panel run as strange heart rate symptoms often due to low ferritin or iron.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Timmyroo]

So you need to get further testing

No folate, no vitamin D, no Ft3, no ferritin results

is your hypothyroidism autoimmune?

Recommended that 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)

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

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

[Timmyroo in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thank you for info and links. Yes I know I have to get private tests done. I was just waiting for the teva to get out of my system I am told it's six weeks. ?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Timmyroo]

Yes at least 6-8 weeks minimum

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Timmyroo]

what vitamin supplements are you currently taking

If not taking any B12

once you have retested suggest you then start on daily B12

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement

A week later add a separate vitamin B Complex 

Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week

Highly effective B12 drops

natureprovides.com/products...

Or

B12 sublingual lozenges

uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

B12 range in U.K. is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Low folate

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)

Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

Igennus B complex popular option too. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Jazzw]

Was that T4 result FT4 (free T4) or TT4 (total T4)? Because they’re not the same thing.

Total T4 can seem ok when things really aren’t ok at all.

Can you confirm which it was? And what the laboratory reference range was?

[Timmyroo in reply to Jazzw]

Hi sorry only just saw this. It says Free T4 serum. And just that the normal range is 12 to 22.