New member with blood results that I need explaining.

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

The name is , I am 47 year old woman and starting the downward slide into

the menopause.

I have thought for a few years that my thyroid function is not right but my TSH

levels are 'normal'. My main troubling symptoms are -

Can't lose weight (though going low carb and wheat free is working so far).

Totally non-existant Libido (I enjoy myself once I make the cold blooded

decision to relieve my hubby's tensions, but I am never the instigator out of my

own needs and I miss that aspect of my life terribly).

Low testosterone levels, being treated with implants.

TATT. Tired all the time, this has been in my doctors notes for about 20

years.

Brain fog and lack of gumption. Lack of gumption helped by the testosterone,

which is why I am able to thumb my nose at my doctor now and look for decent

advise elsewhere. Brain fog easing with wheat elimination.

All I get from the doctor is lose weight and take anti-depressants. Even when my

depression was obviously caused by running out of testosterone patches I was put

on anti-depressants. When I went over my docs head to my specialist and got a

testosterone implant which cured my depression within a week, the doc was very

dismissive and pissed off with me, I have near enough been black listed by my

docs, but they are the only ones for 12 miles.

I have recently found by trial and error (elimination and then re-introduction)

that I am wheat intolerant (it looks like this can be a factor in thyroid

dis-function). I am now wheat free and low carb.

Now for the bloods. I have no idea when in my menstrual cycle the hormonal ones

were done, as I only have one ovary and had to have uterus ablation 12+ years

ago to treat excessive blood loss. The testosterone levels look normal but I was

wearing a testosterone patch at the time so the natural score would be much

lower than shown. Most of the other tests, liver function etc were well within

normal ranges.

Serum FSH level 4.2 u/L

Serum LH level 4.4 u/L

Serum Oestradiol level 213 pmol/L

Serum Progesterone 16.4 nmol/L

Serum Testosterone 1.2 nmol/L

Serum sex hormone binding globulin level 25 nmol

Serum TSH level 2.24 mu/L (0.25 - 5.0 U)

Theres plenty more results that I can show if need be. Can anyone interpret

these results for me and tell me if I should be taking Iodine or other hormones

to help?

Thanks

PS my doc's flat out refuse to do a T3 or T4 test as my TSH test was normal.

They don't do T3 or T4 unless the TSH test comes back abnormal.

[Guest guest]

Hello 2 (we already have another ).

When you post the results of blood tests, we cannot

help unfortunately with their interpretation unless we have the reference range

for each of the tests done. We need to know whether your results are at the

bottom, the middle, the top or even outside of the reference range, so please

can you post these too - and then we might be able to help you.

Have you had any recent thyroid

function tests done? If so, post the results here with the ref. ranges. If not,

ask your GP to test your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) , free T4, free T3

and tests to see whether you have antibodies to your thyroid. These are TPO and

Tg Ab. Because you find you are better on a gluten free diet, this could be

because you are suffering with Hashimoto's disease. Testing TSH is NOT a

thyroid test, it is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland and it is

secreted when the pituitary recognises there is insufficient thyroid hormone in

the blood. It does not tell the doctor whether the hormone secreted by the

thyroid gland is being fully utilised at the cellular level, so a TSH test

alone is useless.

After asking for these blood

tests to be done, if they have not already been done, ask for iron, transferrin

saturation%, ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and

zinc. It is very important to get these checked because if any are low in the

range, no amount of thyroid hormone can be fully utilised at the cellular

level, and your symptoms suggest you might be suffering with hypothyroidism. If

any of these are low, then they would need to be supplemented as a priority.

If your GP is really useless at

helping his patients find the cause of their symptoms, then you might find it

works out better to write him a letter and telling him that you are determined

to find out the cause of your symptoms and that you would like him to help you,

First list all of your symptoms

and signs. Check these against those in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk under 'Hypothyroidism'

Then take your basal temperature for 4 or 5 mornings before you get out of bed

and list these if they are 97.8 degrees F (36.6 degrees C, of less).

Next, list the thyroid function

tests you need to be done as outlined above and the specific minerals and

vitamins mentioned above too. Check the attached document to print off to

enclose with your request so your GP can see these are vital. Ask your GP to

make these results available to you once they come back, together with the

reference range. A doctor cannot withhold any information that is in your

medical notes under the Data Protection Act 1998.

List any members of your family

who have a thyroid or autoimmune disease.

Ask for a referral to an

endocrinologist if your GP says he cannot help you, or that there is nothing

wrong with you as you are entitled to a second opinion when you have continuing

symptoms. Remember that however clever your GP might think he is, he is not a

specialist in endocrinology.

Last, ask for your letter of

requests to be placed into your medical notes and for y our GP to write to you acknowledging

that this has been done.

Remember to keep a copy of this

letter yourself, and remember also, that doctors have to pay attention to the

written word, as they can deny discussions that have taken place behind closed

doors.

Good luck

….but first, do give us

the reference ranges for the tests that you have had done.

