Blood test Results

[Guest guest]

Ah well - that now explains why your free T3 was so low Glynis.

I doubt any endocrinologist would be happy if you refused blood tests to check

your level of thyroid hormone. However, what I would do is to see something on

the lines !OK - if that keeps you happy I will go along with it, but whatever

the result, I will not be lowering my thyroid hormone replacement because I

have now got it to where it works, and I will be continuing with it as it is,

until such time presents itself when I feel the need to either increase the

dose, or decrease it " - and leave it at that. This is YOUR health - not

his and you are the one who has found out what works.

Luv - Sheila

I am going to write to him and tell him I'm happy on the 2 grains a day and

that I did not discuss and agree to taking less meds so will stay on the

current dose.

Glynis

>

> How long had you stopped the Erfa thyroid before your blood was drawn

> Glynis?

[Guest guest]

I have checked with NHS direct and I can refuse blood tests and there are no

consequences.

I plant to remind the endo that all changes in meds should be discussed and

agreed, not just imposed.

Glynis

I doubt any

> endocrinologist would be happy if you refused blood tests to check your

> level of thyroid hormone.

[Guest guest]

Describe the pain in arm/hand/chest Anita and is this on the

right side or the left. Read here about some of the common and often

undiagnosed symptoms and dangerous consequences of low thyroid include: serious

mental problems, seizures, heart disease, diabetes including misdiagnosis and

complications, constipation resulting in colon cancer, all female problems (due

to high amounts of dangerous forms of oestrogen), including: tumours, fibroids,

ovarian cysts, PMS, endometriosis, breast cancer, miscarriage, heavy periods

and cramps, bladder problems leading to infections, anaemia,

elevated CPK, elevated creatinine, elevated transaminases, hypercapnia,

hyperlipidaemia, hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia, hypoxia, leukopaenia respiratory

acidosis and others....

What symptoms of hypothyroidism are you suffering and what signs

are you showing? You can check these on our web site under 'Hypothyroidism'.

Take your basal temperature before getting out of bed for 4/5 days - let us

know if they are less than 36.6 degrees C or 97.8 degrees F. Do you have

members of your family who have a thyroid or autoimmune disease. Has your GP

tested to see whether you are suffering with thyroid antibodies - these are TPO

and TgAb. If not, ask for these to be tested.

If you are still suffering pain, take an aspirin to see if that

helps. I take half an aspirin every day and so does my husband to ward off

possible heart problems.

Luv - Sheila

TSH 0.2 mIU/L

free T4 15pmol/L

at the moment i am experiancing pain in my arm hand and chest! all day today,

just wondered if its related to my hypo? just had these bloods done last week!

want to ask doctor about natural meds,

anyhelp would be grately recieved

[Guest guest]

Anita, have you mentioned this pain to your doctor. If you get

it again, get somebody to take you to either your GP (if the surgery is open)

or to A and E where you will be given an ECG immediately to find out whether

this is caused through you having an Angina http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angina_pectoris

.. You need to be checked out during an episode. It is the way you describe the

pain that makes me wonder.

Your TSH and free T4 results show that your thyroid gland is secreting

a reasonable amount of thyroid hormone, but what these tests don't show is

whether the mainly INACTIVE thyroid hormone T4 is actually getting into the thyroid

receptors for it to be converted to the active thyroid hormone triiodothyronine

(T3), which every cell in your body and brain needs to make them function - and

I see that your GP (or laboratory) have not tested your level of free T3.

You perhaps should write a letter to your doctor telling him/her

that you are no longer prepared to put up with such ill health and them not

giving you a proper diagnosis and a trial of whatever treatment you need to get

rid of your symptoms.

First, list all of your symptoms and signs (don't worry about

how long the list might be). Check these against those in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk under 'Hypothyroidism' in

the Menu. Notice particularly the 'signs'. Signs are what others, including

your doctor, can actually see.

Next, take your basal temperature before you get out of bed in a

morning and list these if they are lower than 97.8 degrees F (36.6 degrees C).

