hi there please can someone help me understand my results from a recent thyroid function test:
tSH levels were 4.63 mu/L which indicates it’s high
Thyroxine levels were 13.3 pmol/L and it’s saying that’s normal
Triiodothyronine levels 4.4pmol/L levels normal
The indication is that I don’t need treatment at this stage but need to check again regularly as it’s showing signs of future problems. Can anyone please expand on this as I have no idea what I’m doing! Thanks
Welcome to the forum
Was this your first Thyroid test
Was test early morning
What’s the range on Ft4. If it’s 12-22 then Ft4 of 13.3 is low in range
TSH over 3 suggests thyroid is struggling
How old are you approximately?
Next test request GP also test thyroid antibodies and vitamin levels
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
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)
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)
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests 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)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Testing options and includes money off codes for private 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
Wow thankyou! It was my first test. A private one actually bought through this site. It was early morning and I had fasted (recommended by my friend who has hashimotos). I have since been to docs for tests and they have already come back to say my vit D levels are low and I need to take a supplement. But waiting on other results still. fT4 levels are 13.3 and it says normal range is 12-22 indicating mine are normal. FT3 is 4.4 with it saying normal ranges are 3.1-6.8.
I’m 50 and I have a family history of hypothyroidism so with that and symptoms of extreme tiredness I decided to check things out
Ok
So work on improving low vitamins
Retest including thyroid antibodies in 2-3 months
How low is your vitamin D ?
NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required
ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...
GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.
Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol
leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...
GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)
mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...
But improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...
vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...
Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.
Test twice yearly when supplementing
Can test via NHS private testing service
Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.
There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.
One spray = 1000iu
amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...
It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average
Vitamin D and thyroid disease
grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...
Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease
newscientist.com/article/23...
Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7
Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
livescience.com/61866-magne...
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium
drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...
Vitamin K2 mk7
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
healthline.com/nutrition/vi...
Too much Vitamin D is toxic
Test twice a year
Graph showing median TSH in healthy population is 1-1.5
web.archive.org/web/2004060...
Add your other results once you get them
What are your symptoms?
I’m 50 and I have a family history of hypothyroidism so with that and symptoms of extreme tiredness I decided to check things out
Sounds depressingly familiar! Do you have any symptoms other than fatigue? Muscle aches and pains, breathlessness, digestive issues, hair loss….?
Have you spoken to your GP yet? I don’t suppose they’ll be particularly interested in your private test results but you should be able to persuade them to run their own.
Ensure this is early morning to try and ‘catch’ your TSH at a high point, it’ll assist with any future diagnosis. It would be extremely helpful to get antibodies tested too, as this can also help with a diagnosis, although you’ll probably have to do this privately, at least initially.
Good luck.
thank you yeah I have a whole raft of other symptoms Extreme tiredness, Palpitations, Weight gain, Aching muscles, Dry skin problems, Jumping from feeling really cold to hot (menopause getting in the way there I think), Depression (currently on sertraline), Stiff joints. I will see what docs comes up with and then poss go private. Thank you 😁
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