my husband did the full thyroid panel and got the results back today. They’re all in the green but I wondered if you could give me any further insight. Thanks
Edit to add that he did it as advised by medichecks. He did it at about 8am. He didn’t eat or drink anything but water from getting up. He isn’t on any medication as he’s not diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
FT3 5.4 (3.1-6.8) 62.16%
FT4 15.1 (12-22) 31.00%
His FT4 is very low. His FT3 is much higher - which is unusual in itself, and suggests that his thyroid is failing.
At 3.59, his TSH is too high, and technically hypo. However, it's still in range and therefore his doctor would say there's nothing wrong with him, and all his results are 'fine' and 'normal'. They don't know enough about thyroid to recognise the signs. His TSH would have to be at least over-range on two consecutive tests to interest a doctor. But, keep testing, and time will tell. Does he have any symptoms?
Thanks for your reply and help. That’s what I was thinking - that TSH is too high but that doctors won’t do anything. He’s on lithium - would that explain the results?
Yes, he has a lot of signs of hypothyroidism which was part of the reason we tested and partly because his results (the ones from the clinic that gives him blood tests regularly while on lithium) suggested things were a bit off but they don’t do a complete panel.
It’s possible symptoms may be down to other things (he was told one of his b12 tests came back low but doctors said it’s in range and now the clinic says it’s back in range but I know the range is awful). He has thinning hair, low libido, depression, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, muscle cramps, muscle pain, chronic pain and probably other symptoms I haven’t thought of. It’s frustrating having to wait for it to get worse before the doctors will do anything as his symptoms are making him really depressed.
It’s frustrating having to wait for it to get worse before the doctors will do anything
Yes, it's a strange logic. But it's because they really don't understand anything about thyroid and how it all works. It's true that hypo symptoms are non-specific - and low B12 symptoms are very similar - but when you have a lot of them it has to be at least considered that they are caused by low thyroid. As I wrote to someone earlier: which scenario is the more likely: a) you have 36 diseases with one symptom each or b) you have one disease with 36 symptoms?
And it's counter-productive because they're treating all the sysmptoms as separate diseases which surely has to cost more than treating all the symptoms together by putting the patient on thyroid hormone replacement. But, that's how Big Pharma makes its money.
He’s on lithium - would that explain the results?
Yes. Lithium is known to cause hypothyroidism.
he was told one of his b12 tests came back low but doctors said it’s in range and now the clinic says it’s back in range but I know the range is awful
He needs to get the exact numbers for those tests. Just being in-range is not good enough. It needs to be at least over 550, if it's a serum test. They ranges are awful! Much too wide. And below a certain level he risks permenant neurological damage. Doctors just do not take B12 seriously enough.
Absolutely, very strange logic with all the extra time and money and then the money it costs in people not being able to work etc.
But yes, big pharma and their profits comes before the country and helping people be well.
I’m aware lithium can cause hypothyroidism (that’s why he gets frequent testing) I was more referring to you saying that the results were strange?
I have pernicious anaemia myself and know how awful the whole situation is. I was probably lucky that my results were so low that I was actually diagnosed or I’d never have looked into the fiasco the whole thing is! I’ve asked him to get his results and he’s tried several places but apparently needs an app with the doctor before they’ll give them to him which tends to be difficult because they never have apps and he works full time and looks after me and our daughter and the house. Sorry for the delay in reply.
I was more referring to you saying that the results were strange?
No, the lithium would not have a direct effect on the results. The FT4 is usually slightly higher in-range than the FT3 percentage-wise. The fact that his FT3 is much higher than his FT4 is either due to iodine deficiency - which is unlikely - or to the fact that his thyroid is failing. However, the lithium could be the reason his thyroid is failing.
I’ve asked him to get his results and he’s tried several places but apparently needs an app with the doctor before they’ll give them to him
I really don't think he does. They should give him a print-out at reception when asked, provided the doctor has seen the results. It's not usualy to insist on having an appointment with the doctor. He is legally entitled to his reults, and if they refuse to give them to him, he can take steps to force them. I can't remember the details, but I'm sure a new post will get them for you, from those that know. 