Low temperature is an indication your metabolism is running too slowly and the

cause more often than not is hypothyroidism.

Next, list every member of your family who have a thyroid or

autoimmune disease as this often runs down the family line.

Next, list the FULL thyroid function tests you need: TSH, free

T4, free T3 and TPO and TgAb antibodies (these last two will show whether or

not you have antibodies too your thyroid. Thyroid antibodies see your thyroid

gland as public enemy number one and set about its eventual complete

destruction. If you have antibodies, this is called Hashimoto's disease.

Hashimoto's is the biggest cause of the symptoms of hypothyroidism - treatment

is the same as for all other causes.

Ask also to have the following specific minerals and vitamin

levels tested (I have cited references to the scientific evidence that shows of

the connection between low levels of these and hypothyroidism.

Low iron/ferritin: Iron deficiency is shown to significantly

reduce T4 to T3 conversion, increase reverse T3 levels, and block the

thermogenic (metabolism boosting) properties of thyroid hormone (1-4). Thus,

iron deficiency, as indicated by an iron saturation below 25 or a ferritin

below 70, will result in diminished intracellular T3 levels. Additionally, T4

should not be considered adequate thyroid replacement if iron deficiency is

present (1-4)).

1.

Dillman E, Gale C, Green W, et al. Hypothermia

in iron deficiency due to altered triiodithyroidine metabolism. Regulatory,

Integrative and Comparative Physiology 1980;239(5):377-R381.

2.

SM, PE, Lukaski HC. In

vitro hepatic thyroid hormone deiodination in iron-deficient rats: effect of

dietary fat. Life Sci 1993;53(8):603-9.

3.

Zimmermann MB, Köhrle J. The Impact of

Iron and Selenium Deficiencies on Iodine and Thyroid Metabolism: Biochemistry

and Relevance to Public Health. Thyroid 2002;12(10): 867-78.

4.

Beard J, tobin B, Green W. Evidence for

Thyroid Hormone Deficiency in Iron-Deficient Anemic Rats. J. Nutr.

1989;119:772-778.

Low

vitamin B12: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18655403

Low

vitamin D3: http://www.eje-online.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/3/329

and http://www.goodhormonehealth.com/VitaminD.pdf

Low

magnesium: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC292768/pdf/jcinvest00264-0105.pdf

Low

folate: http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/content/full/47/9/1738

and http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/thy.1999.9.1163

Low  copper/zinc:http://www.istanbul.edu.tr/ffdbiyo/current4/07%20Iham%20AM%C4%B0R.pdf

and http://articles.webraydian.com/article1648-Role_of_Zinc_and_Copper_in_Effective_Thyroid_Function.html

Here, tell your doctor that you wish to see the results of all

the above blood tests, together with the reference range for each test done, (You

do not have to give a reason why you want these, but be assured that a doctor

cannot withhold any of the information that is in your medical notes. These are

yours by law),

Next, ask to be referred to an endocrinologist (i.e. one who

specialises in thyroid rather than diabetes).  If you write to me privately I will

send you a list of 'good' doctors recommended by our members so you can ask to

be referred to one of them.

Next, send a copy of this letter to the Head of Practice and

keep a copy of the letter yourself in case you need to refer to it at a later

date. Ask your doctor to place the letter of requests into your medical notes

and again, mention that you are determined to find the cause of your symptoms

and will go down whatever road it takes.

Doctors pay more attention to the written word.

Hope this helps.

Meanwhile, talk to your GP about the possibility or not of

Angina or another heart problem. Below I have pasted a list of some

common and often undiagnosed symptoms and dangerous consequences of low thyroid,

which include: serious mental problems, seizures, heart disease, diabetes

including misdiagnosis and complications, constipation resulting in colon

cancer, all female problems (due to high amounts of dangerous forms of

oestrogen), including: tumours, fibroids, ovarian cysts, PMS, endometriosis,

breast cancer, miscarriage, heavy periods and cramps, bladder problems leading

to infections, anaemia, elevated CPK, elevated creatinine, elevated

transaminases, hypercapnia, hyperlipidaemia, hypoglycaemia, hyponatraemia,

hypoxia, leukopaenia respiratory acidosis and others....

