B12 deficiency and thyroid

[Vicky2822]

hi

My daughter (now 22) has b12 deficiency and SI about twice a week (she gets the 12 weekly one from the gp). She had an Ifab test a few years ago but this came back negative.

Her journey started when she was 11 had developed a virus which triggered vestibular migraine disorder and fatigue. About 4 years later we found out she had b12 deficiency (I was questioning whether she’d be able to lead a normal life at this point as was constantly exhausted and needed a wheelchair for any days out).

sine starting SI she is now holding down a full time job and going to the gym but she still isn’t great. Symptoms include fatigue, peeling finger tips, constant bouts of thrush, brain fog, menstrual problems including endometriosis and adometreosis. She recently did a hair sample which identified a possible thyroid problem as her calcium content was 700 (max range was 100) her magnesium and copper readings were also very high.

looking back at old blood tests from 2022 her last TSH was 0.56 (range started at 0.5) and T4 was 11.5 (top range was 12).

I’ve been googling and this all points to hashimotoes disease.

She has asked the Gp for a blood test to check her thyroid, calcium and copper levels.

Has anyone else developed thyroid problems or can suggest next steps. I’m worried nothing will happen again if she’s still just in range on her blood tests.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi Vicky2822,

Just wondered if you'd posted this on Thyroid UK forum on HU.

It's a very active and supportive forum.

Many on here also have thyroid issues so I'm sure someone will be along soon to help.

I hope your daughter is getting enough B12....many UK forum members report they need B12 injections far more often than the usual 4 injections from NHS a year.

There have been forum members who reported needing weekly even daily injections...we're all different.

Has she got good levels of folate and iron and Vitamin D?

Many on here report deficiencies in these as well as B12.

I also wondered if her potassium levels had been checked.

"she gets the 12 weekly one from the gp"

There has been an increase in UK forum members reporting that GP surgeries want to stop their B12 injections or swap them for oral B12.

If you're concerned about this possibility, have a look at this thread I started recently.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po....

I'm not a health professional.

[Vicky2822 in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thanks will do

[Vicky2822 in reply to Sleepybunny]

She has about 2 b12 injections a week as I get the ampules from Germany as she would be in her knees if it was just the gp 12,weekly one.

Tested vit d and that’s good (she takes that) plus we have milk kefir every day, vit c, fish oil and she takes herbal stuff to help combat repeated yeast infections.

[Libuse in reply to Vicky2822]

Try SI every other day. I started off on this forum with B12 deficiency, 2 years later discovered very hypothyroid as well. I collapsed with vertigo. She needs testing and you should also join thyroid Uk forum.

[Zmalp]

Hi, best advice I can give is to keep checking the TSH levels annually, particularly at this time of year. Try to test before 9am or close to it in an empty stomach. Medichecks do a finger prick test that you can send off. They will also test for TPO antibodies which may show up before it becomes symptomatic

My husband had this rumbling away for years before he was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and his would be normal in spring and summer and then become under active in winter. Eventually he had a period of Hashitoxicosis which wasn’t recognised and it took private tests for us to eventually track down the thyroid issue. His TSH was never in the classic range for treatment. What we didn’t know was he had an underlying B12 deficiency in tandem so his symptoms were so much worse.

Thyroid UK and the support group on here are brilliant. Without them we would never have got him diagnosed with either condition. If you pop on there, you’ll find loads of help

[JanD236]

I had Graves’ disease (overactive thyroid) which pre-dated my PA. This was picked up in blood tests which showed below range TSH and above range Free T4.

You daughter’s thyroid blood tests look close to how mine were so I wonder if they’re heading in that direction. I think it might be worth pressing for the full range of thyroid tests which would include T3 and also antibodies (and possibly others that I’ve forgotten having).

[Sleepybunny]

Links about thyroid tests

from Thyroid UK website

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

from Lab Tests Online UK

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

NHS link about hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroidism)

nhs.uk/conditions/overactiv...

NHS link about hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

nhs.uk/conditions/underacti...

[DiNL]

I also have Hashimoto. They gp can test for thyroid antibodies. I don’t live in the uk. But they did it here in the Netherlands - so I’m sure it’s possible. I too have PA.

[B12phd in reply to DiNL]

Hashimoto's and PA are both autoimmune and are often present together.

[Linde19]

I have had a very very high calcium and it seemed I had a hyperparatheroid. I had an operation and feel better now

You could test on active vitamine D ( normally not tested, but this is the D which is in your cells not in your blood) and PTH to see if that could be the problem.

[Blueoxo]

hi, I have underactive thyroid and Perncious Anemias, it’s the latter that seems to cause the most problem. For the thyroid’ it was a simple blood test and treatment with a hormone replacement. Once corrected just an annual blood test, no further problems there. The Pernicious anemia has caused lots of ongoing symptoms such as those you have discussed despite B12 injections at the GP practice. I gave up in the end and started self injecting weekly, felt so much better since. I would get the thyroid test and if that comes back okay, maybe more frequent b12 injections.

[Oneash]

Without vitamin B6 the thyroid can't access the iodine it needs. B9 Folate and thyroid issues are interlinked. Don't forget l-methylfolate or folonic acid are far better than folic acid.

B12, B9 and B6 work together in the liver to clear homocysteine. So her demand for them will be high. A methylated B Vitamin complex may be useful for her. Wild oily fish, organic grass fed liver, nuts, and lots of fresh organic greens otherwise.