Hi allI don't usually post here. And I'm not an expert with Thyroid results one bit.
I had a medichecks thyroid blood test done last Thursday.
The GP writes at the top about what the think/recommend about your results
So- my free thyroxine was 11.8 and my TSH was,1.26.
She wrote that this is at a healthy stage but if the free thyroxine goes lower especially if the TSH goes higher next blood test then I could have underactive thyroid.
What do you guys think to the results here?
I'm worried....she did say it could be transient and could go back higher on iys own (the free T). What should I do?
Written by
Vicky567
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can you take a screen shot of the test results (ensuring no name visible) and add to your post. You can do this by replying to yourself and clicking in the ‘photo’ icon below to add an image.
Are you on any replacement thyroid hormones and/or diagnosed as hypothyroid
Was test done early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and (if on Levo ….last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test )
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Extremely important to also test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
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 your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you 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
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 and may need 2 per day and/or may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
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 5-6 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
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 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70
Hi hun thanks I'm very new to all this. I've just collected my vitamin results and have written them out for a user above called slow dragon if u want to take a look?
Not before you have a clearer picture of what is going on, which a full test will do.
Don't worry it looks like you may just need to start on replacement hormone which your GP can do.
Members will guide you on the way forward
Nutrients
Your results underlined....you need to work on some results
Vitamin D- 87 (50.00-200 nmol/L
The Vit D Council, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health all recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L (40-60ng/ml), with a recent blog post on Grassroots Health mentioning a study which recommends over 125nmol/L (50ng/ml).
Serum folate- 4.9 (3.00- 20.50ug/L
Folate is recommended to be at least half way through range
Serum ferritin - 138 (30.00- 250.00ug/L
Optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is 90-110ug/L
Vitamin B12 - 224 (200.00- 900.00ng/L
According to an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:
We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".
"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."
Serum iron level - 17 (9.00- 30.00umol/L
Serum transferritin- 3.44 (1.80- 3.82g/L
Low levels are present in iron overload, high levels in iron deficiency. Should be interpreted in conjunction with other components of iron studies.
Transferritin saturation index - 19 (15.00- 50.00%
Transferrin saturations of less than 20% indicate iron deficiency, while transferrin saturations of more than 50% suggest iron overload
Hang on in there, it is tough but you can do this.
Many years ago I was put on a low dose of Sertraline for pain, after I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I had no idea what it involved until I decided to stop it. I did it very slowly and it was fine.
No need to worry....easy to say with hindsight....but you will be ok.
the reason for the 3 month wait to retest thyroid levels , is because there can be other temporary reasons for out of range thyroid results., such as non thyroidal illness, and several others .
it would be irresponsible of GP/ or endo to start anyone on levothyroxine for life without first confirming that the person really is hypothyroid and it's not just a passing unrelated issue causing the out of range results , and this takes time because thyroid hormone levels can be relatively slow to change ..... so they can't just test again in a week as that wouldn't rule out a temporary cause .
3 months is arguably too long , maybe 6-8 weeks would be kinder to patients , and some GP may be willing to shorten the timescale a little , depending on symptoms / any other factors going on...... but any shorter than that is just too soon to be useful.
the guidelines NHS GP's have to follow do not let them start someone on levo just for one slightly out of range fT4 result for good reasons.
if the repeat test again shows below range fT4 and TSH is still within range as it is now , then the GP would need to refer you to endocrinology (GP's can't usually prescribe levo unless / until TSH is out of range) .
because if your TSH is still within range that would suggest Secondary / Central Hypothyroidism... not primary hypothyroidism, and GP's cannot start treatment for secondary hypo,,, it needs to be properly diagnosed by an endo, because it involves testing other pituitary hormones to determine the cause . It is difficult to get diagnosed with secondary hypo, as they believe its rare.
"primary hypothyroidism "is where the thyroid gland itself isn't working properly ...
"secondary / central hypothyroidism" is where the thyroid itself is ok , but the pituitary / hypothalamus is not telling the thyroid to work.
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145 This guideline covers investigating all suspected thyroid disease and managing primary thyroid disease (related to the thyroid rather than the pituitary gland). this one mainly covers primary hypo ( where TSH is high), and only mentions secondary in the sense of 'refer to endocrinology if pituitary disease is suspected '
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