Luv - Sheila

Serum FSH level 4.2 u/L

Serum LH level 4.4 u/L

Serum Oestradiol level 213 pmol/L

Serum Progesterone 16.4 nmol/L

Serum Testosterone 1.2 nmol/L

Serum sex hormone binding globulin level 25 nmol

Serum TSH level 2.24 mu/L (0.25 - 5.0 U)

Theres plenty more results that I can show if need be. Can anyone interpret

these results for me and tell me if I should be taking Iodine or other hormones

to help?

Thanks

PS my doc's flat out refuse to do a T3 or T4 test as my TSH test was normal.

They don't do T3 or T4 unless the TSH test comes back abnormal.

1 of 1 File(s)

LOW MINERALS AND VITAMINS AND THE THYROID CONNECTION.doc

[Guest guest]

Hi 2, First, when responding to a message, can you remove

most of the previous messages and leave just a small portion of the part you are

responding to before clicking 'Send' as those who opted to receive a Daily

Digest or who read direct from the web site get frustrated having to scroll

through all of these before getting to the next message.

A TSH is usually better around 1.0. When it starts to rise, this

is an indication your thyroid is not secreting the level of thyroid hormone it

should. Your GP needs to check your free T4 and free T3 and he should also test

to see whether you have antibodies to your thyroid. Do you have any members of

your family who have a thyroid or autoimmune disease?

I am personally actually useless at understanding sex hormones

and how one should balance against another so unable to comment, but hopefully,

one of our more clever members will be able to do this for you. Your basic

blood test results look normal.

What actual symptoms are you suffering and what signs are you

showing. Check the thyroid symptoms and signs in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk under 'Hypothyroidism'.

Serum FSH 4.2

Range...

Follicular 2 -17

Ovulatory 5 - 48

Luteal 1 -15

Serum LH level 4.4 u/L

Range.....

Follicular 2 - 13

Ovulatory 14 -96

Luteal 1 -11

Serum Oestradiol 213 pmol/L

Range....

Follicular 80 - 550

Ovulatory 400 -1600

Luteal 175 -880

Serum Testosterone 1.2 nmol/L (Skewed by the fact that I was

wearing a testosterone patch.)

range....

0.2 - 1.65

The progesterone test won't help because it needed to be taken at a

specific time of my cycle, without knowing what part of my cycle I was at made

the test useless. I can guess with the differning tests that I probably

wasn't ovulating at the time the blood test was done.

The basic blood tests came back as...

[Guest guest]

Stuff snipped.....

My Mum had/has an overactive thyroid, neccecitating radioactive thyroid treatment, some years ago. She is now under-active and on thyroxine. Hyperthyroid.

My sister has ME /CFE and blames it on her work related stress.

We believe our son has Cushings Syndrome as he has the classic buffalo hump and carries all his excess weight around his torso (normal weight legs etc) again incompetant docs who won't do the tests properly.

**********************

My symptoms... weight that is very hard to shift. Its dropping slowly at the moment on a grain free (which means totally gluten free) low carb, under 1500kcal diet. I am at present 5'5" at 19stone.

Excessive tiredness, weight gain (no matter how many diets, its crept up and up and up). Obesity, Night sweats, Insomnia (more waking up and unable to go back to sleep), Loss of Libido (totally gone), Thrush infections regulary, muscle cramps, Joint stifness (I put it down to my weight and age), Loss of Stamina, Heat intolerance (I am sat in front of an open window, naked and with the heating off, I am so hot, but I generally thought it was hot flushes due to age), no thermometer so will do temperatures ASAP. 3:00pm crashes (had them for years, quite often to be found in bed or asleep on the sofa midafternoon as being completly unable to keep my eyes open), Jumpiness, unrefreshing sleep.

Puffy ankles nearly all of the time, achey puffy hands.

Sensation of pressure on the throat, choking fits, dry mouth. (choking fits, I always thought was a sensitive patch down the side of my throat that biscuit crumbs or saliva triggered).

Nails, can't tell as I chew them terribly.

Skin, dry especially lower legs and feet.

Numbness etc. Arms, hands and fingers. Feels as if I have a trapped nerve or vein in my neck/shoulder region thats stopping the blood or nerve flow.

Pain - Back (expected I thought with my weight) occasional bouts of sciatica type pain in hip, buttock and down leg. Wrist, knee and ankle joint pain. Plantar Faciitis.

Digestive Problems - Wheat intollerance (gluten), IBS, Abdominal distension (my tummy thinks I'm carrying twins).

Menstrual disorders. Periods were so heavy that I had womb ablation (Trans Cervical resection of the Endometrium) which totally stopped my periods by destroying the womb lining.

Eyes - Dry and gritty on occasion.

Mental - Memory loss (did have concussion in the past), Mental sluggishness, easilly distracted (poor concentration), loss of drive (my get up and go, has got up and gone), occasional nightmares.

Does that lot help?

I have made an appointment with my doc for Thursday and will be picking up a thermometer this afternoon.

