Had a blood test august 2023. I was told my thyroid levels were a little high. TSH 5.34 T4 levels 13.8
10 days ago I was advised that my august 2023 blood test shows I have pre-diabetes.
I’ve just had another thyroid test and my T4 levels are now 14.5 not sure about my Tsh levels as she couldn’t answer at first and them said 4.5 (not sure if she was telling me the top limit or my actual result on that. I felt she was in a rush and I was asking too many questions. (Just not sure but I don’t feel comfortable with the information. I really just wanted to understand but the doctor insisted “nothing to worry about and your thyroid was low in 2014” Of Which I have never known anything about. I would like to understand my thyroid results if possible but feel so awkward asking again now.
Written by
Josi01
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I’m taking from your post that you are not on any thyroid medication presently.
As TSH should be under 2, an elevated result of 5 indicates that your thyroid is struggling. However, it is unlikely that you will be offered any thyroid medication (Levothyroxine) until your readings are higher still. Have you been asked to repeat the test in a couple of months? Next time, a patient to patient tip is to have the earliest possible blood draw (ie before 9am) when TSH is at its highest.
Please ask your GP practice for a print out of your current thyroid blood test results (remember you are legally entitled to copies of all tests) and then share with us. Ideally, it would be good to see blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:
TSH
FT3
FT4
Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12). These key vitamins are often low when the thyroid is struggling, so in the first instance ask your GP to check. The antibody tests will show if your thyroid is struggling due to an auto immune condition (Hashimotos).
We do need to see the ranges, as these can vary between laboratories. I never ask for results on the phone or verbally; it’s so easy to forget. Another option to a print out may be to access your results on line.
If your GP is unable to complete all the above tests (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:
I made an appointment for today for a sugar level test, a cholesterol and a vitamin level test.
The doctor said to wait until June before testing anything else. Then she’ll let me have a blood test for my raised sugar levels which were 44% in August, cholesterol and another thyroid test. She said they don’t test for vitamins. My results in August for TSH were 5.34 and T4 13.8
My recent test is 14.5 T4 Level and I’m not sure regards the TSH Ievel.
I will contact the surgery tomorrow and ask for a print out for both dates and also my results in 2014 (because she said my thyroid levels were low in 2014. However, this is first time I’ve known about it which is a bit of a concern)
Just a thought, they tested me for antibodies in January and there were no antibodies present. ( which apparently is good but I’ve no idea what any of it means).
Also, when I was collecting my blood test form a couple of weeks ago I took 3 blood pressure tests from the machine in the doctors surgery and my results were :- 141/77 pulse 97 I thought that’s high and I normally have very low blood at home so I tried again :- 134/75 pulse 94
And finally:- 158/77 pulse 88
This all seems so unusual from my home test of 105/62 or 104/62, The highest being 112/77 (I forgot to mention this today).
I’m so amazed to get a response from you. Thank you. I’ll update results as soon as I have them and once again, thank you for your interest. 🌸
Welcome to the group and thank you for completing your profile.
The good news is that you don;t need to bother your GP asking about blood results. You should be able to ask at GP reception for printed copies of your results. This is a legal entitlement.
In England you can get the NHS app and ask for permission to see your blood results on that by asking at GP’s reception.
Once you have your results you can start a new post and type out the results along with the reference range for each test - numbers in brackets after your result. Members can then make suggestions.
When you next have a thyroid blood test its important to follow this protocol which would be most advantageous for getting you a diagnosis.
Recommended blood test protocol: Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, only drinking water before the test & 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.
Its important to check vitamin levels as these can drop when we are hypo due to not being able to absorb vitamins well. Low vitamin levels contribute to feeling unwell.
Have you recently or could you ask your GP to test levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & D3? 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.
You could also get your antibodies checked either NHS or privately where you can also get Tg antibodies tested that isnt offered on the NHS.
Has your GP offered you a follow up thyroid blood test for a few months time?
Just a thought, they tested me for antibodies in January and there were no antibodies present. ( which apparently is good but I’ve no idea what any of it means).
They will almost certainly only have tested TPO 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)
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)
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
Request GP test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
My Medicheck thyroid test results
Thyroid levels re anxiety
Advice interpreting my thyroid test results please!
Some humour re 'normal' thyroid tests
