Blood test results show a TSH of 13.61 and a T4 level of 18.5, what does this mean?

[Kaybee07]

Help with test results

[Kaybee07]

Oops sorry not sure why it posted 3 times

The receptionist at the doctor surgery asked if I had went on holiday for a week and forgot to take my tablets! They can't understand why one result shows I'm hypo when the other shows that I'm fine and would I like to wait another 3 months to get a new test?!?! I said no so have an appointment with a doctor next week. Surely this shows I'm hypo and my medication needs increased.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Kirsty

[Barbara]

Hi Kirsty, I've deleted the extra posts for you. Not sure why this is happening, there have been a few like this recently!

On the face of it the TSH and T4 don't tally, you would normally expect a much lower T4 with a TSH like that but results don't always seem to follow the norm! Your receptionist is theoretically correct - someone who hasn't taken their correct dose for a while could expect a higher TSH like yours and might take their thyoxine normally again before a test and get a normal level of T4. The reason is that it takes up to 6 weeks for TSH to change whereas it's much shorter for T4. Also if you take your thyroxine up to 3 hours or so preceding a test the level of T4 will peak in your blood and show a higher level than it will level out to after that.

Could you get the reference ranges for your tests and some of your previous results too if possible & post them on here for us to compare with your latest ones. That might shed some light on this.

[Kaybee07 in reply to Barbara]

Hi Barbara,

I had been taking my normal dose as per usual before the test and I hadn't taken a tablet that morning, my blood test was at 8:30am.

Will I have to ask the doctor for the reference ranges and previous results or could I phone up the receptionist today? I have been feeling a bit hypo the past few months and certainly have a few symptoms but I'm worried that nothing will be done. I seem to have been fighting a losing battle the past few years regarding my thyroid.

Thanks for your help, it's good to know I can get some answers from people in similar situations.

Kirsty

<b>Updated on Sep 17 2010 8:39AM:</b> Phoned my doctors office and got the last 3 results

2/4/09 - TSH 1.40 no other levels recorded

22/10/08 - TSH 0.02, Total thyroxine level(?) 29.9, Total T3 - 1.6 (I had just given birth to my daughter in august so was still on the higher level of thyroxine)

The reference range for TSH is 0.4 - 4.0

Kirsty

[Hidden]

Hello Kaybee,

this could mean several things.

If the t4 level is towards the top of the range and you are not on meds, then it shows the thyroid gland is producing T4 but is having to be driven very hard to do this.

If,however, you are on meds then even though you have t4 available,your cells could be short of t3, so the TSH has risen, to tell the thyroid to put out more hormones, you either are not coverting t4 to t3 or you are unable to use the t3.

are you taking selenium to help with conversion?

Nelly B

[Kaybee07 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Nelly

Sorry I don't know what selenium is.

I was diagnosed when I was 17 and am now 33, I have been on 100mg for the majority of this but when I was pregnant I had my thyroxine increased to 175mg. This was dropped to 100mg again about 4/5 months after the birth of my daughter. This is the first time the doctor has been 'confused' by my results, but then this is a new doctor I am seeing.

Kirsty

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Hidden]

Hi Kaybee

Selenium is a mineral, it is naturally found in brazil nuts, but you can buy supplements too.

xx

[Kaybee07 in reply to Hidden]

Ah right, thank you =)

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

So, if you are on levothyroxine but not converting it to T3 (Liothyronine) your tsh could rise as the cells are short of t3. You need selenium to help you convert. Suggest you get a t3 test to find out where you are.

You may have to get this done privately. Cost is under £20 from lab 21.

Nel