Ok. Thanks for the info.
He asked at reception. I know they should but our doctors is honestly horrendous. We’re looking into moving. Thanks
Well, as I said, there are means to force his hand. You should look into it, teach that horrendous doctor a lesson!
He could also have low testosterone. You can get that checked as well.
I asked for him to have this checked but he needs to see the doctor before they’ll tell him the results. Thanks
he needs to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
What vitamin supplements is he taking
He’s had all of these tested by the clinic he goes to. He’s not currently taking any vitamins.
Please add actual results and ranges
You say B12 is low
He is legally entitled to actual results
Low B12 symptoms
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...
NICE guidelines on B12 and testing
healthunlocked.com/redirect...
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement
A week later add a separate vitamin B Complex
Then once his serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), he may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
Highly effective B12 drops
natureprovides.com/products...
Or
B12 sublingual lozenges
uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...
cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...
B12 range in U.K. is too wide
Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Low folate
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Difference between folate and folic acid
healthline.com/nutrition/fo...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose
Post discussing different B complex
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...
Thanks for all that info. I forgot - he is prescribed 5mg folic acid by the doctors. I’ll make sure he gets results from the doctors and then we’ll get those supplements. I’ll have a look into the links. Thanks
Hi DownAndDesperate,
Lithium can affect your thyroid gland by lowering your thyroid hormone levels, FT4 and FT3. It can also affect the parathyroid glands too. A friend of mine has lithium induced hypothyroidism and is also taking levothyroxine now in addition to lithium.
As SlowDragon says it would be an idea for him to get other blood tests done; vitamin D, B12, folate and ferritin.
I'll have a look for some further information and research papers and I'll add them to my reply.
uptodate.com/contents/lithi... (it's only possible to read the outline unless you're registered)
thyroid.org/patient-thyroid...
Thanks. I had a read through the links. Luckily they’re not denying that lithium can cause hypothyroidism. It’s more the battle to get it treated now while it’s sub clinical.
Thank you so much for posting this as I also got some results from a Medichecks full thyroid test yesterday (though I also got Vitamins D, Folate, B12 and Ferritin as part of the test) and I’m also a bit confused. One result (just one) came back in the red and that was for TSH (6.44 - up again)!! Everything else (with one exception) came back the same or higher than it was before as well (including T3 and T4), which is why I’m confused. The exception (possibly) was B12, but that was a different test with a very different reference range to what I usually get so impossible to use for comparison purposes. The autoimmune checks both came back negative and clearly so!
Sounds like there’s a reason for your hypothyroidism that isn’t autoimmune for you. Have you been diagnosed because that level is pretty high but then my doctor wouldn’t diagnose me because mine was below 10. Luckily the hospital did the full panel with antibodies and my antibodies were very high so another doctor prescribed me levo. I saw the other doctor after and she still said no until I said our other doctor had prescribed them already so she was like ‘fine 🙄’. As to why your others have increased I’d suggest making a new thread and getting advice from someone more knowledgeable than me 😊
I’ve been told that I have subclinical hypothyroidism but that was very recent. I think one of the problems I have is that everything else relating to thyroid (antibodies, FT3 and FT4) all appear fine and some of the potential symptoms I’m showing can be put down to other medical conditions I have; to be fair to the medics I can see where they’re coming from with that. However, where I do get a bit frustrated is that cholesterol and visceral fat levels are higher than might be expected in someone of my size on a diet which no one has been able to fault and who keeps herself physically really quite fit. It really is quite surprising that last time both were checked I was in the amber zone for one of them and border line amber zone for the other. The problem is that if you looked at me you wouldn’t think it and because those tests were done as part of an annual health check on a private basis I’m not sure how much notice the local GPs will take of it. Admitted I’m not in the amber zone by much but I’d really rather it didn’t get worse. Prevention is far better (and cheaper for the NHS) than cure, but sometimes I wonder how much medics subscribe to that these days.
results…help please…
Results help please 
T3 results help please 
Bloods Results help please
Help with results please!
