Test results

[Yellow_tulip]

Hello

I have received tests from Medichecks for my mother. My mom had her thyroid destroyed years ago by radioactive iodine. Since then she is taking natural thyroid hormone as she responded badly to the synthetic option. Recently she switched to the one from Thailand and she is feeling OK, however the results are not so good, and they are as follow:

TSH : 4.38 mlU/L

Free T3 : 7.1 pmol/L

Free Thyroxine : 13.5 pmol/L

The problem is that she can't discuss them with her GP as she is not taking Levothyroxine which they prescribing her and there is no option for a natural hormone to be prescribed. The Medichecks dr. commented that her results are confusing, and might be affected by other meds she is taking. She had a gallbladder removal surgery in April 2024 after long complications and recently she had cataract surgery for both of her eyes. Other that that she is not on any medication except the thyroid.

I will appreciate all comments 🤗

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Can you edit this and make a separate post for each of you? Its going to be far too confusing to comment on 2 different peoples results in one post. Also add reference ranges for each test and any vitamin results you have.

[Yellow_tulip in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you

I will do that right now👍

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

You havent added the reference ranges but by most ranges her FT3 is on the high side and also TSH too high which is strange.

Is she forgetting to take her tablets sometimes?

How did she take the test?

What time of day was it?

When and how much NDT did she take before the test - hours?

For NDT testing - day befor test split dose into 2 or 3 and take last portion 12 hours before thetest.

Essential to also test key vitamins ferritin, folate, B12 & D3.

[Yellow_tulip in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hello and thank you for the reply. To answer your questions I have copied them below.

Is she forgetting to take her tablets sometimes? She is quite good and takes them regularly in the morning.

How did she take the test? She ordered the kit from Medichecks and got the blood taken in the clinic 5 hours after the thyroid pill.

What time of day was it? The blood was taken around noon and the sample was mailed to the lab.

When and how much NDT did she take before the test - hours? She takes Thyroid-S, 1 tablet which is 60mg at 8am.

She is wasn't taking vitamins lately but is getting back to it, starting with D3 from this week. Should she add B12, ferritin and folate as well?

Thank you again, this is very helpful

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Yellow_tulip]

How does she feel?

Likely she needs a dose increase.

1 tablet of Thyroid S is a fairly low dose. She took her last dose only 5 hours before the test, usually we suggest 12 hours for NDT so her free hormone result, particularly FT3 is showing a false high.

You could retest under the following conditions to be sure:

Test at 9am, fasting that morning

Last dose of NDT 12 hours before, so haf in the moring then at 9pm the night before take half a tablet.

If she were taking a B complex she would need to stop that 4-7 days before the test.

if she hasnt tested vitamins recently then its a good idea to do so. Likely she needs it D +k2, B complex also.

[pennyannie]

Hello Yellow_tulip and welcome to the forum :

Can you please share with forum members you Mum's results on the NDT she was previously taking so we can compare to these Thyroid S results -

What dose is your Mum now taking - and is it the same dose as when taking Armour of Efra ?

Were these blood tests taken under the same blood test conditions ?

Ideally we suggest an early morning fasting blood test - around 10-12 hour from last dose of NDT ?

Is it just that her readings have changed - or is she unwell and experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism ?

[Yellow_tulip]

Also I am not sure which ranges to follow? The suggested ranges varies between labs and consultants.

Medichecks = TSH: 0.27 to 4.2; Free T3: 3.1 to 6.8; Free Thyroxine: 12 to 22

but I found practitioners who suggest = TSH: 05 to 2.5 ; Free T3: 3.6 to 4.2; Free T4 1 to 1.7

Is free Thyroxine same as Free T4? the ranges are completely different???

It's all confusing.

All help highly appreciated 🙏

[pennyannie in reply to Yellow_tulip]

You need the ranges from the same laboratory who ran the blood tests -

and are generally printed out with / alongside the results :

Medichecks ranges apply to Medichecks Blood test -

NHS ranges need applying to NHS result :

T4 is a thyroid hormone - as is T3 - and on a daily basis a fully functioning working thyroid gland would be supporting you with around 10 mcg T3 + 100 mcg T4 :

Thyroxine is another word for T4 - and naturally produced as T4 -

and can be used to describe brands of T4 - synthetic thyroid hormone replacement -

[helvella Administrator in reply to Yellow_tulip]

The reference intervals (ranges) vary by lab.

You really should use the specific range used by the lab which did your test. If they were done by two, or more, labs you need to use two or more ranges for each test.

Free Thyroxine is Free T4.

The units used by labs vary. For example, for Free T4 most labs in the USA use ng/dL whereas most labs in the UK use pmol/L. That would explain one source saying 12 to 22 and another saying 1 to 1.7. (That is on top of the lab-to-lab variations!)

When you see a T3 test which does not say "Free" or "Total" be careful. It could be either.

Some labs have different ranges by age, by sex, etc.

We often look at test results by considering the percentage of the way between the bottom and top of the range. If we do that, we try to allow for variations between labs. It is not perfect but it is better than just using the numbers directly.

Thyroid Test Results Calculators

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Some tests, such as ferritin, vary hugely and the top of the range can jump just because you get a day older!