Add these into your letter to your GP so he should understand

your concern about not being given a correct diagnosis and therefore not being

given a trial of thyroid hormone replacement.

Luv - Sheila

Thankyou for your reply x it was on my left

side, i get it in my chest

alot,not always in my arm but was havin it like that for several days!

my hand was painful and numb both at the same time,if that makes sence,

Gets lots of sytoms some seem to be getting worse,my memory! is awful, i

can even be talking and compleatly for get what im saying

midsentance,tiredness, pain in my joints makes an already painful

backproblem worse,

>

> Describe the pain in arm/hand/chest Anita and is this on the right

side or

> the left.

[Guest guest]

Please read the attached document on " Why thyroid hormone

stops working' to see if you could be suffering any of these associated

conditions. Any of these will stop the thyroxine from working. The

levothyroxine is a mainly INACTIVE thyroid hormone and it has to convert to the

ACTIVE thyroid hormone T3. It is T3 that every cell in your body and brain

needs to make them function. You are either not getting sufficient of the T4 to

convert to T3, both of which are too, too low - or the T4 in the 250mcgs is

unable to convert. You may need to decrease the T4 and increase the T3 and yes,

I would ask to be referred to your endocrinologist again. If you do see the

endocrinologist, ask for a trial of natural desiccated porcine thyroid extract

- I have a list of doctors who prescribe it which I will send to you.

Ask for your levels of ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3,

magnesium, folate, copper and zinc to be tested. You should, if possible, get

the4 24 hour salivary adrenal test done through Genova Diagnostics to see where

your cortisol and DHEA levels lie at four specific times during the day. Do you

have any amalgam fillings, because if you do, you may be suffering with mercury

poisoning which would stop your thyroid hormone from being properly utilised at

the cellular level as would also, systemic candidiasis if you were suffering

with this.

Have you been tested to see whether you have thyroid antibodies

i.e. Hashimoto's disease? If not, ask for the TPO and TgAb tests to be done.

Luv - Sheila

Free T3= 4.1 (range - 3.8 - 6.8)

Free T4= 9.8 (7 - 21.1)

TSH 0.03 (0.1-4.0)

Quite alarming since my Ft4 was 21 in Sept and my FT3 was 5.1

So, my Dr's advice was to increase my levo by 50mcg a day. Meaning I would be

on 250mcg levo, 20mcg liothyronine.

Basically in the last 12mths my dose has doubled. So the attack on my thyroid

has become viscious and fast this year (between 2005-2010 I had been on 125

levo the whole time!)

What do you think? Shall I get referred back to my Endo? Shall I see if I can

try taking Erfra instead of levo?

1 of 1 File(s)

Why thyroid hormone stops working (2).doc

[Guest guest]

Hi suzanne, Taking such a high dose of T4 to get those low normal results would probably indicatethat you have some serious absorption issues- if you doc is willing making the change to erfa would most probably help, but do look at the adrenal pages on the forum files to make sure they are up to it. As you rightly say depression is often as a result of too low T3 levels. Try the invcrease- if no better in 6 weeks then ask for a referral to an endo of you choice- Sheila has a list of some who have been helpful to members in the past. Vits and minerals also have a vital part to play in the utilisation of thyroid hormones test for ferritin, selenium, zinc, D3, B12 would also be useful to see if any need supplementation. > thyroid treatment > From: suzanne_harbour@...> Date: Tue, 3 May 2011 11:46:34 +0000> Subject: Blood test results> > Hello> > So, a few weeks ago I requested a blood test as I have Hypo symptoms again(I gained 3 kgs in one week back in Feb, and have had to go running every day just to maintain my weight but have been unable to lose the 3 kg. I also have been feeling increasingly depressed and getting suicidal thoughts, which I only ever get if my thyroid hormone levels are too low. Also my pulse has been 45 bpm) > > Today I saw my Gp and got the results> > Free T3= 4.1 (range - 3.8 - 6.8)> Free T4= 9.8 (7 - 21.1)> > TSH 0.03 (0.1-4.0)> > Reverse T3 test refused> > > Quite alarming since my Ft4 was 21 in Sept and my FT3 was 5.1 > > So, my Dr's advice was to increase my levo by 50mcg a day. Meaning I would be on 250mcg levo, 20mcg liothyronine.> > Basically in the last 12mths my dose has doubled. So the attack on my thyroid has become viscious and fast this year (between 2005-2010 I had been on 125 levo the whole time!)> > What do you think? Shall I get referred back to my Endo? Shall I see if I can try taking Erfra instead of levo?> > Thanks > Suzanne.> > > > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks all

