2nd Blood Test, Still TSH a bit high, also ALT raised

[m00bies]

New Year, I was taken ill to hospital losing lots of fresh blood from my backside. To date we are not sure what caused this. I had blood tests and stool culture tests that revealed no food poisoning, the only markers of note were an elevated TSH and ALT. The german guys did an ultrasound on various organs and found some inflammation of the sigmoidal colon where I had most of the discomfort with this episode but overall had no clue what caused this. I took 2 ibuprofen 2 days prior although have used ibuprofen for quite a while to control tension headaches.

So I returned to the UK and have seen a specialist gastro. I had an endoscopy yesterday which showed nothing wrong there. I had a biopsy taken and a stool culture is again being analysed for white blood cells to indicate possible healing by the body which would indicate I would have a colonoscopy.

I also had another bloodtest on Feb 6th, 1 month after the gastro issues to retest TSH/ALT. I got those results yesterday and they are still elevated. My ALT is 81 when it should be < 51? And TSH I think was 212.

I also had a chest xray which will get analysed next Wed. What can they tell from this I wonder.

I've not been feeling terrible but along with other issues like palpitations, some chest pain when I lean to one side, I just don't know what if anything is going on or whether to worry.

I am a few kilos over ideal weight, so nothing terrible, but I am unfit. I feel mentally sound but do get tired a little easier (could be unfitness since having all this unwellness through Jan.).

Should I worry. Should I ask for TSH replacement? Do I have hepatitis with the ALT values I have. Have I missed anything inbetween all these various symptoms?

Thanks so much :)

[estrelinha]

Difficult to say anything because your borderline in those lab values and ALT isn't high enough. You have subclinical hypothyroidism, if you have symptoms you should treat (low dose of levothyroxin), that is a priority. About the other values, I think your doctors are looking for something (or may be it's nothing.....), I don't know what are your normal tests but have you done a reticulocyte count?, this can give an idea if there is hemolyses, have you done a immunoglobulin electrophoreses? did your doctors looked to the pancreas,  liver, kidney (ultrasounds?), and what about hepatitis antibodies (those would have ALT and AST more then 500, so I don't think it's a cause), Epstein Barr and cytomegalovirus antibodies??  Potassium can be slightly elevated because of the increased leukocytes B, but this would give symptoms if potassium was higher then 5 , but I think you should repeat all blood analyses and urine to see if there is any change (don't forget a low fat diet 24 hours before), so your symptoms must be related to your thyroid, treat your thyroid first, test the thyroid antibodies too.

[m00bies]

Hi,

My abnormal values were

Leuko. B : 11.8 Gpt/l (normal 4.4 - 11.3)
Potass i.P: 4.54 mmol/l (normal 3.4 - 4.5)
ALAT (GPT) i.P. : 86 U/l (normal < 51)
LDH IFCC i.P: 237 U/l (normal < 226)
TSH Sens. P : 7.110 mU/l (normal 0.27 - 4.20)
Free T3 P : 5.2 pmol/l (normal 2.8 - 7.8)
Free T4 P : 10.8 pmol/l (normal 12 - 22)

Everything else was within range.

Is this what you needed? :)

[estrelinha]

I just need the Units of the free T3 to understand, or post the references.

[m00bies]

Hi, I thought I had already mentioned that my free T3 is 5.2, free T4 10.8, TSH 7.11. I don't have the antibodies thing though :)

[stella5349]

Get the Free T3 and the antibodies test. That is only blood work - find out the results then proceed to treatment if needed

[estrelinha]

Looks like you have subclinical hypothyroidism, you FT4 is border line low, what are the units of the free T3?, you should also test for thyroid antibodies (TPO and anti-Tg), About ALT, you should repeat it again, with other full blood analyses. First you should go to an ENDO, and treat your thyroid.

[m00bies]

Firstly thanks so much for your replies :) Yes the reading was incorrect, these are the details:

TSH: 7.11
fT3: 5.2
fT4: 10.8

I have been off ibuprofen since end of December now, could it still be causing issues for the Feb 6th bloodtest?

I just don't know what to make of myself right now. I am not experiencing anything severe as such, but there is just something not quite right. I get muscle aches more than usual, today I am quite light-headed at my desk and tired (late night also though), this morning I was seeing bright stars in front of my eyes for 1/2 an hour (could be coffee first thing without breakfast).

It's so easy to be paranoid when you don't understand this stuff, hence I came here to check if what my Dr says marries up with your opinions :) As far as he is concerned it's something to keep an eye on, but nothing alarming. He says there are people whose values are outside the normal range.

[stella5349]

I agree with estralinha. If you are not experiencing dire symptoms and medically all is sound with BP and heart rate and breathing for example - there must be a mistake in your post on the TSH reading.

Still you should get tested to find out more on what is going on with you.

[estrelinha]

Ibuprofen can be the cause of high ALT enzymes , have you tested for AP enzymes, iron in serum? Do you take herbal supplements ? What other tests have you done? ALT it self doesn't mean much, you need to do a full pannel of blood tests (test your pancreas, gabbler, diabetes, cholesterol......). 24 hours before the blood analyses you should do a  low fat diet.
About TSH , much be a mistake , 212 with few symptoms????, so you should test for free T3 and free T4.

About fresh blood, usually could be caused by a vessel that ruptured....

[Smilerdeb]

Sorry....that shouldve read...Myexedema Coma.

[Smilerdeb]

ALT is your liver enzymes.
My guess would be they are raised because of being HYPO with the TSH level you have.
You are at risk of Myexedema Come with a TSH that high.
Have you posted the wrong level? 212?
As for the ALT, it can be in the 1000's and still be ok as long as the enzymes start to settle down when the thyroid does.
As for the bleeding, I cant comment on that as I have never experienced it.
I would be asking why the TSH is that high and asking for your thyroid levels and antibodies to be tested for Hashimotos.