my latest results what do they mean please

[Prosecco1997]

can anyone tell me what these results mean please , can’t speak to a doctor till tomorrow, I have been very down , and realy bad anxiety lately , have not been coping well ? Any link to these levels and meaning ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What time was test

How long before test was last dose Levo

Which brand levothyroxine are you taking and do you always get same brand

Exactly what vitamin supplements are you taking

Is your hypothyroidism autoimmune

Just testing TSH and Ft4 doesn’t tell you much

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

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

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

[Prosecco1997 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have hashimotos thyroiditis, high antibodies , I took my Levothyroxine at 7am had test at 10.20 am are my results showing as they may be under or over

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Prosecco1997]

If you took Levo at 7 then had blood test at 10.20 you are probably showing a falsely high FT4 result. We recommend taking last dose of Levo 24 hours before a test, have your bloods taken then take Levo after the test.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

I took my Levothyroxine at 7am had test at 10.20

So Ft4 is falsely high as last dose levothyroxine only 3-4 hours before test

if you had taken test at 8-9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours hours before test …..TSH would have been higher and Ft4 a lot lower

Come back with new post once you get full thyroid and vitamin testing done correctly

[Prosecco1997 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve reduced my levothyroxine to 50 g , this is the second day , but not feeling right , iam suffering with very bad anxiety at the min , which has being going on for. Few months , I seem to be getting more etopic beats since reducing my meds , realy don’t know what to do , stick at 50 or go back to 75

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

You should not have reduced dose

Ft4 result was false high as you took levothyroxine before test

Stay on 75mcg and get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Just testing TSH and Ft4 is totally inadequate

[Cavalierrubie]

TSH and T4, is thyroid function test. Anxiety is a symptom of a thyroid problem. Normally, when you have an abnormal blood result, the doctor repeats the test to confirm. It could be a lab fault as mistakes happen. Thyroid can be treated, so try not to worry too much. I am sure you will get to the bottom of all these problems you have been having recently. Best wishes for tomorrow.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Cavalierrubie]

I’m on 75 mg of levothyroxine, not sure if I need more or less ?

[Buddy195 Administrator]

I have edited your photo to remove name of GP.

Is this your first thyroid blood test?

Ask for thyroid antibodies are checked by GP in first instance.

Increased anxiety has been the worst symptom of having a thyroid condition for me (& many others). For me, it is always worse if thyroid medication or key vitamins (ferritin, folate, vitamins B12 and D) are not optimal.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Buddy195]

Thankyou , I have high thyroid antibodies, hashimotos thyroiditis, just wondering if I should carry on taking 75 mg levo in morning or more or less

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

We advise taking Levo AFTER an early morning blood draw (preferably test before 9am)

[Prosecco1997]

spoke to my doctor this morning, said iam overactive , need to reduce to 50 mg Levo per day , then retest in 6 to 8 weeks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Prosecco1997]

Get full private testing done now

Or get GP to retest including vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Ensure you test early morning, ideally before 9am and only drink water between waking and test and most importantly last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Which brand of levothyroxine are you taking

As you have Hashimoto’s are you on strictly gluten free diet and/or dairy free

[Canta]

Your doctor will no doubt test you again in two or three three months' time. Ask for T3 to be tested as well (and remember to take your Levo dose after the test).

[SlowDragon Administrator]

suggest you reread previous posts

Eg

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Absolutely ESSENTIAL to test vitamin levels regularly

Exactly what vitamin supplements are you taking

Low vitamin levels results in poor conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone)

Poor conversion results in high Ft4 and low Ft3

High Ft4 results in low TSH

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances.

Most common by far is gluten.

Dairy is second most common.

A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing

Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential

A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and may slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first as per NICE Guidelines

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...

Or buy a test online, about £20

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet 

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially) 

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial

With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past

Post discussing gluten

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Cutting gluten can significantly reduce anxiety