I know I have Hashimotos (I was tested for the antibodies ages ago). I am

working with an excellent Dr in USA who is helping to try and halt the

autoimmune attack, so I have just started gluten and dairy free diet. Had my

adrenals(saliva test) and vits tested a few months aog and all was well except

ferritin (now on iron tablets and my levels are improving) Am also about to

start supplements to treat TH2 as I am TH1 dominant (SHeila, you probably know

what that means as it is all in the book you recommended recently) BUT,

although he is a great Dr, he hasnt really agreed that my thyroid meds should go

up, which is why I emailed you all.

My instinct is that my body is becoming resistant to my meds. So, I may go back

to my Endo (he is on your recommended list, yay!)

>

> Please read the attached document on " Why thyroid hormone stops working' to

> see if you could be suffering any of these associated conditions. Any of

> these will stop the thyroxine from working. The levothyroxine is a mainly

> INACTIVE thyroid hormone and it has to convert to the ACTIVE thyroid hormone

> T3. It is T3 that every cell in your body and brain needs to make them

> function. You are either not getting sufficient of the T4 to convert to T3,

> both of which are too, too low - or the T4 in the 250mcgs is unable to

> convert. You may need to decrease the T4 and increase the T3 and yes, I

> would ask to be referred to your endocrinologist again.

[Guest guest]

Finally getting to post some of the test results for someone to kindly explain.

Endocrinology 1 17.08/04 04.10/05 10/02/11

Serum free T4 level 15.1 13.6 11.4

(pmol/L)

Serum TSH level 7.6 + 5.7 + 15.1 +

(miu/L)

FBC

Haemoglobin#concentration (g/dL) 13.6

Total white blood count

(10^9/L) 4.8

Platelet count

observation (10^9/L) 346.0

Red Blood cell count

(10^12/L 4.41

Haematocrit 0.394

Mean Cell Volume (fl.) 89.0

Mean Cell heamoglobin

level (pg( 30.9

Mean Cell heamoglobin

concentration (g/dL) 34.5

Neutrolphil count

(10^9/L) 2.01

Lymphocyte count

(10^9L) 2.4

Monocyte count

observation (10^9/L) 0.2

Eosinophil count

observation (10^9/L) 0.1

Basophil count

(10^9/L) 0.0

My friend who has been on thyroxine has a high powered nurse/daughter and she

took a look and thought my thyroid levels were fine??? She quoted 4.5 to 14.5

to be " normal " ? I am wondering!

Thank you in advance

Pippa

Thank you also for the great conference.

[Guest guest]

- thank you very much for that - I should have put that the Doctor did

want me on Thyroxine after the last test results - but I was fortunate enough to

find this group the day I got the results (I have researched all family health

issues for many years now) and was lucky to get an appointment with the lovely

Dr P. So I am being treated I just wanted to understand the blood as it seems

some professionals don't! The nurse in question is now peddling drugs but I

think she could help her own mother more if she understood some of the stuff

available here. I am pleased to say I am feeling a lot better with my Adrenals

attended too and the Natural Thyroid. Weight is the next thing to get my head

around properly or perhaps I should say exercise.

>

Thank you

Pippa

> How do you feel?

>

> Just leaving you with a tsh which is rising is, frankly, negligent.

>

>

> GRRRRRRR makes me mad

>

> xx

>

> :

>

[Guest guest]

Hi C:

Can you remind us again how you're feeling? What your symptoms are?

