Medichecks Optimal Health Blood Test

[john159]

Just received my results back from Medichecks. £199 plus £35 to go to a clinic to get the blood drawn so not cheap. I received 4 pages of results and a Doctors report so very comprehensive. I had not taken any supplements especially B12 for a few weeks as instructed by Medichecks.

TSH 3.2, B12 150, Folate 5.5, Vit D 56. The report said TSH and B12 were OK but I needed to supplement my Folate and Vit D.

I always thought it was my low B12 that was the problem but that seems OK maybe it was the Folate all along? I do take Vit D through the Winter but I will take it all year round now. Any thoughts? I'm assuming my body can gather the B12 from my food now so will not be a problem?

PS Me and the wife had our bloods taken by Sharon Muir in Troon who I can wholeheartedly recommend. We went to her Skincare Clinic and she was a great help. She is a trained phlebotomist and former NHS Ward Sister.

[Allywales8663]

Hi John159Can I ask what your B12 result were with Medichecks. The reason I ask is that my mother had hers done with this company and her Active B12 came back as 70. I was shocked to see that this was within range? As even the NHS would see this as deficient. Was yours the Active test.

Regards

Allywales

[john159 in reply to Allywales8663]

Hello my active B12 was 150 which they said was fine. The range they had was 37.5 to 187.5. I hope that helps.

[Noelnoel in reply to john159]

As others have said, I would strongly urge you to post your lab results on the thyroid forum with the reference ranges because 3.2 is much higher than many would feel well with

What’s the TSH ref range they provide

Also provide ref ranges for all results

[john159 in reply to Noelnoel]

0.27-4.2 is the range. I have posted my results on the thyroid forum and had a lot of support but unless I find a GP that will refer me to an endocrinologist I am at a dead end. I think the vast amount of knowledge and science GPs need to know now is far too much and until AI is used for initial consultation it always will be. The US system is better with more specialisation by Doctors.

[Noelnoel in reply to john159]

Can’t see your post on the thyroid forum

I imagine a lot of members have said you haven’t reached a dead end until you’ve exhausted all possibilities

[Tanitha]

The Thyroid forum are very knowledgable and they suggest TSH for a healthy thyroid should be around 1 and no more than 2. At 3.2 it is possible you may by experiencing some hypothyroid symptoms which can be very similar to low B12. The thyroid needs good levels of B12, folate (methylfolate), vitamin D and ferritin so it's feasible if you increase your vit D and folate you may see a reduction in your TSH and feel a little better. I use the advanced thyroid test with Medichecks as it tests those elements and also shows if you have thyroid antibodies. It will be interesting to see if your B12 stays at that level without supplementing.

[john159 in reply to Tanitha]

Hi thank you for the information. I was diagnosed with hypothyroid in my 40s with a TSH of 3.7 -I had went in with bilateral carpal tunnel -that was 25 years ago. Every GP I have had since said my TSH is OK. With first test with Medichecks years ago advised me that my Levothyroxine was too low. I took it to the GP and he said it was nonsense. But ever since Medichecks are telling me 3.2 is OK.

I am taking Vit D and Folate and will take Ferritin now as you advise and post an update here in a few months. Thank you

[grumpyold in reply to john159]

Hi John.I'm mainly to be found on the thyroid forum and I have to say that I agree with Tanitha .

A TSH of 3.2 is not OK.

The medichecks doctor' s comments are usually as misguided as most other doctors where thyroids are concerned.

Your own GPs comment of "nonsense" is a sad reflection of the general ignorance surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease.

As Tanitha says, the thyroid group is very knowledgeable. I have gained SO much information since I joined . Info which I never obtained from years of (mis) treatment by the NHS.

[john159 in reply to Tanitha]

Hi Thyroglobulin Antibodies 19.7 (0-115) Thyroid Peroxidise Antibodies 29.2 (0-34)

[Tanitha in reply to john159]

I just noticed in a previous post you have had raised antibodies so whilst they aren't raised at the moment I wouldn't rule out an autoimmune condition. At the moment folate at 5.5 (Medicheck range >7) as you say could be your problem and contributing to your high TSH. Your GP would probably give you a loading dose at that level and may be worth approaching them as the deficiency would then be on your medical records and they should recheck your levels. The other side of the coin is they would give you folic acid rather than methylfolate which may be more beneficial. Again, as you know, Vit D is almost deficient - I feel very unwell at that level.

The Optimal Blood test should also give you Ferritin levels under the iron panel - do these look ok? Under red blood cells MCV gives the size of blood cells. With B12 and folate deficiency the number is high in range and with iron deficiency the number is low - however if you have folate/B12 and iron deficiencies together the reading may be skewed and show mid-range. RDW may be useful here.

[Tanitha]

That's interesting John, wonder if you also had high thyroid antibodies. I was diagnosed in my late 20s and treated. Treatment stopped and many years later diagnosed B12 deficient. All symptoms resolved with B12 injections but since they have been withdrawn they have returned. My TSH is just over 2 at the moment with high antibodies. I would check ferritin levels first or just taking something gentle like Spatone as too much iron is not good but all the elements work in harmony and a deficiency in one can make you feel most unwell. It may be worth also taking a look at the thyroid forum to get a better understanding of your symptoms.

[john159 in reply to Tanitha]

Thanks Tanitha I will try Spatone. I am trying to avoid B12 now to stop my palpitations. If I took a sublingual tablet they came on 2 hours later and lasted for a day. If I took an injection they came on 2 days later and lasted a week. Not a nice symptom to get. My B12 is 150 without anything so I will try and avoid B12 if I can.

[Hockey_player]

Were you taking oral B12 or getting injections? Was your B12 really low before? If yes, why was it low? If you have PA you need B12 supplements for life. There is not enough info in your post to see your whole story.

[john159 in reply to Hockey_player]

2 years ago my B12 was 138 so not much different. I started taking B12 tablets not much change but Sublingual ones made the difference. A medichecks test showed 250 and they told me to stop supplementing with B12. I ignored them. But after a couple of years I started getting palpitations. (this is a listed side effect) Having been diagnosed with Afib and now ectopic heart beats so I stopped the tablets. My last test B12 doesnt look too bad at 150 -not being on anything. I have started Vit D, and Folate and will start Ferritin. What complicates matters is I have sleep apnea and hypothyroid which give very similar symptoms. I am on CPAP therapy which helps but not a 100% cure and no GP will give me more than 50mcg Levothyroxine but having Afib now it could make my AFib worse?

[Hockey_player in reply to john159]

What is the normal test range for the B12 test you took? Is 150 low, normal or high for the test that you took? If it is low, then I would suspect PA. If you only stopped your supplementing for a couple of weeks and you don't have PA, it would probably still be quite high. Some people end up being above the normal test range when supplementing.

[john159 in reply to Hockey_player]

Hi, Medichecks range is 37.5-185. They ask you stop any B12 supplements 14 days before the test and I had left it longer. At that time I was only taking 60mcg/day anyway - due to my problem with palpitations. I will see how my ferritin, Vit C, and folate tablets do. I am due to see a consultant at the end of the month I will mention about my TSH level again.