Help with results

[Belinda-2]

Hi,

I am pleased to have found this forum, I've already learned a lot.

I had a thyroid test as I have gained alot of weight. I am so tired all the time and my mood is low.

I had the test done at 12.30pm, it was a fasting test as was being tested for diabetes too.

TSH: 2.72 mu/L (range 0.55 to 4.78)

free T4 level: 11.6 pmol/L. (Normal range: 9.5 to 22.7)

I didn't actually go to the doc thinking thyroid or diabetes, I was asking for a diuretic as I felt sure the weight gain was water retention for MS medication I take. But it would make alot of sense, I had put all of my crushing tiredness and cognitive decline down to my MS. I guess my results are normal but when I look up the T4 most ranges seem to be above the NHS range.

I have looked into thyroid after the GP mentioned it. I had a 'crash' caesarean with my second child and I lost alot of blood, I can remember them saying 3 litres and all the nurses after said I was lucky to be alive. I have read about Sheehan's and it got me thinking, but I guess my results would be abnormal.

Would be very grateful for anyones help

Bel

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Well your Ft4 is very low

TSH would have been higher at 8-9am

you have MS?

Having one autoimmune disease makes others more likely

Essential to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Request GP test thyroid antibodies and vitamins

Or get full testing privately

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 ideally 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

thyroiduk.org/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

[Belinda-2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks Slow dragon for replying, I'll check all that info out. I did have a TPO test about 2 years ago and that was negative.

Can I just ask, can T4 be low for no reason?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Belinda-2]

So you need to test Thyroglobulin antibodies privately. NHS won’t test TG antibodies unless TPO are positive

yes you can have low Ft4 for lots of reasons

Recovering from illness

Low vitamin levels

Sheehan syndrome

Central hypothyroidism

Adrenal issues

etc etc

[Belinda-2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. Just spoke to GP for something else and she said my T4 is perfectly normal and not at all low. She said TSH a more accurate test....

[TiggerMe in reply to Belinda-2]

Time to swop GP as this one will keep you ill 😕

[Belinda-2 in reply to TiggerMe]

I'll give her a miss the next time !

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Belinda-2]

She’s never heard of central hypothyroidism then!?

Get full thyroid and vitamin testing and try different GP

If still no progress

Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists

Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations

thyroiduk.org/contact-us/ge...

[Belinda-2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you very much. She was very dismissive. She said she'd never seen a case of Sheehan's and that it wouldn't just be T4, and that there was nothing wrong with my T4 anyway!