Your Vitamin B12 is very, very low. with any B12 results, your B12 needs to be

at the TOP of the range. So, I'd like to see your B12 at least over 1000 here.

Ferritin at 209 would make me question this if you are not supplementing with

Iron. Raised Ferritin is often associated with inflammation in the body, but

we'd need to see regular iron serum results to figure that out completely unless

your symptoms agree with iron deficiency.

Cheers,

JOT

> Vitamin D-result not back yet,will post later

> Vitamin B12 369 (223-1132)-realise this is low,but he wasn`t worried

> TSH 1.2 (0.3-5.5), no T4 result-he says that is`normal` practice!!

> Ferritin 209(14-186)-

> Bone profile-Calcium 2.42 (2.13-2.63)

> Thanks

> Chrissie

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thanks for that.I have a bit more energy but still have the joint/muscle pain.I

have hair loss,painful wrists,weight gain,fibromyalgia,weak core muscles, fluid

retention-amongst others. I requested a test in 1995, it returned a TSH of 3.3

as `normal`!! I only recently saw the print out when I sent for my blood test

history.Not until 2004 was I diagnosed- very annoying! Some symptoms for over 40

years,treated separately-or not! There is a family history of joint/muscle

pain,pernicious anaemia.

Yes, iron included at 7mg in multi vitamins that I have taken since before the

2006 tests .Last test was in 2006 was 15(11-30) and Sat Iron 49(45-72) Yes, I

too was stunned at the low level of B12 this time, as in 2006 it was 780

(223-1132)though GP said most of his patients are @400

Any further comments very welcome

Chrissie

>

> Hi C:

>

> Can you remind us again how you're feeling? What your symptoms are?

>

> Your Vitamin B12 is very, very low. with any B12 results, your B12 needs to be

at the TOP of the range. So, I'd like to see your B12 at least over 1000 here.

>

> Ferritin at 209 would make me question this if you are not supplementing with

Iron. Raised Ferritin is often associated with inflammation in the body, but

we'd need to see regular iron serum results to figure that out completely unless

your symptoms agree with iron deficiency.

>

> Cheers,

> JOT

>

>

>

> > Vitamin D-result not back yet,will post later

> > Vitamin B12 369 (223-1132)-realise this is low,but he wasn`t worried

>>

[Guest guest]

Hi Chrissie,

Got my latest blood test results after 2 months on 75mcg.My TSH is now 1.2,but it is difficult to know with my erratic TSH record whether this is the result of the additional 25mcg or part of the erratic trend. Dr was fascinated by the two previous interpretations you gave,- a whole new world for him!. He said he could not do the TgAb or TSA test, they were specialist tests and not available to him!.

Ooooh ?? - just for interest - what were our previous interpretations then that fascinated the good man so much ;o) ?

TgAB and TSI may well be specialist tests ¨C but that does not mean that a GP can¡¯t order them... he¡¯s telling you porky pies, Chrissie, although very likely not deliberately.... he probably does not know any better. - Of course a GP can order TgAB and TSI ¨C they just don¡¯t want to, coz it costs....

Btw ¨C if your TSH is erratic, then you likely have those autoantibodies that your GP is so reluctant to test....and without testing the thyroid antibodies as well as FT4 and FT3 it¡¯s impossible to determine where you stand.... although in all likelihood your 75 mcg levo is not enough. Do you feel well and no longer have hypo symptoms? ¨C because if you don¡¯t feel well and you still have hypo symptoms, then your dose is most likely not high enough.

Faced with the mention of magnesium, copper and zinc in theinterpretations, he agreed to do the tests, though two months ago he refused sayinghe did not see the connection! Maybe he did look up the links after all!

Hope he ¡®as ;o) - about time he learned something about thyroid conditions.

I had been looking for a raised dose again but he wants to test in 2/3months with TSH, FT3 and FT3 plus TPO. Unfortunately he thinks osteoporosis and atrial fibrillation is a risk with too much thyroxine, I replied that surely too little was just as risky.

