test normal

[Guest guest]

i have over the years been tested serveral times for thyroid and always came

back normal, since learning a bit more that the range of normal in the uk is

above 10 and it is different in other countries ie In America they get treatment

at 3.0 and in Germany the threshold is 2.5, I have made another appointment with

GP for 12th jan.

I have been prompted by my sisters recent diagnosis, as she also came back

normal twice over the last year, but another doctor tested her for thyroid

antibodies and she is now to be prescribe thyroxine as this came back not

normal.

My question is what tests have we had already, whats the name of them, you know

the normal ones the GP does and what should i ask him about the ones already

done, and also what is the official name of the antibody one so as i can request

it please.

I also have severe PMS and the GP constantly wants to prescribe anti depressents

i was wondering if there is any link between underactive thyroid and pms. Thanks

in advance to anyone who reads or replys.

Annemarie x

[Guest guest]

Hello

Annemarie, and welcome to our forum where I hope you get all the help and

support you need.

One

of the main problems for those suffering the symptoms of hypothyroidism are the

thyroid function tests. They are NOT reliable, and doctors make the mistake of

diagnosing (or not) on the result of those tests alone, and do not take into

account the patient's presenting symptoms, the 'signs' the patient is showing,

the results of a clinical examination or the patient's family history.

Some

doctors will test Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) only, but such a test is

useless. The majority of doctors test TSH and Free Thyroxine (fT4). The Thyroid

Associations should be advocating the inclusion free Triiodothyronine (fT3). T3

is the active thyroid hormone that makes every cell in your body and brain

function. You should also be tested to see if you have thyroid antibodies as

part of any standard thyroid panel to uncover thyroid disease and

hypothyroidism

The

tests to ask for are Thyroid

Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies. These are also known as Antithyroid Peroxidase

Antibodies. These antibodies work against thyroid peroxidase, an enzyme that

plays a part in the T4-to-T3 conversion and synthesis process. TPO antibodies

can be evidence of tissue destruction, such as Hashimoto's disease, and less

commonly, in other forms of thyroiditis such as post-partum thyroiditis. It’s

estimated that TPO antibodies are detectable in approximately 95 percent of

patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and 50 to 85 percent of Graves’

disease patients. The concentrations of antibodies found in patients with

Graves' disease are usually lower than in patients with Hashimoto's disease.

Testing

for thyroglobulin antibodies (also called antithyroglobulin antibodies) is

common. Having high levels of thyroglobulin antibodies means that you are

more likely to eventually become hypothyroid. Thyroglobulin antibodies are

positive in about 60 percent of Hashimoto's patients and 30 percent of Graves'

patients.

Always

remember that thyroid function tests (TFTs) should really be referred to as

Thyroid GLAND function tests (TGFTs), because such tests only

tell the doctor whether your thyroid gland is producing the required amount of

thyroid hormones. They do NOT tell the doctor whether the thyroid hormone is

actually getting into the cells.

Unfortunately, thyroid function blood test

results can be influenced by many factors, any of which your GP should

be taking into consideration (I would copy this list and take it to your GP),

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 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 thyroid

hormone resistance (THR) or chemically euthyroid hypometabolism (CEH), both of

which can prevent thyroid hormone from reaching the body’s cells. The

majority of doctors are not aware of these and so do not take them into account.

The discovery of MCT8 mutations explains

laboratory discrepancies, e.g. cases in which the lab results didn’t fit

a particular pattern. It also explains how thyroid hormone resistance (THR)

can cause TSH to appear normal even with a low fT4. As mentioned above, in

many instances only the TSH test is performed. If the TSH result is normal, and

symptoms of hypothyroidism are observed, you should then be tested for fT4, fT3,

tT3 and thyroid antibodies.

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 laboratories 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.

Can you post your thyroid function test results

here together with the reference ranges. Apart from the tests above, you should

also ask your GP to test the following to see if any of them are low in the

reference range: ferritin (stored iron), vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium,

zinc, copper and folate. Once you get these results, post them here also, with

the reference range for each test. If you are low in any of these, your thyroid

hormone will not be getting properly absorbed into the cells.