Regards

" A TSH is usually better around 1.0. When it starts to rise, this is an indication your thyroid is not secreting the level of thyroid hormone it should. Your GP needs to check your free T4 and free T3 and he should also test to see whether you have antibodies to your thyroid. Do you have any members of your family who have a thyroid or autoimmune disease?What actual symptoms are you suffering and what signs are you showing. Check the thyroid symptoms and signs in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk under 'Hypothyroidism'. "

[Guest guest]

2, what you need to do is to write a letter to your GP and

send it to her asking her to digest the contents, note your requests and place

the letter into your medical notes.

Start off the letter by stating assertively that as you have put

up with your symptoms and signs for so long without being given a correct

diagnosis, you are now determined to do everything that you can to find the

cause, and hope that your doctor will work alongside you in your search.

First, list all of your symptoms that you have put here and any

'signs' that you have. You can check these against those in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk under 'Hypothyroidism'

and then 'Symptoms and Signs'.

Next, list your basal temperatures for 4 mornings before you get

out of bed.

Next, list any members of your family who have a thyroid or

autoimmune disease.

Next, list the blood tests you need to be checked that should

include a FULL thyroid function test i.e. TSH, free T4, free T3 and tests to

see whether you have thyroid antibodies, i.e. TPO and TgAb.

Next, list also the following specific vitamins and minerals you

need testing to see whether any of these are low in the reference range. These

are iron, transferrin saturation%, ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin D3,

magnesium, folate, copper and zinc. Should you believe your GP might try to

tell you that there is no connection between these low levels and low thyroid,

then copy out the attached document to show her just some of the references to

the research/studies that have been done to show that there is.

Ask for your GP to make the results of these tests available too

you together with the reference range.

Ask for a trial of thyroid hormone and if your GP is unwilling,

ask for a referral to an endocrinologist.

Hope this helps.

Luv - Sheila

Stuff snipped.....

My Mum had/has an overactive thyroid, neccecitating radioactive

thyroid treatment, some years ago. She is now under-active and on thyroxine.

Hyperthyroid.

My sister has ME /CFE and blames it on her work related stress.

We believe our son has Cushings Syndrome as he has the classic

buffalo hump and carries all his excess weight around his torso (normal weight

legs etc) again incompetant docs who won't do the tests properly.

**********************

My symptoms... weight that is very hard to shift. Its dropping

slowly at the moment on a grain free (which means totally gluten free) low

carb, under 1500kcal diet. I am at present 5'5 " at 19stone.

Excessive tiredness, weight gain (no matter how many diets, its

crept up and up and up). Obesity, Night sweats, Insomnia (more waking up and

unable to go back to sleep), Loss of Libido (totally gone), Thrush infections

regulary, muscle cramps, Joint stifness (I put it down to my weight and

age), Loss of Stamina, Heat intolerance (I am sat in front of an open

window, naked and with the heating off, I am so hot, but I generally

thought it was hot flushes due to age), no thermometer so will do

temperatures ASAP. 3:00pm crashes (had them for years, quite often to be

found in bed or asleep on the sofa midafternoon as being completly unable to

keep my eyes open), Jumpiness, unrefreshing sleep.

Puffy ankles nearly all of the time, achey puffy hands.

Sensation of pressure on the throat, choking fits, dry mouth.

(choking fits, I always thought was a sensitive patch down the side of my

throat that biscuit crumbs or saliva triggered).

Nails, can't tell as I chew them terribly.

Skin, dry especially lower legs and feet.

Numbness etc. Arms, hands and fingers. Feels as if I have a trapped

nerve or vein in my neck/shoulder region thats stopping the blood or nerve

flow.

Pain - Back (expected I thought with my weight) occasional bouts of

sciatica type pain in hip, buttock and down leg. Wrist, knee and ankle joint

pain. Plantar Faciitis.

Digestive Problems - Wheat intollerance (gluten), IBS, Abdominal

distension (my tummy thinks I'm carrying twins).

Menstrual disorders. Periods were so heavy that I had womb ablation

(Trans Cervical resection of the Endometrium) which totally stopped my periods

by destroying the womb lining.

Eyes - Dry and gritty on occasion.

Mental - Memory loss (did have concussion in the past), Mental

sluggishness, easilly distracted (poor concentration), loss of drive (my get up

and go, has got up and gone), occasional nightmares.

Does that lot help?

I have made an appointment with my doc for Thursday and will be

picking up a thermometer this afternoon.

Regards

" A TSH is usually better around 1.0. When it starts to rise, this

is an indication your thyroid is not secreting the level of thyroid hormone it

should. Your GP needs to check your free T4 and free T3 and he should also test

to see whether you have antibodies to your thyroid. Do you have any members of

your family who have a thyroid or autoimmune disease?What actual symptoms are

you suffering and what signs are you showing. Check the thyroid symptoms and

signs in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk

under 'Hypothyroidism'. "

1 of 1 File(s)

LOW MINERALS AND VITAMINS AND THE THYROID CONNECTION.doc