understanding results: Hi I just had my thyroid... - Thyroid UK

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understanding results

eixip profile image
6 Replies

Hi I just had my thyroid checked and I've been told I'm in excellent health. But I'm so exhausted and in pain quite a lot and I don't feel in excellent health! I also have a diagnosis of endometriosis. not currently on any thyroid medication

thyroid:

tsh 2.01 (0.27 - 4.2)

t3 4.5 (3.1 - 6.8)

thyroxine 15.8 (12-22)

autoimmunity:

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODIES 13.6 (0-115)

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES <9 (O- 34)

inflammation:

crp hs <0.15 (<3)

vitamins:

folate serum 12.6 (<7)

b12 60.8 (37.5 - 188)

vit D 88.6 (50-250)

iron:

ferritin 91.7 (30-169)

really grateful for any advice/help

thank you

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eixip
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6 Replies
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator

Welcome to the group. If you could complete your profile it helps members understand your thyroid journey so far and be able to advise you better. Click on your image icon to start. Fill out the free text box at the top.

You haven't included the reference range for each test - numbers in brackets after you result. This is important as ranges vary between labs.

I can see though that your TSH at over 2 is too high. To feel well people need it to be at 1 or under.

Go back to perhaps a different GP, explain your symptoms and insist on a dose increase.

Vit D is good.

Ferritin is good.

Folate & B12 need to be higher to be optimal which is what we need for our body to use the thyroid hormone well. I'd suggest a good methyl B complex to help keep all the B's in balance.

B complex suggestions: Slightly cheaper options with inactive B6:

amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

Contains B6 as P5P an active form:

bigvits.co.uk/thorne-resear...

healf.com/products/basic-b-...

Explanation about the different forms of B6:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

B complex comparison spreadsheet:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

eixip profile image
eixip in reply to Jaydee1507

Thank you, that's really helpful, I have updated with ranges

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie

Hello Eixip and welcome to the forum :

A euthyroid TSH is said to be around 1.2/1.50 - and the higher the TSH rises the more hypothyroid symptoms you will tend to ' pick up ' - with hypothyroidism known to occur when the TSH rises over 2/3.

Your T4 should be around 50% through the range with your T3 tracking slightly behind -

currently your T4 is at just 36% with your T3 slightly higher at around 38% - and your result inverted :

and this shows your thyroid struggling as there is not enough T4 circulating to convert to T3 which is the active hormone needed to run the body effectively and why your T3 is higher than your T4 :

Currently in the UK the NHS requires 2 separate TSH tests scores over 10 - a couple of months apart - before you will be diagnosed hypothyroid and prescribed thyroid hormone replacement.

If you had over range and positive antibodies TPO or TgAB doctors have some discretion in starting treatment sooner - but these current results are showing both these most common thyroid antibodies as ' in range ' :

No thyroid hormone replacement works well until your core strength vitamins and minerals are optimal - I now aim for a ferritin at around 100 - folate around 20 - active B12 125 ( serum B12 500++ ) and vitamin D around 125.

Maybe another doctor may see your situation differently ?

eixip profile image
eixip in reply to pennyannie

thank you so much for your reply, really helpful

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Currently in the UK the NHS requires 2 separate TSH tests scores over 10 - a couple of months apart - before you will be diagnosed hypothyroid and prescribed thyroid hormone replacement.

Actually that’s not correct

It’s two tests with TSH over 5, symptoms…..and especially if high thyroid antibodies

Starting levothyroxine - flow chart

gps.northcentrallondonccg.n...

endometriosis is considered autoimmune

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue too.

Request coeliac blood test BEFORE considering trial on strictly gluten free diet

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)

DippyDame profile image
DippyDame

Funny how doctors can tell us how we feel.....surely the patient is best placed to explain this, and the doctor has a duty to listen!

I certainly wouldn't feel "in excellent health" with those labs

t3 4.5 (3.1 - 6.8) 37.84% through ref range

thyroxine 15.8 (12-22) 38% ditto

We advise the Frees should be roughly approaching 75% through their respective ranges so you can see that you would benefit greatly from replacement thyroid hormone

Starting dose 50mcg levo, repeat test after 6/8 weeks and review dose....you have proably already read about this on the forum

Hopefully this (increasing) levo dose will convert to adequate T3....but yourT4 to T3 conversion looks ok.

For good health every cell in the body must be flooded with T3 by way of a constant and adequate dose.....this isn't happening for you!

You also need to optimise supporting nutrients ...

Vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin which could be better

Vitamin D, Grassroots Health mentioning a study which recommends over 125nmol/L (50ng/ml).

Serum B12 at least over 500

Active B12 at least over 70

Ferritin at least over half way through range

Folate is recommended to be at least half way through range

Also....antibodies low so thyroid autoimmune disease/ Hashi's can be ruled out.

Repeat tests...

TSH, FT4, FT3,

Vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin

Test at 9am

At least an hour away from food and drinks

Suggest you see nother GP who has better thyroid knowledge and can point you towards " excellent health".

Good luck.....and don't believe everything a medic tells you their thyroid knowledge is very poor!

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