<Sigh>....I despair, I really do L Why do we have to fight windmills all the time ? Why can¡¯t our doctors use their heads and bring themselves up to date? Why is it up to us patients to do their homework when they are the ones getting paid for it? ... perhaps you would like to print out the following and shove it under his nose?

http://www.endocrinology.org/press/pressreleases/2010-03-16_Thyroxine.pdf

The study followed 16,426 patients taking thyroxine (86% female, mean age 60 years) and examined how their risk of contracting a range of diseases varied with their TSH levels. The study found that patients with very high (>4.0mU/l) or suppressed (¡Ü0.03mU/l) TSH levels more frequently suffered from heart disease, abnormal heartbeat patterns and bone fractures compared to patients whose TSH levels are in the normal range (0.4-4.0 mU/l). Patients who had a slightly low TSH level (0.04-0.4mU/l) did not have an increased risk of contracting any of these conditions. These results show for the first time that it may be safe for patients taking long-term thyroxine replacement therapy to have a low but not suppressed TSH level. These patients do not show an increased risk of suffering from heart disease, bone fractures or abnormal heartbeat patterns. This means that patients may be able to take slightly higher doses of thyroxine than are currently recommended without having an adverse effect on their health.

Yes, cost is coming into it, particularly on TPO tests. Got thefollowing results and would like an interpretation please.Vitamin D-result not back yet,will post laterVitamin B12 369 (223-1132)-realise this is low,but he wasn`t worried

No, he wouldn¡¯t be, would he? This result is ok for a healthy person, but for a patient with a thyroid condition it¡¯s too low.... so do keep taking Solgar¡¯s 1000 iu nuggets sublingually to bring up your B12 reading to around 1000.TSH 1.2 (0.3-5.5), no T4 result -he says that is`normal` practice!!

Oh flipping heck ! Even the blooming RCP guidelines say that a TSH and FT4 should be done....

http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/press-releases/thyroxine-only-treatment-primary-hypothyroidism

The guidelines also state that the only validated method of testing thyroid function is on blood, which must include serum TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and a measure of free thyroxine (T4).

..... perhaps you should print that one out as well and shove it under his nose.....?

Ferritin 209(14-186)-

Your ferritin is high-ish .... this might signal inflammationBone profile-Calcium 2.42 (2.13-2.63)

So nothing to worry about on that front J

Dunno about you, but I get sooo fed up with the ignorance of our doctors in all matters thyroid. Given the pandemic dimensions of hypothyroidism in the world, is it really asking too much that doctors should educate themselves a little, use their brains and not follow the official guidelines like a herd of sheep? I read a saying by Berthold Brecht the other day, which was in German, but it translates easily....

- Madness on a large scale becomes invisible -

......for some reason it reminded me of the BTA, RCP et al......

Love,

[Guest guest]

Got the following results and would like an

interpretation please.

Vitamin B12 369 (223-1132)-realise this is low,but he wasn`t worried

He might NOT be worried, but if these were my results, I most

definitely WOULD be worried. Obviously, this doctor needs to learn a lot.

Vitamin B should be right at the top of the reference range, and yours are so

low you really should have a series of iron injections. Complain to your doctor

that if he is not prepared to do anything about your low B12, you need to see a

specialist, and pretty damn quick.

Ferritin 209(14-186)-

Ferritin is high, it should be somewhere in the region of 70 to

90, though some doctors do believe it should be 100 or even 130. ~Are you

taking any of the B vitamins as supplements?

Luv - Sheila

[Guest guest]

Yes Sheila,I have been taking a good multi vitamin for some years. I was taking

it when I had a test in 2006 and it was 780 which I was told then was `high`

Cannot budge him on the Tgab test.He is convinced, I had even given him an

opprtunity by letter bfore my test to amend the blood form but he wasn`t having

it.

No,I don`t think my dosage is anywhere near right yet and I have placed the idea

in his mind that I might need T3/T4 or T3.He didn`t have the screaming eebie

jeebies or at least not till I had left the room!

Chrissie

>

> Got the following results and would like an interpretation please.

