Back to square one...

[dizzyarmadillo]

Just a bit of a "woe is me" moment of self pity really...

After a fight to get the doctors to take me seriously in 2023 I finally got my hospital referral, and was discharged by the (wonderful) hospital consultant in November 2023 as my TSH was consistently below 2 and all my other levels were good.

Follow up blood test January 2024 as we are looking at TTC this year; TSH was 0.53 and T4 was 18.9. Admittedly I was mildly suspicious of such low numbers as the blood test was done at the end of my three week Christmas work break, so wasn't likely to be a completely accurate picture of my day to day levels while working (long commutes and a very physical job).

Decided to book a medichecks test to check up, particularly as I was starting to feel a bit lightheaded/floaty, my headaches/migraines were making a comeback, I was forgetful and generally ditsy and having trouble sleeping.

Medichecks results come back:

TSH: 7.42 (range 0.27 - 4.2)

T3: 3.8 (range 3.1 - 6.8)

T4: 16.3 (range 12 - 22)

😭😭 I'm now waiting for the doctor to reopen after Easter so that I can start this battle all over again!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

when did you last test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

Looking at your profile page Ferritin has been woefully low for long time

Aiming for ferritin at least over 70 minimum

Are you vegetarian or vegan

[dizzyarmadillo in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi,

Vitamin D was tested reasonably recently but was back in optimum condition.

Ferritin was April 2023 (36 I think). I'm not vegetarian or vegan but doctor doesn't want to be concerned about it as it's "within range" and won't do a full iron panel.

Folate and B12 are still a little low but are climbing now I've switched onto the Thorne Basic B complex.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to dizzyarmadillo]

Ferritin below 50 is far too low

If below 30 is deficient

Suggest you get full iron panel test yourself

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

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

Stop iron supplements 5-7 days before testing

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Aiming for ferritin as minimum over 70

[DippyDame]

No wonder you are struggling you are hypothyroid and seriously undermedicated

FT4 is 43% through the reference range

FT3 is 18.92% ditto

We aim to have both Frees approaching 75% through their respective ref ranges.

For good health every cell in the body must be flooded with T3 by way of an adequate and constant supply....not happening in your case!

T3 attaches to receptors on the cells which stimulate them to create energy by burning carbohydrates and fats ...metabolism.

If T3 is low, then metabolism runs low which means energy level is low.

Another role of T3 is to promote oxygen delivery to tissues.

If you have low T3 your tissues will have low oxygen levels which will impair muscle movement, digestion, cogniive function and so on.

T3 is key!

Your consultant may not have been as wonderful as you thought....it looks as if he failed to join up all the dots

He likely relied on TSH with FT4...

TSH is not a reliable marker following diagnosis

FT3 is the most important result followed by FT4

Your low FT3 in these Medicheck results has pushed your TSH up, well above 2 (or under) where it should be if correctly medicated/ euthyroid

As you indicate you need to go into battle again!

It's madness!!

Good luck!

[Angie33]

Hi, interesting read and great news you finally got a hospital referral!! Well done as l know these don’t come easy.

I’m curious, what’s TTC? My TSH is constantly around 0.01 TSH, mid range and T4 well below the normal range. Due to get bloods tomorrow morning for an updated Medichecks thorough check up to check pituitary gland, thyroid etc etc

Current energy levels are awful and also very ditsy these days.

[dizzyarmadillo in reply to Angie33]

Thanks - I started off privately while the NHS referral was pending, but it got there eventually!

TTC is trying to conceive 🙈 I shouldn't swap acronyms between forums 🤣

I have managed to persuade my doctor to also recheck my ferritin, B12 and Folate again too (absolute shocker though I suppose at the risk of sounding extremely cynical I am going down the "I want to get pregnant" route this time and they're much more accommodating 🤦🏻‍♀️).

🤞🏻 for you