Opinions on blood results please

[Pinkylady89]

So I have always had really thick hair all my life, recently I noticed it was half the thickness, I am always tired I can have a full. 8 hours then have 4 hour nap during the day, my ears are always thudding, I'm feeling the cold more than I used too, mentioned it to my mum who suggested I have my thyroids checked due 2 family members having thyroid problems (hypo and hyper), skip forward and blood results show thyroid levels are normal,But then it says my serum albumin level is very slightly low and my serum calcium level is very slightly low but Dr's marked them off as normal no further action,

Now my question is, are these thyroid related as Google says hypoparathyroidism so I'm a little confused and wondered if I should ask for more tests if there are anymore

Thank you for reading

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum Pinkylady89,

So we can offer better advice, can you share blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:

TSH

FT3

FT4

Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)

If your GP is unable to complete all the above (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:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[lh22]

What were the results for your TSH, T4, and T3? Could you please mention those, along with the ranges.

[Pinkylady89]

Tsh level is 1.4mu/L and range is (0.35-4.7) and I haven't had a ft3 or ft4

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Hairloss frequently low ferritin

Very common with low thyroid levels

How old are you approximately?

Just testing TSH is useless

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

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)

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

[humanbean]

There is a relationship between calcium and vitamin D. Your calcium might be low because your vitamin D is low. It would be better to raise your vitamin D with supplements (if it is low) rather than raising your calcium with supplements.

If your vitamin D is well within normal range, or raising your vitamin D doesn't raise your calcium then taking calcium supplements is justified.

The optimal level for vitamin D is usually quoted as

In the UK : 100 - 150 nmol/L

In the USA : 40 - 60 ng/mL

The problem with calcium is that excess could end up lining your arteries rather than going into bones and teeth.

Anyone taking vitamin D should also take vitamin K2 and magnesium because they help to get calcium where it is needed.

[humanbean in reply to humanbean]

my serum albumin level is very slightly low

For info on this :

labtestsonline.org.uk/gloss...

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

I'm feeling the cold more than I used too

This could be caused by low thyroid hormones. Another common cause is low iron and/or ferritin (iron stores).