Yes, there is a link with under-active thyroid

and PMS (see our symptoms list in our web site under 'Hypothyroidism' www.tpa-uk.org.uk . Hypothyroid sufferers

who are not being treated also suffer with clinical depression because the

active thyroid hormone (T3) is not getting into the brain. You will find lots

of evidence for this on the Internet, just type in 'depression hypothyroidism'

into your search engine.

Let us know what symptoms you are suffering and

how long you have been suffering them.

Luv - Sheila

i have over the years been tested serveral

times for thyroid and always came back normal, since learning a bit more that

the range of normal in the uk is above 10 and it is different in other

countries ie In America they get treatment at 3.0 and in Germany the threshold

is 2.5, I have made another appointment with GP for 12th jan.

I have been prompted by my sisters recent diagnosis, as she also came back

normal twice over the last year, but another doctor tested her for thyroid

antibodies and she is now to be prescribe thyroxine as this came back not

normal.

My question is what tests have we had already, whats the name of them, you know

the normal ones the GP does and what should i ask him about the ones already

done, and also what is the official name of the antibody one so as i can

request it please.

I also have severe PMS and the GP constantly wants to prescribe anti

depressents i was wondering if there is any link between underactive thyroid

and pms. Thanks in advance to anyone who reads or replys.

Annemarie x

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MESSAGE AND LEAVE JUST A PORTION OF WHAT YOU ARE RESPONDING TO. LUV - SHEILA

_____________________________________

Oh my god thank you so much sheilia thats exactly what i needed.

My symptoms are, low blood pressure, low basal temp 36.2 this morning at 9am,

achy joints, tired all the time, thin brittle flaking nails,weak wrists, and

sore achy hands all these intensify and get worse just before i ovulate, and

untill my period ends I also get irritible agression acne, more tired and

lethargic than usual, headaches at least twice a week, short term mem loss,

fogginess, dizzyness, seeing stars even when sitting, especially if i put my

head down.

I have lived with these symptoms and more since at least my early 20s, and the

doc has obviously suspected thyroid before as he has tested twice and some sort

of hormone imbalance test(at my insistence a few years ago) but i dont know what

it was but apparently it was normal. I have also had 2 miscarragies 2 eptopic

pregnancys and then failed 3 ivf attempts when as my tubes had been removed (my

eggs and sperm were best grade). I have also had laser surgery for excess facial

hair on my cheeks and chin and upper lip but have very litle hair on outside of

my eybrows, and eye brows have thinned out over the years naturally.

I will get the test results previously and insist on the ones you state below

and post my results, thankyou once again for this detailed explaniation and

guidance.

Big hug

Annemarie x

>

> One of the main problems for those suffering the symptoms of hypothyroidism

> are the thyroid function tests. They are NOT reliable, and doctors make the

> mistake of diagnosing (or not) on the result of those tests alone, and do

> not take into account the patient's presenting symptoms, the 'signs' the

> patient is showing, the results of a clinical examination or the patient's

> family history.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi annmarie, TSH doesn't look too bad- range is usually 0.5 to 5.5 or even 10, but that FT4 is perilously close to the bottom of the range- which is usually around 11-24 . As you have all the symptoms of hypo asking for antibodies and the other tests is a good idea. . Asking for a trial of T4 'to see if it helps' is a tactic that sometimes works, but get the tests first. > From: tim1leg@...> ________________________________________________________> > free t4 12.5 pmov/1 TSH 1.21 mu/1> > i aslo had some hormones done at the same time and they say> > LH 10.2 u/1 FSH 8.3 u/1> > testosterone 2.5 nmo1/1> > it also says underneath FILE ACCEPTABLE> I have no idea if you all can glean anything but my basal temp this morning was 36.0 36.1 then 36.2> hope you can understand some of this i have an appointment for the 12th where i will suggest getting the Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies and i will also ask GP to test the following to see if any of them are low in the reference range: ferritin (stored iron), vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, zinc, copper and folate. > > Posts: 5> Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:36 pm > Private messageE-mail Top> > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------> > TPA is not medically qualified. Consult with a qualified medical practitioner before changing medication.> >