Had this blood test done in January and had text to say book a non urgent appointment and just put it off also getting print out from docs they’ve requested a telephone consultation which I’ve eventually booked but looking at it I know the TSH is low in their opinion and obviously cholesterol too high I don’t want to go on statins and feel quite fearful of what will be said.
Well your TSH may be very slightly below range but thats not terrible at all, its just doctors think it is.
What we can't see though is your free hormone results FT4 & FT3 which would tell us if you really are over replaced. The NHS relies (completely wrongly) on just TSH.
It might be that your FT3 is on the low side.
Suggest you get some private bloods run for a full thyroid panel to include all the key vitamins including vit D.
You should refuse to change your dose if you are feeling good.
What time of day was this test taken? Highest tSH is at 9am or earlier.
Recommended blood test protocol: Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, last levo dose 24hrs before the blood draw & no biotin containing supplements for 3-7 days (Biotin can interfere with thyroid blood results as it is used in the testing process)?
Testing like this gives consistency in your results and will show stable blood levels of hormone and highest TSH which varies throughout the day. Taking Levo/T3 just prior to blood draw can show a falsely elevated result and your GP/Endo might change your dose incorrectly as a result.
Thank you so much for your reply. Blood test was at 10 am fasting and no meds previous night. I take my thyroxine at night 75 mcg two nights and 100 throughout the week. GP seems to be testing less and less! No FT4 and certainly no FT3 !
Vitamins were tested last year which I have results for which were as follows:-
If you were taking the B spray up until the blood test then you should by now be supplementing with a B complex as well.
Your B12 was too low, also your folate was too low.
Folate - aim for a level of 20. Recommend taking an active/methyl (should say on label) B complex which contains 400mcgs folate (also B12). Slightly cheaper options with inactive B6:
Suggest you buy a private test to check levels now. Thousands of members of this group pay for private tests to get well.
Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost.thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...
There is also a new company offering walk in& mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...
Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.
Can you get GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
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
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
So sorry SlowDragon I haven’t replied to you before this as you can see my other test results are above in my reply to Jaydee1507.
I did miss off in my reply that I always have the same brand thyroxine which is Mercury Pharma and it looks as if I would benefit from a B complex as well as other vitamins I’m taking.
Feeling a little stressed as the telephone consultation draws near with the GP as I don’t feel I want to reduce my T4 medication or take statins.
Your help and previous reply is very much appreciated .
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
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 can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
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
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
If GP says " I have to reduce your dose because the guidelines say i can't let you have a below range TSH" .....
The first paragraph in the NICE (NHS) Thyroid Disease, Assessment and Management guidelines says :
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145
"Your responsibility
The recommendations in this guideline represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, professionals and practitioners are expected to take this guideline fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with them and their families and carers or guardian. "
“the best paper on this that I have seen indicates that a TSH of 0.03-0.5 is best on therapy. Above that is insufficient and below MAY or MAY NOT indicate slight overdosing”
Conclusions: The serum biochemical markers of thyroid function in patients on LT4 following total thyroidectomy suggest that the patients with mildly suppressed TSH levels were closest to euthyroid, whereas those with normal TSH levels were mildly hypothyroid and those with strongly suppressed TSH levels were mildly hyperthyroid.
Interestingly, patients with a serum TSH below the reference range, but not suppressed (0.04–0.4 mU/liter), had no increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dysrhythmias, or fractures. It is unfortunate that we did not have access to serum free T4 concentrations in these patients to ascertain whether they were above or within the laboratory reference range. However, our data indicate that it may be safe for patients to be on a dose of T4 that results in a low serum TSH concentration, as long as it is not suppressed at less than 0.03 mU/liter. Many patients report that they prefer such T4 doses (9, 10). Figure 2 indicates that the best outcomes appear to be associated with having a TSH within the lower end of the reference range.
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Blood results - please decipher for me
Blood Test Results
my blood test results January 2016
Can I get some advice on my latest results, please?