> Vitamin B12 369 (223-1132)-realise this is low,but he wasn`t worried

>

> He might NOT be worried, but if these were my results, I most definitely

> WOULD be worried. Obviously, this doctor needs to learn a lot. Vitamin B

> should be right at the top of the reference range, and yours are so low you

> really should have a series of iron injections.

[Guest guest]

Hi

You,Sheila and Lilian contributed to the interpretations of my last two thyroid

function tests. I just listed the opinions on each test,called them

Interpretation 1 and 2, typed them up and showed them to him. As I said `he was

fascinated by them` he asked a few questions and somehow his attitude changed

just a little bit. I also left the printout of the MOS article for him to read!

One can only hope!

Chrissie

>

>

> Hi Chrissie,

>

> Got my latest blood test results after 2 months on 75mcg.My TSH is now

> 1.2,but it is difficult to know with my erratic TSH record whether this

> is the result of the additional 25mcg or part of the erratic trend. Dr

> was fascinated by the two previous interpretations you gave,- a whole

> new world for him!. He said he could not do the TgAb or TSA test, they

> were specialist tests and not available to him!.

>

> Ooooh ?? - just for interest - what were our previous interpretations

> then that fascinated the good man so much ;o) ?

>

> TgAB and TSI may well be specialist tests ¨C but that does not mean

> that a GP can¡¯t order them... he¡¯s telling you porky pies,

> Chrissie, although very likely not deliberately.... he probably does not

> know any better. - Of course a GP can order TgAB and TSI ¨C they just

> don¡¯t want to, coz it costs....

>

> Btw ¨C if your TSH is erratic, then you likely have those

> autoantibodies that your GP is so reluctant to test....and without

> testing the thyroid antibodies as well as FT4 and FT3 it¡¯s

> impossible to determine where you stand.... although in all likelihood

> your 75 mcg levo is not enough. Do you feel well and no longer have hypo

> symptoms? ¨C because if you don¡¯t feel well and you still have

> hypo symptoms, then your dose is most likely not high enough.

>

>

>

> Faced with the mention of magnesium, copper and zinc in the

> interpretations, he agreed to do the tests, though two months ago he

> refused saying

> he did not see the connection! Maybe he did look up the links after all!

>

> Hope he ¡®as ;o) - about time he learned something about thyroid

> conditions.

>

>

>

> I had been looking for a raised dose again but he wants to test in

> 2/3months with TSH, FT3 and FT3 plus TPO. Unfortunately he thinks

> osteoporosis and atrial fibrillation is a risk with too much thyroxine,

> I replied that surely too little was just as risky.

>

> <Sigh>....I despair, I really do L Why do we have to fight windmills

> all the time ? Why can¡¯t our doctors use their heads and bring

> themselves up to date? Why is it up to us patients to do their homework

> when they are the ones getting paid for it? ... perhaps you would like

> to print out the following and shove it under his nose?

>

> http://www.endocrinology.org/press/pressreleases/2010-03-16_Thyroxine.pd\

> f

> <http://www.endocrinology.org/press/pressreleases/2010-03-16_Thyroxine.p\

> df>

>

> The study followed 16,426 patients taking thyroxine (86% female, mean

> age 60 years) and examined how their risk of contracting a range of

> diseases varied with their TSH levels. The study found that patients

> with very high (>4.0mU/l) or suppressed (¡Ü0.03mU/l) TSH levels more

> frequently suffered from heart disease, abnormal heartbeat patterns and

> bone fractures compared to patients whose TSH levels are in the normal

> range (0.4-4.0 mU/l). Patients who had a slightly low TSH level

> (0.04-0.4mU/l) did not have an increased risk of contracting any of

> these conditions. These results show for the first time that it may be

> safe for patients taking long-term thyroxine replacement therapy to have

> a low but not suppressed TSH level. These patients do not show an

> increased risk of suffering from heart disease, bone fractures or

> abnormal heartbeat patterns. This means that patients may be able to

> take slightly higher doses of thyroxine than are currently recommended

> without having an adverse effect on their health.

