Can someone talk me through thyroid test results (10 years worth)

[KatyMac]

Ok exaggeration! There are only 5 but after the big chat thread about thyroid I feel a bit triggered

I have menopause IBS ME/CFS FM hypermobility malabsorption (sp?)

Serum TSH level 4.10 mIU/L [0.27 - 4.2]
Serum free T4 level 12.3 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]

Serum TSH level 7.00 mIU/L [0.27 - 4.2]; Above high reference limit
Serum free T4 level 14.6 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]

Serum TSH level 2.20 miu/L [0.27 - 4.2]
Serum free T4 level 12.1 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]

Serum TSH level 2.87 miu/L [0.27 - 4.2]
Serum free T4 level 15.0 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]

Serum TSH level 3.18 miu/L [0.27 - 4.2]
Serum free T4 level 14.9 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]

Symptom wise
Y Feeling out of sorts?
YY Constantly fatigued/drowsy, having afternoon naps?
When from Weight gain?
YY Digestive issues?
YY Bloating?
Not so much - IBS - Constipation?
Y Cold sensitivity
N Body hair loss?
YYY Stiffness, joint pain.
Y Dry eyes?
Y semi successful bladder repair - Frequent urination?
YYYY Muscle aches and tenderness?
YYYY Forgetfulness?
YYYY Mind fog?
N Dry skin, dry hair.
Y Yoyo weight.
Y Disturbed sleep?
N Acne flair ups?
N Fingernails that flatten round your fingertips?

Do I have to go and make a fuss? Remember I have pre-existing conditions so everything I have is a manifestation of those (including tennis elbow - undiagnosed for nearly 6 months & a large (avocado sized) fatty lump in my abdomen that was my ibs)

I take mine at night which the GP said was fine
Can't cope waking up without tea!

I've got 2 busy days at work tomorrow and Saturday- should I wait to start until Sunday do you think?

But if it takes a while to build up, I might be ok

You won't notice anything when you first start taking thyroxine. It's not an active hormone, your body has to convert it into the active form. It'll take some time before you start to feel the effect (which is hopefully a reduction in symptoms!).

What amount are you starting on? If it's only 50 mcg then that's very low and I would expect you will need an increase after a couple of months.

So glad that you are finally getting what you desperately need!

I would be interested to hear how you get on.

I have M.E. and my thyroid is always low in T4 and either above the reference range or just below it. After digging my heels in a few years ago, I was given a tiny dose (25mg) of levothyroxine to trial, which unsurprisingly made no difference, so I came off it.

When I was pregnant and had my bloods taken at booking in, I was contacted by the antenatal services telling me to increase my dosage. It was an interesting conversation when I told them my GP doesn’t consider I need any treatment at all!

That bodes well - my dose is 25

Learning curve!!

If your dose is only 25 mcg then you will almost certainly need a raise. It's such a stupidly low dose, unless you are elderly with co-morbidities!

Well I am 55 with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, IBS, hypermobility, and menopause

& they won't retest for 3 months

Have you had you thyroid antibodies done OP?

No not as far as I'm aware

I would ask your GP to test for thyroid antibodies, as this will give you the definitive answer as to whether you have Auto-immune Thyroid disease. In thyroid disease the thyroid starts to malfunction causing symptoms before you start to see a steep rise in TSH. Most endocrinologists like to keep a TSH below 2.5. If you are in the south-east I can give you a name of a really good Endocrinologist.

Another thought-have you had your testosterone tested?

I started testosterone mid August and it was tested at the same time as my latest thyroid

Free androgen index 6.74 [0.187 - 3.63]; Female Free Androgen Index Ref Range20-49 years: 0.297-5.62%>= 50 years: 0.187-3.63%; Above high reference limit

Serum sex hormone binding globulin level 24.2 nmol/L [27.1 - 128.0]; SHBG ref range (nmol/L):20-49 yrs: 32.4-128>50 yrs: 27.1-128SHBG female reference range is for non-pregnantpatients.; Below low reference limit

Serum testosterone level 1.63 nmol/L [0.101 - 1.42]; Female Testosterone Reference Range20-49 years: 0.290-1.67 nmol/L>= 50 years: 0.101-1.42 nmol/L; Above high reference limit

Oh and I had my ovaries out in 2018

My consultant (haematologist) asked my GP if they were treating hashimotos with homeopathy now as I'm 5ft 10 and was on 25mcg
They increased it to 50, no change so fought for 75. Changed doctors who put it up to 100. My TSH is usually around 2

My consultant (haematologist) asked my GP if they were treating hashimotos with homeopathy 😂Oh that's priceless! But he's right!

He's excellent. When I was told to shield, they missed me off the list and I had no food delivery, no food in and nobody to help
He yelled a lot at people and personally arranged a food box for me that day. I had a shielding letter the next day

Wow! He's awesome! So glad he sorted you out with food and a letter. 😊

You probably will need more eventually but if you're also on testosterone I'd stick with the 25 as a first step.

When I started testosterone as part of hrtI had to drop my thyroxine. Utrogestan orally also impacts SHBG. I was on the lowest level I'd been on for over 25 years at 100. For years I was on 125/150 alternating days.

I'd ask Gp to double check testosterone at same time as thyroxine check. I went to high on both and had a lot of hair loss. Thankfully it seems to be growing back! I only needed a half dose of testosterone.

That's awful @witchypaws

@WarriorN I wonder if things got worse after I started testosterone in August

In what way?

What have they said about the testosterone result as it looks out of range/ too high? Did you use testosterone on the day of the test?

Because of all my various 'conditions' I have a very changeable day to day life

I was at work on Fri & sat - yesterday I couldn't work as I had no spoons left but I felt relatively OK however today I have spoons but feel awful - technically yesterday I should have felt worse but obviously one or other of my illnesses was ok yesterday and crap today

So I have noticed a down turn over the latter part of the year, not sure when it started but generally I have more headaches and pain, less energy and motivation but my memory/brain fog and joint pain is better

I didnt have testosterone that morning I bormally put it on at night & my test was at 7:55 but I read it's naturally higher in the morning & it's made in small amounts outside the ovaries ibthink - wish the gp had done a baseline before I started like the consultant suggested

You could ask to use half the dose. That's what I was advised, my FAI was only slightly out of range.