I had a blood test on 5 April and the TSH result was 7.10 and the T4 result 13.6. I queried it with my GP who said there is nothing to worry about and that it is the T4 reading which matters. I am to have a retest in July. Am I worrying unnecessarily ?
Thank you.
Well, a TSH reading of over 7 means that your pituitary doesn't agree with him. Your pituitary is of the opinion that there's not enough thyroid hormone in the blood. If there were, the TSH would be around 1.
And your FT4 looks low but impossible to tell without the range. Ranges vary from lab to lab so we always need the one that came with your results.
And if your FT4 is low, your FT3 is probably going to be lower. And it's the FT3 the most important number because T3 is the active hormone needed by every single cell in your body to function correctly. If it's low, you're going to have a whole heap of symptoms.
So, whilst I salute your doctor for not being obssessed with the TSH (wonder if he takes that attitude when the TSH is suppressed...) I have to disagree with him, and say you're not worrying unnecessarily.
Thank you for your reply. The TSH normal range is 0.27 - 4.20 mu/L and the Free T4 11.3 - 21.6 pool/L. The tests were done at Wythenshawe Hospital when I was admitted with slow speech, palpations, high blood pressure, feeling nauseous, not being able to focus/concentrate. I had a cat scan and mri scan to rule out a stroke as I had a TIA in March 2020. I had a migraine 5 days before admission and one whilst in hospital. I was discharged with a diagnosis of migraines but am awaiting a heart monitor appointment on 24 May because of the palpations. I take propranolol as a base drug for migraines but hadn’t had one for 3 years. It is all very odd.
I am very tired and feel like it is an effort to walk about. I am 66 and work 3 days a week in a secretarial role.
Any further thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Propranolol lowers how you use thyroid hormones
Are you diagnosed as hypothyroid and on levothyroxine already
Or considering wether you should be diagnosed
How much propranolol are you taking
Migraine is hypo symptom
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 and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before 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
Post all about what time of day to test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
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
Retest via GP at 6-8 weeks after first abnormal test
Getting diagnosed - flow chart
I take 40mg propranolol morning and evening. I don’t know whether to investigate further or wait until July for repeat blood tests.
You could request GP test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 now
Thank you. I will arrange that.
It looks like Subclinical Hypothyroidism in which case your GP is wrong. NICE guidelines say that a trial of Levothyroxine should be given (age dependant) if the patient has symptoms.
Can you get a full thyroid hormone test privately through Monitor My Health. That will show if your T3 is too low. I suspect it is. Your TSH should be around 1.00. Anything over 2.5 TSH will give your hypo symptoms. Your journey through the NHS sounds very similar to mine. All tests mainly came back normal. But they wouldn’t test T3. I went private eventually and guess what it was too low T3 that was causing all my problems. I was put on T3 liothyronine medication along with my usual levothyroxine T4 dose. I could not believe the positive improvements almost straight away. It’s imperative to check your T3. Low T3 will cause high TSH readings. T3 is within every single cell of our bodies. It improves just about everything. I have Hashimotos and also tested positive for the faulty gene DIO2 which cause low conversion from T4 to T3. You can get your DIO2 gene tested through Regenerous Laboratories on line. I found the NHS impossible to find my issue, it should have been easy but I was sent down many blind alleys with no outcome. Go private if you can. First though check your T3 through monitor my health on line.
Thank you very much for this information. I will look into having a private test done. I feel really off today, slightly nauseous and dull headache, foggy brain and difficulty concentrating.
I could have wrote that reply a few years ago when I was in a real bad way. I was 59 and felt like I was 90 odd. Now with added t3 I’m like a spring chicken and feel years younger. Honestly get your t3 tested. It just might be your answer like it was mine.
I always use BlueHorizon reliable and numerical results that are clear and easy to understand, discount codes available through Thyroid Uk,
Thank you.
GRAVES BLOOD RESULT
Tsh result
Should I challenge my TSH result?
Transient low tsh result
T3 Result
