TSH levels?

[AutumnComfort]

I posted this in women's health, but it’s quiet in there and I’m impatient 🙂

I'm looking at some blood test results. The Dr didn't mention anything was wrong (just low iron and a borderline b vitamin). I've seen that my tsh result was 6.3 & should I follow this up? My symptoms are general tiredness and lethargy. I think the range was up to 4??

I'm concerned that Dr Google mentioned heart issues as well.

Yes- that is higher than normal. NHS usually works on a 0.4-5.0 'normal range' I believe, but a private endo would suggest an ideal of 2.5.

Your TSH is higher than normal so you are likely hypothyroid (underactive). I'd definitely follow up and ask them to do an repeat test as a minimum.

If your levels are only slightly over, they often leave you and wait and see what it's like next time you test. I think they call it sub clinical hypothyroidism? I was like this for a fair few years until my level shot up and then they started me on Thyroxine.

Do you feel like you have the symptoms of an under active thyroid?

(Just to note, I feel awful unless my level is well below 2).

I would feel dreadful with a TSH that high. I only feel well when my TSH is below 1. People vary in what level they feel best at but 5 is far too high for most people.

Also, borderline B12, by NHS standards is far too low to be optimal. This could be dietary or inability to absorb sufficient. If you have a good diet, including meat then you should be getting sufficient but could top up with oral B12.
If you are not absorbing properly (this can be because of gastric surgery, acid reduction [ppis] or a medical reason) then extra oral B12 is unlikely to help and you need B12 injections - good luck with that, with the current NHS.

I would look up the symptoms of hypothyroid and make a note of all those that fit and do the same for B12 deficiency. The have another GP appointment and discuss them. Many symptoms apply to both and you may find that one fits better than the other or that you have the majority of symptoms for both. (I did).

I am now on thyroxine and B12 injections and my health is much improved.

I have had thyroid disease 20 plus years. Have today been told my TSH is 11! I have a sore mouth and throat, feel very weak etc. Not that I think you have to worry but I am a bit concerned about thyroid or pituitary cancer.

I think these are the relevant results:

B-haemoglobin (11.7-15.3) 13.8
B-platelets/ thrombocytes (165-387) 378
mch (27-33)29
mcv (82-98) 89
tsh (0.4-4.5) 6.3
T4 (Free Thyroxine?) (9.5-22) 16.3
ferritin (18-240) 28
folate (>10) 8.8
vit b12 (250-700) 338

Most are ok but are heading one way or the other (high or low).

My symptoms are just not feeling 'right'. I can’t concentrate often (brain fog or daydreaming). I'm so tired. I sleep well and wake up feeling like I’ve slept, but feel like I need to go back to bed. I could lie down all day. I cannot lose weight unless I really eat nothing - I put that down to my age (mid 40s). I have no energy.

I don’t eat meat, but do eat fish and I supplement with iron etc. I love vegetables so was surprised to see folate being low.

I wonder whether @mnhq could merge my two threads?