Thyroid results

[Tidderbus]

Can anyone help interpret these results please?

Gp says they’re normal but I’ve been feeling so ill for ages, I’ve had pins and needles in my hands fingers toes and face and scalp, hair is falling out so much you can see the scalp now 😕 I have zero energy, pains everywhere etc. I have no appetite but have not lost any weight, In fact probably gained some

Serum free T4 level 12 pmol/L [5.6 - 21.0]
Serum TSH level 6.41 U/mL [0.38 - 5.33]

I also had menopause tests as the symptoms can cross over apparently which were also fine

Hi OP

I'm not at all an expert but your THS is high (above normal range) which I think indicates an underactive thyroid. Has your GP given you any feedback?

I think as your T4 result is within range they might want to take a wait and see approach. This link might be useful:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/underactive-thyroid-hypothyroidism/diagnosis/

Thank you -gp has said they’re ok so no medication but I’m struggling to cope with the symptoms, particularly the hair loss

Oops posted too soon and the pins and needles. I feel so foggy atm and struggling to function 🙁

TSH is above the range, which isn't normal.

Ideally speaking you should also have had tests for ferritin, vitamin D, folate and B12 and your GP should also have tested your thyroid antibodies as well as your T3, which is the active hormone that the cells in your body actually use.

However, very sadly GPs rarely do all those tests and even the enlightened ones that do, tend to have T3 refused by the lab!

You can get private tests done very easily and without too much expense too. Companies I have used are Medichecks and Blue Horizon. (I have no affiliation to them in any way, I've just used them myself.)

There are also websites where you can get more advice about how the thyroid works which you may find useful. Thyroid UK and TPAUK are good places to start.

Your TSH is very high. I got diagnosed when mine was 4; I don’t live in the UK though (which is very backwards when it comes to thyroid). I keep mine close to zero now; it’s the only way I feel human.

I had b12 and Folate 6 months ago and they won’t test for another 6

These were the results then
Serum vitamin B12 level 444 ng/L [180.0 - 915.0]
Serum folate level 3.7 ug/L [3.1 - 19.9]
And ferritin Serum ferritin level 8 ug/L [30.0 - 300.0]

Thanks for the help I think I’ll have to go back

Oh and thanks for the tests online- I will have to go that way if the gp won’t restest before a year

Your ferritin is very low OP... have you been taking iron supplements since then? B12 looks ok on the surface but folate is on the low side too.

Look at the NICE guidelines. Your TSH is out of range but the NHS would say it’s “sub clinical”. However, the guidelines are to trial levothyroxine if you have symptoms. Other countries would treat if your TSH is above 3.

The low ferritin should explain most of your symptoms.

Overtreating subclinical hypothyroidism is done more in europe/USA but can lead to osteoporosis and other complications, I think the UK system is better. You should get this rechecked in 6-12 months.

(Doctor)

Hip, what would you say given the nice guidelines and the symptoms and the fact the tsh is out of range on this test?

I agree the ferritin could cause a lot of this. Also, I was told by a researcher in the field that healthy thyroids need iron to function fully (as well as iodine and selenium). So improving the ferritin a lot might help, but it would need to be a lot, over 70.

Op, Your tsh is raised to try to stimulate the thyroid to increase production of t4. Starting t4 cAn sometimes disrupt the balance and the thyroid eventually gives up, hence why there's caution. However, given symptoms, and according to nice guidelines, you could possibly be considered for a trial of t4 but definitely need monitoring. I do wonder if it's worth asking if they'd consider an antibody test too.

As an aside, the tsh would be completely if range if considering ttc.

Thank you -actually dr surgery just called as they did test ferritin- it’s now 13, a way to go to 70! Not ttc so no worries there. I’ve been on iron tabs for 6 months or so

This could have been me writing this.

My levels are

Serum TSH level 1.02 mu/L [0.35 - 4.94]
Serum free T4 level 13.9 pmol/L [9.0 - 19.0]

They've also told me in low on Ferritin and Vitamin D

Feel worse since taking the supplements for those.

I have been booked for an ultrasound in 3 weeks. Is it worth seeing doctor again before the scan and should I just manage until the scan results are back?

Got noone to talk to so pleased you started this thread

Serum TSH level 1.02 mu/L (0.35 - 4.94)
Serum free T4 level 13.9 pmol/L (9.0 - 19.0)

Not sure where the stars came from

Ferritin should have been higher than that on 6 mo of tablets?

Your ferritin (iron stores) are desperately low. I hope your GP recommended iron supplements and/or wrote a prescription.

I don’t know how the cause of your high TSH can be properly understood without at the very least establishing if you may have Hashinoto’s, which is one of the most common reasons for hypothyroidism. This is an autoimmune condition and if you had it, you would be more at risk of other autoimmune disorders.

If at all possible please get your thyroid antibodies tested.

Your folate is also right at the bottle of the range. To achieve optimal levels, you might want to consider increasing your intake of leafy green salad and vegetables.

What iron tablets have you been taking and what is the strength (ug /mg)?

They are prescribed ones - ferrous fumate 210g

Lol mg and fumerate

In order to diagnose you your gp may wait until your tsh is over 10. Did they test you for antibodies? That can be the extra weight needed for a thyroxine trial (ie if your ABs are high and you have symptoms and your tsh is over normal range they may do a trial even if your tsh hasn't gone over 10).

Op, have you had a look at Thyroid UK? They can help you figure it out. healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk

The British Thyroid Foundation are a great source of info and have a help line.

This fact sheet says pretty much what has been said here as well as the nice guidelines, your lab ranges are a bit different though.

www.btf-thyroid.org/information/leaflets/34-thyroid-function-tests-guide

I'd ask the Gp to follow the nice guidelines and the above and check antibodies.

There's new research on raising iron levels. It's described toward the end of this programme. They think taking huge amounts of iron reduces its absorption so have tried lower doses on alternate days: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09ply54

I was on the same as you but would raise it by around 30/40 points in 3 months, but it would drop again as periods were so heavy. I had issues with the iron tablets too (ibs) so the Gp suggested a fodmaps diet approach. I cut out soft dairy and gluten and ate a really iron rich diet with lots of orange juice. In about 6 weeks my iron went up the same amount as it had done in 3 months on iron tablets. I worked out milk was the issue; i had developed lactose intolerance but was also just drinking too much; calcium inhibits iron absorption. It slowly resolved though and I'm fine now with milk. I take thyroxine though so iodine isn't as important as it will be for you (dairy is a good source.)

What was your hemoglobin, red blood count, MCV, MCH results. My lab says that ferritin of 13 is within the normal range but after 6 months of ferrous fumerste, it should be much higher. Mine went from 10 to 145 after 6 months on 1 tab a day.

Wow, if you were taking those tablets for 6 months your levels should have increased more. You’re still quite low at 13.

I had a within range T4 but TSH of 19 but my GP was reluctant to treat despite multiple physical symptoms. He did though get me tested for antibodies which were positive so then agreed to start me on thyroxine.

I had to battle my gp to get them to test my antibodies after similar results to yours (twice). Ended up going in with the NICE guidelines and complaining to the practice manager. Was positive for antibodies, decently high. They decided not to treat it for me. Ended up changing gps for many reasons and the new gp also decided treatment wasn't an option but advised looking into the auto immune protocol as many of his patients had reported good results, though it may do nothing but worth a shot. I tried it and it certainly helped minimise a lot of the symptoms. Still get test results like yours from time to time, but antibodies have dropped into the slightly high range.

That said, you probably want to go back and get them to test for antibodies before you try anything else. Good luck