Hi There, looking for some help interpreting some thyroid and renal blood test results in hope of being able to get a diagnosis. Based in the UK.
Background: Ever since I had my son two years ago I have had the following issues...bilateral swollen legs (worse in right ankle), heavy periods, depression, thinning hair, brain fog, forgetting words and clumsy, tinnitus, dry skin, can't loose pregnancy weight, numb toes. Many things which have been written off as being a new mum.
My Ferritin levels are 25, Having took a course of three months iron supplements and five b12 injections things did improve but not resolved and now symptoms have returned. Awaiting results iron/b12 retest to see if need further treatment.
I paid for several private thyroid tests over the last year as GP seems reluctant to consider this and the Thyroid UK group helped review and suggested hypothyroid could be the issue.
I have a GP appointment Friday to get my latest blood tests and will raise this again. My question here is on renal test results I have from Feb this year and whether things could be linked? Water retention in legs appears to be reoccurring symptom with kidney issues?
Renal and thyroid test results attached for reference.
Any help much appreciated as so tired of feeling unwell. TIA 😊
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Llan12
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We do not diagnose but from your GFR level of 90, and low creatinine I would say the kidneys are working great. When I read through your symptoms, I thought thyroid.
Thyroid hormone status affects the functioning renal mass (measured as the kidney to body mass ratio), with hypothyroidism reducing this ratio and hyperthyroidism increasing it. [3] However, severe hyperthyroidism results in protein breakdown and eventual renal atrophy.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › pmcInteractions between thyroid disorders and kidney disease - PMC - NCBI
Thyroid seems more affected (than kidney) to me but still youre sub-clinical. On the thyroid forum, you may be encouraged to consider levothyroxine but Id suggest you see a qualified Nutritional Therapist that specialises in postpartum or women's hormones instead.
I have to disagree with the sub-clinical hypothyroidism comment as TSH is absolutely fine, optimal even for those already on levo, with a good level of FT3 despite a lowish FT4. No GP would even consider medication at these levels as it is not necessary. You don't want to take replacement hormone unless you need it!
Really I meant "not clinical" since technically you're right that TSH is normally around 4 for subclinical. I didn't say a GP would consider levo but rather the thyroid forum (as is already indicated and was advised to me with similar levels).
My main point is that I believe nutritional therapy is more appropriate than allopathic medicine so I'd disagree with seeing a doctor unless referred by a NT, eg for tests.
I completely agree that other causes such as vitamin and mineral deficiencies, i e. nutritional issues, could be the cause of symptoms. However sub-clinical hypothyroidism would be an above-range tsh which this is absolutely not. Even most of those on meds would be happy with this tsh, as the recommended target is 2.5 or under, with many feeling their best at around 1.
Yes, as I said, I didn't mean to say subclinical but that the thyroid seems ok (although testing time of day etc would likely be raised on thyroid forum). No disagreement there.
Nutritional theraists do have a place... close the shamans and herbalists... they can be useful in conjunction with real medical advice from a real docotr..but not a stand alone... like those pushing essential oils to cure everything
I totally agree all should work together for the benefit of our healthcare and believe patients should have the choice.
If they want care to PREVENT disease, they should see a qualified NT (maybe involving referral to allopathic doctors for tests).
If they already have acute disease and OK to take the risk of drugs, they could/should see an AD that trades on them.
Both options are "real" so please define why you think only one is. The other alternatives can be adopted too as/when.
Sadly the above, more complete model is not (yet) generally available although eminent organisation ANH International has proposed such a blueprint. So we have all been conditioned to follow the "modern medicine" approach despite significant shortfalls, in particular it usually starts with the onset of disease. We have personally tried and failed many times to see ADs for prevention with comments such as "we don't do root cause" received.
Sorry you have had such bad experiences with docs... I have had to change docs when i am not happy with them until i find one that I like..I would never choose an allopath ...am a person of science ...and a nurse for over 40 years....but we each choose.. some see docs.. some just pray.. all a matter of choice
I presume you mean you would "never choose a naturopath" since your 40yr career has been spent entirely following allopathic medicine (drugs) - see 1st link below. And believe me there is plenty of science underpinning NT - 2nd link below.
My mistake.. was late and i was thiking naturapath.. and i have quit many docs who were not competent...and FNPs who are underqualified and I agree many nutritionists can help.. and all docs should have a nutritionit to work with.. but am so tired of hearing people should avoid ALL suger at al cost and not accepting that all of our dna is different and what works for joe blow does work for sally smith and if I have STREP I need antibiotics not chicken soup.. or expensive oils..and type 1 dibetic may survive only a week without insulin..but it behoves us to make sure our doc gives us the time we need...as nabt are just plain lousy..
Hi. For info/update on our recent discussion and because of your personal interest about sub-clinical hypo, see below link to today's thyroid section of HU.
As you'll note, a long-term commenter on the forum is indicating thyroid concern with a TSH of 2+. There's much debate on the TSH level for SCH, as noted in the link I sent in response to today's post though I dont think Ive seen it quoted as low as 2.
Note: As I indicated to you earlier, Ive also been advised to consider treatment on the forum (which Ive ignored to-date). My TSH has been >1.9 four times in recent years with max 2.8 but also around 1 a similar number of times eg latest 0.96, and I supplied all figures in my communication on the thyroid forum.
Those results do not currently appear to indicate any issues with your kidney function. As your TFT results are good, (I do have knowledge of these tests as I and other family members are hypothyroid), and there are no autoimmune thyroid indicators, it is unlikely that your thyroid is to blame. Your symptoms could be due to several conditions which can result in symptoms which can mimic those of hypothyroidism, including vitamin and mineral deficiencies. You need to list your symptoms and ask your GP what they think the cause could be, and hopefully this will lead to further investigation. Hope you find some answers soon.
Mot with those levels no. Look at heat but I wonder where or if you are losing blood. Have you had minimally a chest xray bu CT should be better. How soon after pregnancy did the hair loss happen. Did you have a major illness and hair loss started 3 month later .show go or private thyroid doc tsj, free t3 free t3 test. Look at heart and ehat is you white blood cell count. Any history of ulcer stomach or intestine. are you a vegetarian. Is you have very low muscle mass that will give a lower creatine reading will be lower suggesting that kidneys are healthier than they are .the symptoms reek of thyroid though possible heart dysfunction. Good luck. Be persistent and keep going particularly when legs have edema. Might be a lymphedema or valve problem in the leg too. Some leukemia lymphoma low RBC too.
As others have said, we’re not qualified to diagnose or provide medical information in this forum.bits just meant for support and sharing our personal journeys if we choose.
I’d also strongly encourage you not to share detailed medical reports in this forum if for no other reason than to protect the confidentiality of this information.
I would encourage you, if you’ve not already done so, to reach out to the physician who ordered these tests and ask for an appointment to discuss, in detail, your results.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
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