help with blood test results

[Biscuit188]

hi,

I’ve been having symptoms like shaking fast heart rate, I had a blood test.

wondering if anyone can help me understand them

ft4 11 11- 22

TSH 1.85 0.27 -4.2

[greygoose]

Hi Biscuiy188, welcome to the forum.

I'm afraid it's not possible to interpret blood test results like that, in a vacuum. We need to know a little more about you. So, I hope you'll forgive me asking a few questions:

1. Have you been diagnosed with an sort of thyroid problem?

2. If so, are you taking anything for it? What and how much?

3. Is this your first thyroid blood test? If you've had them before, were the results similar?

4. What time of day was the blood draw for these tests?

5. Have you ever had antibodies tested?

Your FT4 is very, very low, but there could be reasons for that, so we need to know all the details. Then we might be able to explain what they mean.

[Biscuit188 in reply to greygoose]

Hi,

thanks for replying

This recent test was done 3.30pm

I had low thyroid when I was pregnant wit my daughter in 2012. was resolved after i gave birth.

I am T2 diabetic on Mounjaro, my Hbac1 is now 40

My last thyroid test was February 2024 this was a morning appointment 8.30am

TSH 2.72 0.27- 4.2 Mu/L

FT4 13.6 12-22pmol

Triodothyronine FT3

4.4 31-6.8 Pmol

B12 642

Vitamin D 94nmol 75-200 optimal

Ferritin 141 30-150 it was high range @ 241

Folate 4.5 ug 2.4-17.5 ug

I had antibodie test in 2013 but that came back normal. But i do not have these results, I had those done at hospital, they injected something and done over time to get the result.

[greygoose in reply to Biscuit188]

OK, so a blood draw at 3.30 pm would give you a lower TSH than one before 9 am. TSH varies throughout the day so we always recommend getting the blood draw before 9 am when it's at its highest.

Even so, your TSH is low compared to your low FT4, which suggests a sluggish pituitary. And as doctors only tend to look at the TSH that could be a problem when trying to get a diagnosis - I take it you don't yet have one.

I had antibodie test in 2013 but that came back normal. But i do not have these results, I had those done at hospital, they injected something and done over time to get the result.

That does not sound like a thyroid test - cannot imagine what they would inject you with! That sounds more like a cortisol test. But, whatever, they should have given you the results.

The antibodies I was thinking of - which should be tested automatically when testing thyroid, but rarely are - were the TPO antibodies and Tg antibodies. It's very important to get those tested to get the complete thyroid picture.

So, despite your low in-range TSH, it rather looks like you are hypo because of that very low FT4. The difficulty would be convincing a doctor of that.

[Biscuit188 in reply to greygoose]

I will speak with the GP, due to the symptoms I am getting. I will order a private thyroid test as well... see what picture I get with that. I don't want to have underactive thyroid but i expect that is out of my control. My mother had it as well.

[greygoose in reply to Biscuit188]

I'm afraid it's totally out of your control, yes. None of us want it, it just happens.

A full thyroid panel done privately would be a very good idea.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum Biscuit188

So we can offer better advice, can you tell us more information , eg have you been diagnosed with a thyroid condition, any other ongoing symptoms in addition to elevated hesrt rate/ shaking , current thyroid medication & dosage (if any), plus blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for FT3 (in addition to TSH and FT4provided). Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12)

If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

[Biscuit188 in reply to Buddy195]

HI, I posted above more information to Greygoose. I may get a private one done, i have health insurance, I have contacted a private Gp to see if i can get more insight to my thyroid health

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Biscuit188]

Are you currently taking any supplements?

If you are considering seeing an endocrinologist at some point, I would start a new post asking for forum recommendations in your area. I say this because many endocrinologists are specialists in diabetes rather than thyroid health.

[Biscuit188 in reply to Buddy195]

I take vitamin D as i was deficient and B12

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Biscuit188]

I followed forum advice to improve my low folate by adding a good B Complex (like Thorne Basic B/ Ingennus Super B)

I would repeat your thyroid panel and key vitamins asap & share with us, as previous results from Feb 2024 are dated.

[Biscuit188 in reply to Buddy195]

I have just ordered from where i bought my last test monitor my health and see what that comes up with and I will post back

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Biscuit188]

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)

NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO are high

Monitor My Health also only test TPO antibodies

If you’re TPO antibodies are negative you can do alternative test next time

Randox FULL thyroid test including both thyroid antibodies just £31

Test at home or in clinic

Also available via Amazon

randoxhealth.com/en-GB/at-h...

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

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