Medicheck results

[ASW59]

Hello, I have read many helpful and sage replies over the past few years but never posted before and wonder if you kind people would review yet another set of results. I have wondered over the years if I'm borderline hypothyroid and have had 3 or 4 TSH blood tests with nhs GP ranging from 4 to 6 (after childbirth so 30 years ago) I have never been offered medication despite asking for a trial of thyroxine. I have many symptoms, if milder than others ... dry skin, low average pulse rate,sleepy in afternoons, muscle weakness at gym, weight gain especially post menopause, dry eyes, etc etc, most of which mirror menopausal symptoms ...if you think any of results are off could you let me know or advise some natural remedies. Maybe I'll go back to GP for one last time. Medichecks have indicated all my results are within range but would like to run past you experts. Many thanks.CRP 0.777 mg/L

Ferritin 51.2 ug/L (30-332)

Folate ....Sample error, not reordered...should I?

Vit B12 105 pmol/L (37.5-188)

Vit D 87.1 nmol/L (50-250)

TSH 3.81 mIU/L (0.27-4.2)

Free T3 4.7 mIU/L (3.1-6.8)

Free thyroxine 15.7pmol/L (12-22)

Thyroglobulin antibodies 30.1 kIU/L (0-115)

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies <9 (0-34)

Took test 8am on empty stomach, don't take any meds or vitamins.

Again, thank you for reviewing

[Bertwills]

Hello, & welcome to the forum. Your results are a bit puzzling as your TSH is a little raised but your T4 & 3 are in range.

On the low side though & I think your T3 might be showing signs of a struggling thyroid.. your ferritin reading is lowish too so maybe you could increase your iron levels which might help how you feel better, Vitamin D too. Both are important for thyroid health. Post again if you’d like help with iron supplements, I’m afraid I don’t know as I don’t need them.

Folate is also important so hopefully if you test again you will get more info. You could try taking some B vitamins. I take Ignneus from Amazon which has the correct form of methyl folate. Hopefully boosting some of your levels will help.

[pennyannie]

Hello ASW and welcome to the forum :

Hypothyroid symptoms tend to start developing once the TSH is over 2 :

Years ago treatment for hypothyroidism was started when the TSH went over 3 -

and in some other countries in the world this is still the recognised cut off point and you would be diagnosed as hypothyroid - and be prescribed T4 - Levothyroxine.

Currently in the UK I think the rules are 2 x TSH readings over 10 - at least 2 months apart :

A normal functioning thyroid - euthyroid - would be with a TSH at around 1.20-1.50 and with a T4 at around 50% through its range with the T3 tracking just behind the T4.

Your TSH is currently 3.81 with your T4 at around 37% but with your T3 at 43% showing your results - inverted -

and your body is struggling to keep up - as you haven't enough T4 circulating in your blood -

to do all that you are doing - with ease -

The body will prioritise in holding T3 levels as high as are needed - as T3 is the active hormone that runs the body and needed by every cell in your body with the brain and heart taking the lions share -

with your thyroid responsible for full body synchronisation from your physical ability and stamina through to your mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.

My first suggestion would be to cut back on the gym as I would imagine you are expending more energy than you are currently able to recharge, restore and replenish -

and look to improve the core strength vitamins and minerals -

I now aim for a ferritin around 100 - folate 20 - active B12 125 ( serum B12 500++) and vitamin D at around 125.

If your doctor has an understanding of thyroid health issues you may find some help but currently - as you say - your results are all in the ranges - and you are not ' seen ' as having a thyroid health issue.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

ideally get folate tested

ferritin is on low side

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.

It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

or

Randox Vitamin tests £69 - in clinic only blood draw

randoxhealth.com/en-GB/in-c...

Clinic locations

randoxhealth.com/en-GB/heal...

meanwhile

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Then retest thyroid and vitamin levels in 2-3 months

[ASW59]

Dear All, thank you so much for such detailed replies! I feel somewhat relieved that I have possible reasons for all my foggy symptoms for more than 35 years and for the first time results explained to me in such detail. Rather than jibes (friendly) from family and friends that I'm not moving fast enough, not pushing hard enough in various sports (feel as if wading through treacle sometimes) not thinking fast enough or I must be eating too much (despite adhering to eating roughly less than 1400 cals a day for years and staying at 2 stone overweight) etc etc ...I certainly will get iron checked out and Ferritin (my mum had dreadfully low iron levels) levels first before supplementing. Will address upping Bs and Ds after this. And will come back for fathoming results. What would folk do without a forum like this! Am very grateful for your responses.

[pennyannie in reply to ASW59]

Dieting and counting calories does not work and can down regulate thyroid function -

and you find yourself in a vicious circle -

and good clean wholesome foods + good fats = good thyroid health :