Guest guest Posted March 6, 2011 Report Share Posted March 6, 2011 This is what SOME doctors believe and follow, but the fact is that the TSH ONLY shows the level of the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) secreted by the pituitary gland and the FT4 and FT3 are thyroid hormones secreted by the thyroid gland. Your TSH at 2.16 IS NOT NORMAL. If you had been tested in the US (their reference range is 0.3 to 3.0) you would have shown borderline hypothyroid. Had your TSH been checked in Belgium, Germany or Sweden, you would have been diagnosed hypothyroid and started on treatment because their reference range for TSH is 0.3 to 2.5 (with a recommended this top level be dropped yet further to 1.5). The UK reference range is the widest throughout the world - the BTA and RCP recommending 0.5 to 10.0) There are all sorts of problems with thyroid function blood tests results can be influenced by many factors, any of which should be taken into consideration, e.g. · Labelling errors · Bacterial contamination · Yeast/Fungal contamination · Clotting · Sampling errors · Sample preparation errors · Sample storage errors · Thermal cycling · Antithyroid antibodies (any) · Antibodies from any other cause · Presence of specific ‘toxins’ in the blood · Presence of pharmaceutical drugs (interferences) within the blood · The method of analysis being carried out eg radio-immune assay (RIA) · ‘Systematic’ errors in analytical equipment or methodology · Composite errors <> pre-analysis (not mentioned above) · MCT8 mutations It is also known that thyroid function tests will be normal also in patients who have a proven carcinoma. The T4 and TSH value can be misleading in such cases. Many individuals with classic symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as low body temperature, joint pain, fatigue and depression, are discouraged when they’re told that their thyroid hormone levels are within the normal range. The question of whether they might be resistant to their body’s own thyroid hormone is seldom considered. Yet, a disease known as thyroid hormone resistance can prevent thyroid hormone from reaching the body’s cells. The discovery of MCT8 mutations explains laboratory discrepancies (1) e.g. cases in which the lab results didn’t fit a particular pattern. It also explains how thyroid hormone resistance can cause TSH to appear normal even with a low FT4. In many instances only the TSH test is performed. If the TSH result is normal, and symptoms of hypothyroidism are observed, tests for FT4, FT3 and T3 should all be performed. None of these types of error are ever shown as being part of the reference range, but they all add to the unquantifiable ‘unreliability’ of the final number that appears on a lab report; stated to be within/outside a reference range. The labs expect, but often don’t get, notification of antibodies found by other labs or by investigations showing antibody activity, to enable proper screening for likely errors. e.g. vitiligo, alopecia, ongoing autoimmune symptoms specific to such as lupus, autoimmune attacks on specific organs, histology samples, haematological examinations. A search on Pubmed shows 126 such cases. I would ask for the full thyroid panel again and ask that you be tested also to see whether you have thyroid antibodies. Ask also for your levels lf ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc to be tested too because if any of these are low in the reference range, your thyroid hormone is unable to be properly absorbed at cellular level. Luv - Sheila Sorry to ask again but is it correct that the lab will not test for FT3 and FT4 if THS is normal, as my BUPA specialist has told me. He supposedly asked for the full panel for me last week but as my TSH is 2.16 he says they will not do the others. I know he is going to say my symptoms are menopausal, but I have already told him I am in menopause.I am seeing my practice nurse Monday morning for FSH and LH hormone tests and I wandering whether to ask her for the Thyroid panel Kind regards Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 17, 2011 Report Share Posted March 17, 2011 Thought I was doing well when My Gp asked for these tests but the lab has not done them. 5 Phials of blood and just done TSH and one antibody. I am seeing an Endo on Tues through Bupa,will he be able to insist on the tests? Unfortunately he's only in once a month so I'll have to wait again even if he does. Sorry for moaning but had another bad day, debbie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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