>

> Yes, cost is coming into it, particularly on TPO tests. Got the

> following results and would like an interpretation please.

> Vitamin D-result not back yet,will post later

> Vitamin B12 369 (223-1132)-realise this is low,but he wasn`t worried

>

> No, he wouldn¡¯t be, would he? This result is ok for a healthy

> person, but for a patient with a thyroid condition it¡¯s too low....

> so do keep taking Solgar¡¯s 1000 iu nuggets sublingually to bring up

> your B12 reading to around 1000.

> TSH 1.2 (0.3-5.5), no T4 result -he says that is`normal` practice!!

>

> Oh flipping heck ! Even the blooming RCP guidelines say that a TSH and

> FT4 should be done....

>

> http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/press-releases/thyroxine-only-treatment-prima\

> ry-hypothyroidism

> <http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/press-releases/thyroxine-only-treatment-prim\

> ary-hypothyroidism>

>

> The guidelines also state that the only validated method of testing

> thyroid function is on blood, which must include serum TSH (thyroid

> stimulating hormone) and a measure of free thyroxine (T4).

>

> .... perhaps you should print that one out as well and shove it under

> his nose.....?

>

> Ferritin 209(14-186)-

>

> Your ferritin is high-ish .... this might signal inflammation

> Bone profile-Calcium 2.42 (2.13-2.63)

>

> So nothing to worry about on that front J

>

>

>

> Dunno about you, but I get sooo fed up with the ignorance of our doctors

> in all matters thyroid. Given the pandemic dimensions of hypothyroidism

> in the world, is it really asking too much that doctors should educate

> themselves a little, use their brains and not follow the official

> guidelines like a herd of sheep?

> I read a saying by Berthold Brecht the other day, which was in German,

> but it translates easily....

>

> - Madness on a large scale becomes invisible -

>

> .....for some reason it reminded me of the BTA, RCP et al......

>

>

>

> Love,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Any chance you could change your GP to somebody who knows a bit

more about the association between low levels of specific minerals and vitamins.

Have you considered seeing one of the doctors on my list who do

prescribe T4/T%3 combination therapy, T3 alone or natural thyroid extract for

those patients who don't do well on L-thyroxine sodium-only?

Luv - Sheila

Yes Sheila,I have been taking a good multi

vitamin for some years. I was taking it when I had a test in 2006 and it was

780 which I was told then was `high`

Cannot budge him on the Tgab test.He is convinced, I had even given him an

opprtunity by letter bfore my test to amend the blood form but he wasn`t having

it.

No,I don`t think my dosage is anywhere near right yet and I have placed the

idea in his mind that I might need T3/T4 or T3.He didn`t have the screaming

eebie jeebies or at least not till I had left the room!

Chrissie

>

> Got the following results and would like an interpretation please.

> Vitamin B12 369 (223-1132)-realise this is low,but he wasn`t worried

>

>

_._,___

[Guest guest]

Keep us all up to date with this Chrissie - this is getting

fascinating and I hope you get a good result.

Chrissie, when you respond to messages, please will you delete

all the other messages appended to your response and leave just a little of

what you are responding to as it is very frustrating for those who read direct

from the forum web site where they have to scroll through so much before

getting to the next message. Many thanks

Luv - Sheila

Hi

You,Sheila and Lilian contributed to the interpretations of my last two thyroid

function tests. I just listed the opinions on each test,called them

Interpretation 1 and 2, typed them up and showed them to him. As I said `he was

fascinated by them` he asked a few questions and somehow his attitude changed

just a little bit. I also left the printout of the MOS article for him to read!

One can only hope!

Chrissie

_,___

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone

Received two more test results:-

Magnesium 0.91 (0.70-1.00) and

Zinc 13.9 (11.0-24.00) deemed `normal` What do folks think?

Also sorry about not snipping previous message,only realised afterwards)

Chrissie

>

> Yes Sheila,I have been taking a good multi vitamin for some years. I was

taking it when I had a test in 2006 and it was 780 which I was told then was

`high`