blood tests

[MAFSaus]

hello all I’ve been feeling ill for last few years , fatigued, poor sleep, depression anxiety, weight gain, weight loss, felt like I had palpations. I have had bloods done at gp a few times aways come back normal so I went for tests privately. Results came back as per photo, can anyone advise? What should I do with these results go back to the gp for further investigations as antibodies are high? Although other results seem in normal range but not optimal

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

Was test done early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

High thyroid antibodies

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)

Have you tested vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Take these results to GP

Request coeliac blood test and vitamin levels are tested

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...

1.1 Recognition of coeliac disease

1.1.1 Offer serological testing for coeliac disease to:

people with any of the following:

persistent unexplained abdominal or gastrointestinal symptoms

faltering growth

prolonged fatigue

unexpected weight loss

severe or persistent mouth ulcers

unexplained iron, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency

type 1 diabetes, at diagnosis

autoimmune thyroid disease, at diagnosis

irritable bowel syndrome (in adults)

first‑degree relatives of people with coeliac disease.

Also request ultrasound scan of thyroid

[MAFSaus in reply to SlowDragon]

hi thank you for your quick response much appreciated. I had my tests done at 11.30 am as was travelling to Birmingham. I haven’t had my vitamins done so I will do these as my next step. I had my hormones tested too which I thought weee more likely to be the cause of my issues and it would appear that I am low in progesterone but I think I need to address my thyroid problems first thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MAFSaus]

So TSH would have been higher if tested earlier in day

[FancyPants54]

If you are female I'd say your symptoms map onto peri or full menopause pretty well.

[MAFSaus in reply to FancyPants54]

Thank you for your reply. Yes I also had my hormones done which are out of synch but think I need to deal with thyroid issues first

[greygoose]

Your FT3 is far from 'normal'. It is too low. But, you do have Hashi's, according to your antibody levels, and other levels do tend to jump around with Hashi's.

I doubt your doctor would take much notice of these results - they tend not to like patients doing their own tests - I think they feel it under-mines their authority! And all they tend to look at anyway is the TSH, and if that is anywhere within the range, they will tell you there's nothing wrong with you. They don't have much understanding of thyroid. So, basically, you do need to 'wait and see'. Keep testing, if you can, and wait for your TSH to go over-range. But do have your blood draw before 9 am and fasting, next time, because that's when the TSH is highest. Doctors don't understand that it fluctuates throughout the day!

[MAFSaus in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I will go back to my doctor and see if they are willing to retest and go from there. I’ll also do lots of research myself and hopefully go armed and ready!

[greygoose in reply to MAFSaus]

You're welcome.

[Carrie234]

Your symptoms are exact symptoms of hypothyroidism - "fatigued, poor sleep, depression anxiety, weight gain, weight loss, felt like I had palpations". Your T3 looks low to me.