Thyroid results

[topsi]

Hi could someone look at my thyroid results please, they are all within 'normal' limits but some are on the low side. Many thanks

total thyroxine (T4) 84 (59-154)
TSH 2.87 (0.27-4.2)
free thyroxine 14.2 (12.0-22.0)
free T3 5.4 (3.1-6.8)

Also checked anti bodies but they are well within normal ranges.
Just want to find a reason for me feeling so down and tired all the time.

Thanks for all the input every one. Yes scott I am going to call thr GP tomorrow for another apt but they will only book for 2 weeks time I think! I will get my repeat blood results as well I hope.
I am also waiting for a reply from a private doctor which I hope will come tomorrow.

If there are no thyroid antibodies present and thyroid function tests are normal I really don't see how treating a euthyroid patient is "thinking outside the box" as opposed to negligent.. but if I've missed something let me know

If you have an enlarged thyroid gland,clinical signs of thyroid dysfunction such as eye disease etc, past history of thyroid or even other autoimmune disease or previous abnormal levels of thyroid hormones I would definitely say further investigation...thyroid ultrasound etc but if none of the above, just tiredness, I would say there is NO clinical indication for treating someone for hypothyroidism whatsoever.
TFT could be repeated to see if biochemical abnormality develops, but in the case of entirely normal biochemistry you would have to have clinical symptoms and signs... not sure the OP has these at all.

Perhaps my consultant Endo is negligent then? He seems to think that treating by symptoms is acceptable and in his view extreme tiredness is a key symptom against which he would adjust my levo dose. He did mention that often people feel better with a TSH below 2.

Hello Im reading this with interest - my last results were

TSH - 7
T4 14.0

I am now on thyroxine but my GP did seem a trifle reluctant to put me on it. I found out at Christmas that my level of TSH was 9 !.

For the past 7 weeks i have been bleeding off an on (I have a mirena coil thats been in for 2 years). The GP thinks that this may be due to the thyroid but i havent heard this before - has anyone else had any experience of this?

thank you

Hi lloydjam, I had breakthrough bleeding in the last month before diagnosis, as in period would start, stop, start, stop
Periods are now back to normal
You need to get your tsh below 1 and your t4 to the top of the range. If your gp does not agree, take in a copy of 'understanding your thyroid' by a toft (consultant endocrinologist) (book published with bma) and show him the relevant pages
If your tsh and t4 do not respond to adequate doses (maybe 100 - 200) then you need a referral to an endo to find out why

I am afraid I have no experience of the mirena coil and so can't help on that sorry.

With regard to your blood tests. I would be surprised if your local reference ranges for TSH went up to 9 or even 7. The TSH reference range in my area is 0.5-4.5.

If you were under my consultant that TSH result would be considered high and you would be offered a higher dose of thyroxine with a 6 week follow up blood test to see where things are at. Apart from the bleeding do you feel symptomatic?

Thank you Mercibucket

Im on 25mg a day , which I think is the lowest amount you can have and this has been for 3 weeks. I guess this is too low. The trouble is I almost felt like I had to ask to be put on the thyoid as she seemed reluctant. It seems a tricky situation for most of us to "push" the issue with our doctors.
thank you

Hello Scott

Thanks - just seen your post - I have been feeling terribly tired and have put on weight but had just put that down to being a mum ! My GP dedcided to test me back in December as she thought my neck was swollen. I am waiting for an ultrasound at the end of May - so will be interrested in that. She said the upper range was 5 but only seemed to think I was subclinical.

Sublinical/early stage/mild hypothyroidism when TSH is elevated and FT4 is within a normal range should, as I understand it still be treated sufficiently to bring TSH into the normal range. Even when symptoms are not obvious treatment can correct subtle unhealthy changes in the body. If this is new diagnosis for you I would recommend two books:

www.amazon.co.uk/The-Thyroid-Sourcebook-Edition-Sourcebooks/dp/0071597255/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336478369&sr=1-1

www.amazon.co.uk/Thyroid-Disease-Facts-Mark-Vanderpump/dp/019920571X/ref=pd_sim_b_7

Both are written by practitioners operating in the mainstream and both advocate the conventional treatment of hypothyroidism ie synthetic T4 so if you are looking for information on treatments such as T3 or Armour these won't be the books for you. However, they are excellent primers on thyroid disease and good reference books to have to hand. I have found them very useful.

Hello again, 25 is a starting dose for someone with heart probs or the elderly so you would not expect to stay on that long. It also needs to be increased quite soon otherwise you end up worse than you started as your thyroid will produce less but 25 is not sufficient for a replacement dose. I increased mine myself but I read up about it first

Did you also have antibodies and t4 tested?

Next time you go for bloods (6 weeks after starting meds and 6 weeks after any increase in meds) you also need ferritin, b12, vit d and folates testing. Ask gp so it is on the blood test form. Insist if necessary. It is very important they are all high in range

Hello again, 25 is a starting dose for someone with heart probs or the elderly so you would not expect to stay on that long. It also needs to be increased quite soon otherwise you end up worse than you started as your thyroid will produce less but 25 is not sufficient for a replacement dose. I increased mine myself but I read up about it first

Did you also have antibodies and t4 tested?

Next time you go for bloods (6 weeks after starting meds and 6 weeks after any increase in meds) you also need ferritin, b12, vit d and folates testing. Ask gp so it is on the blood test form. Insist if necessary. It is very important they are all high in range

Scott .. might adjust dose to get optimum tsh level after diagnosis but not start with clinically euthyroid pt and normal TFT I don't think

Yes but the question is what is normal!

Hi everyone, I come from a family were 3 of my siblings , cousins, aunt an grandma have under active thyroids, for the past 3 yrs I've been suffering all the symptoms, but all my blood test results are coming back within normal range, my last test last month was a basic thyroid test an that came back at 12.0 is this normal range , thanks

what test was it?

Hi Topsi, I think it was a tsh, am not to sure but the test the month before the doc said was normal also at 5

Hi again topsi, I've just found out my tsh was 1.5 an my t4 was 12.0 :)

Hi daisiedoo, what was the 5 the month before? Have they tested for antibodies and do you know the ref range for the t4? Sorry for all the questions!!

Hi daisiedoo, what was the 5 the month before? Have they tested for antibodies and do you know the ref range for the t4? Sorry for all the questions!!

Hi mercy bucket, yes the 5 was a month before, they have also tested for the antibodies last December an they were normal, for some reason the doc keeps rechecking my bloods an I've also had a scan on neck due to a lump near thyroid, that turned out to be a large lymph node, he also keeps asking me if anyone in the family has hashmitos :)

I'm not sure of the t4 the month before sorry mercybucket on the recent one of 12

What was the 5?? Your TSH?

Sounds like hashimotos - tsh yoyoing up and down as the autoimmune attack is not constant. Mind you, that's not a medical opinion!
If the range for t4 is like the one here, your t4 is at the bottom of the range
Can they test for antibodies again (or you could go private) or ask for a trial of levo to see if you feel better
Thyroiduk on healthunlocked is also a good source of info

Thanks mercibucket, I'm going to ask the doc to retest me an go from there :)

troptriste- TSH levels can be "normal", ie below the level clinicians have determined as the upper acceptable limit of 4.5 and the person can still have symptoms. I know to my cost what "within acceptable limits" means- 9 years of my life down the drain. Normal TSH levels vary from one person to another. I only feel well when my TSH is below 2.