Can you help me with thyroid function blood test results

[piscis]

I have bloods done recently due to some health issues. The main reason the bloods were requested was for gut issues but I have also been feeling incredibly tired for last few months.

My ferritin is low (29), which was in range according to the lab's range but NICE guidelines say otherwise. I am now taking OTC iron tablets, but just because it surprised me that it was only 29 when it used to be over 100. Talking to a friend about the values of my thyroid function, she thinks they are not ok, as she was prescribed medication with similar levels, but according to the lab this is also in range.

Serum free T4 level 11.6
TSH level 1.55

Anyone who can help interpreting this? I will discuss with my GP but looking for opinions of people with similar issues.

Your TSH should be between 0.4 and 4.
You need thyroxine. I hope you soon feel loads better.

@Mathsbabe but my TSH levels are within that range at 1.55. Do you mean that they are not optimal and the closer to 4 the better?

No, the lower the better! Yours looks normal - your TSH I mean!

The normal range for Serum free T4 is 11-22 according to my last test results too

It is not possible to interpret thyroid function test results accurately without the reference ranges. These vary from place to place according to the equipment used. Also, your TSH may be out of kilter with your FT4, but again we cannot tell this without the reference ranges, which are the two figures in brackets against your actual result.

By way of example, your FT4 at 11.6 would be low in range where I live, where the range is 9 to 26. However if your lab uses the range 12 to 22, it is under range and a possible indication of secondary hypothyroidism.

Let's have the ranges and we'll have a proper look for you.

Your TSH is fine at 1.55 and well within the range of 0.4 - 4.00.

Optimum level should be at the lower end of the range, which yours is, and indicates you do not need thyroxine.

Ranges are 9 to 22 for serum free T4 and 0.35 to 5 for TSH
But it doesnt make sense that the ranges change from lab to lab. The acceptable levels for ferritin were 10-200 but 10 is no good and iron deficiency according to NICE guidelines. I basically don't trust the ranges they give as normal anymore. My friend was prescribed medication at 11 serum free T4
I feel so bad, ttired constantly and I want to think it has to be some of these results that appear as normal but maybe they are not optimal

I was prescribed levothyroxine recently with T4 at 11
My TSH is currently 7, up from 5.4 when I first presented with symptoms i.e falling asleep at 4pm most days, tired all the time.
I've had previous readings of T4 11 but TSH at 3.5 when pregnant and I felt ok then. I'm not sure whether it's the T4 level that's the problem or the inflammation: my TPO antibodies were 225. Either way the levothyroxine is helping, T4 is 14.7 and I'm not falling asleep at 4pm any more.

My friend was also prescribed medication at 11 and she improved massively
Tiredness is a big issue for me, I have no energy at all and alwaya so sleepy! They days I take my DD to bwd at 8pm, I fell asleep with her too, I just cannot avoid it

Your thyroid function tests are normal OP.

The only way people with fT4 of 11 (ie in normal range) should be prescribed thyroxine is if the TSH is high (like @etchysketchy88 ) as this indicates sub clinical hypothyroidism and GP would discuss repeating tests vs starting meds.

Lots of conflicting advice here OP, so I'm not going to add mine.

Good, unbiased advice available from Thyroid UK and their forum on www.healthunlocked.com.

If you want ‘unbiased’ advice you need to speak to your GP. Neither your GP nor the lab machine that processed your bloods are biased.

Sadly, I have seen cases of young women who suffered life altering consequences of buying unnecessary thyroid medications online, without prescription, from nefarious sources who no doubt benefitted financially from their decision.

You have no idea who people online are, or their reasons for providing ‘advice’. That includes me so please do speak to your GP if you want further advice or to seek further testing to determine a cause for your health issues.