Test Result Update

[4walls]

Hi, thanks to everyone who replied to my post last week where I was asking if test results can be wrong as I am suffering from many similar symptoms to hypothyroidism. I got my test results from my doctor from last year and feel rather fraudulent as they seem fine (these were taken Feb & May 2024):

Plasma TSH - 0.97 mIU/L

Plasma free T4 - 16 pmol/L

(taken at 11:45 in the morning)

Vit B12 - 539 ng/L

Folate - 6.8 ug/L

Serum transferrin 2.41 g/L

Ferritin - 29 ug/L

iron 21 umol/L

Transferrin saturation index 34.9%

So I seem bang in the middle of most of the reference ranges. It's a little disappointing in some ways as I really hoped that my thyroid was finally going to unlock years of poor health with IBS and low energy levels (despite doing my best with diet and working out several times / week). Guess my quest for answers goes on.

Thanks for all the signposting last week - appreciate it.

[greygoose]

Well, we can't know that they're bang in the middle because you haven't given us the ranges. Ranges vary from lab to lab so we need the ranges that came with your results.

Besides, being bang in the middle is not always a good thing. So you can't go by that. TSH, for example, would be too high if it were bang in the middle of most ranges.

But I doubt you folate and ferritin are in the middle. They're much too low. And they could be making you feel bad.

[4walls in reply to greygoose]

Thanks. I've replied to my original post with the reference ranges.

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Tests too long ago to be relevant so you need to retest

Folate is likely low

Ferritin is definitely deficient

Low ferritin (anaemia) will make you feel exhausted

Any reason for low iron…..heavy periods or vegetarian or vegan

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency

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

If taking any iron supplements stop 3-5 days before testing

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

or

monitormyhealth.org.uk/anae...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

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

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

No vitamin D test result

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

aiming for vitamin D at least over 80nmol

Come back with new post once you get results

Suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin retesting after working 3-4 months on improving low vitamin levels

Thyroid testing

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and 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

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...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

[4walls in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much for the detailed reply. All my tests were done originally mid-morning on the back of a hearty breakfast!

Just reading up about ferritin on the back of your information - yes, it does seem on the lower side (or at least was then that test was done). Reading through all your info - that's really useful. Thanks so much.

[4walls]

With reference ranges:

Plasma vitamin B12 - 539 ng/L (range 197 - 771)

Plasma folate - 6.8 ug/L (range 3.0 - 26.8)

Serum transferrin - 2.41 g/L (range 2.00 - 3.60)

Plasma ferritin - 29 ug/L (range 13 - 150)

Plasma iron - 21 umol /L (range 10-30)

Transferrin saturation index - 34.9% (range 20-55)

Plasma TSH - 0.97 mIU/L (range 0.27 - 4.20)

Plasma free T4 - 16 pmol/L (range 12.00 - 22.00)

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to 4walls]

First step is to get everything retested see where things are now

Work on improving low vitamin levels to optimal levels

Folate was also far too low - maintain near top of range

Test vitamin D too obviously

This may then improve thyroid

[greygoose]

FT4: 16 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22) 40.00%

So, your FT4 is not in the middle, and would be far too low for most people.

[4walls in reply to greygoose]

Really? I'd no idea. I need to read up all this info on reference ranges to get my facts straight before going back to my GP. thanks.

[greygoose in reply to 4walls]

You could start with this:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/the...