I have recently had a private thyroid test which I posted on the thyroid forum, where I have been advised to be tested for PA, Coeliac, homocysteine and MMA.
Here are my results
25-hydroxy Vitamin D 34.5 nmol/L (50 - 100 nmol/L)
Active B12 66.1 pmol/L (25.1 - 165 pmol)
Ferritin 30.5 ug/L (13 -150 ug/L)
Folate 13.2 nmol/L (8.83 - 60.8 nmol/L)
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diamondgirl9022
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active B12 is inconclusive as it is actually well into the normal range - a drop over time would be more significant in demonstrating that you are having problems absorbing B12.
folate is in range but low - folate levels are responsive to dietary intake (whilst B12 levels would tend to be very slow to respond to dietary changes because the body regulates B12 levels from a significant store)
ferritin is only one measure of iron absorption
so, you could have an absorption problem, or you could be okay ...
is your thyroid well regulated/medicated?
are you symptomatic of B12 deficiency/folate deficiency?
have you had a full blood account and did that show any signs of red cells either being too large (MCV/MCH high) or two small (MCV/MCH low - which would imply iron deficinency) or varying too much in size (RDW above range)?
homocysteine and MMA are tests that can help clarify if your cells don't have enough B12. They look at harmful by-products that build up if there isn't enough B12 to recycle them, but they can also be raised by other things - notably folate deficiency in the case of homocysteine, and kidney problems in the case of MMA.
Whilst B12 deficiency - and folate deficiency - do affect the cardio-vascular system and increase the risk of strokes there are a lot of other factors that can lead to strokes and if you were deficient enough 13 years ago for B12 deficiency to have been the reason for the stroke that is a long time to have been significantly deficient and I would expect you to be highly symptomatic of B12 deficiency and have been so for a very long time.
The thyroid results aren't throwing thyroid up as being an obvious contender either - doesn't rule it out but just that in terms of investigating it isn't screaming out as being the obvious thing for doctor to follow up on. Probably something to follow up on over time - and see if TSH is creeping up and T3 and T4 are falling.
I haven't had a full blood count done yet. I need to book a doctor appointment for one any way, as they are looking into why bald spots keep appearing in my hair.
MCV and MCH indicate that your red blood cells are larger and rounder than they normally are. the RDW implies a wide range in cell size - could be a mix of microcytosis (smaller red blood cells - a characterisitic of iron deficiency) and macrocytosis (larger rounder red blood cells - a characteristic of folate and B12 deficiency) - or could be because you are recovering from an anaemia.
There are other things that could cause macrocytosis - just that B12/folate deficiency are the most common.
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