New to the site- these are my blood results.

[Peggs]

I am new to the site. I recently had my blood tested as I am not feeling well: I need a lot of sleep to not feel tired (at least 9 hours); brain fog; my energy crashes out of the blue; always extremely, uncomfortable cold; I sleep with 2 layers of clothes on as well as a warm duvet and electric blanket; have sore bones; and despite the fact that I do 6 hours of Bikram yoga and 2 hours of weight training per week, I am steadily gaining weight. The main debilitating thing I have is PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) and it's getting worse.

Blood test 16 May 2013:

TSH: 3,30 (0,5-5)

T4: 14 (9-24)

T3: 4,77 (2,63-5,71)

Iron: 20 (10-25)

Ferritine: 21 (20-150)

Folic acid: 38,20 (7-25)

Vitamin B12: 354 (150-800)

Vitamin D(250H): 29 (>50)

I am female, late 40's and vegetarian. I have 5 family relatives that have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, including a sister.

The doctor said my thyroid values were 'within range'. Luckily I did ask for a print out of my blood results so that I could post it here.

He did prescribe 10ml Colecalciferol (50.000iu/1ML)- of which I have to take 0,5 ml per week. He wants to test my VitD after 6 months again.

I would appreciate any input regarding my blood results.

Peggs

[shaws]

Your TSH is too high. It should be 1 or below at the very least.

Dr Toft ex of the British Thyroid Association has a booklet on Amazon which I am told is very informative and your GP may well take notice as it is from Dr Toft.

amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...

I would also supplement with B12 methlcobalamin sublingual or ordinary tablets and Amazon also have a selection. Your B12 should be towards the upper end and you cannot overdose as excess is excreted.

Someone will comment on your other blood test results.

[Peggs in reply to shaws]

Thanks you, I appreciate hearing that the TSH is too high from people who really have experience. Now to convince the GP. Thanks for the recommendation of the booklet - will look into it - do you mean to get for the GP?.

I will order the B12 too, there's also an online vitamin store in the country where I currently reside (The Netherlands) that sell that version of the B12. In my home country (South Africa) we were able to get the B12 injections, I am still of the belief that our gastrointestinal juices destroy much of the orally taken B12 - any thoughts?

thanks again

Peggs

I would still appreciate any more feedback on the other blood tests if anyone else has any comments. I want to prepare myself for my discussion with the GP.

[shaws in reply to Peggs]

Your GP may take note of this booklet as Dr Toft was the President of the British Thyroid Association as well as Physician to Queen Elizabeth.

spirehealthcare.com/edinbur...

I don't agree with some of the things he says about Natural Dessicated Thyroid Hormones, as that is what enabled me to recover my health but I have read an article in which he says sometimes the addition of T3 may help as well as a suppressed TSH for some people.

[shaws in reply to Peggs]

I have re-read your question and realise that, although you have symptoms, that your GP hasn't diagnosed you yet. In the UK, doctors are told to wait till the TSH reaches 10 before prescribing meds. Some, fortunately, will prescribe earlier if you have symptoms. In the USA you would be diagnosed above 3. The fact too that there is family history of hypo should be taken into account.

Before the TSH blood tests became the norm for diagnosing, people were medicated according to their clinical symptoms.

Re female problems - this is a link

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

I have pernicious anaemia as well as hypo so have to have B12 injections.

[Peggs in reply to shaws]

Thank you! Will post when I have approached my GP with my request to start trial T3.

[Peggs]

The other strange symptom that I have had particularly the past 5 months or so, is incredibly itchy skin. I've checked detergents, bedding, etc etc, nothing different. Wondering if it could also have to do with the thyroid? Mainly torso, arms, face where the itchiness occurs.

[shaws in reply to Peggs]

Several members have had similar complaints.