I am new member, 56 year old, have mother and brother who are both hypo. I have been having symptons for a few years but put it down to menopause. I also have Asthma, chronic spontaneous urticaria and idiopathic angioedema! Meaning i have occasional allergic reactions that involve me going to A&E and being treated by iv drugs. Am on a mission to try to get to the bottom of my symptons and allergic reactions and have had some blood testing, listing below what I think may be important.
16.01.14 3.30pm
tsh 4.4miu/L (0.2-5.5u)
Tpa <20iuml (0-60u)
17-02-14 9am
tsh 3.9 (0.2-5.5)
FT4 17.3pmol/L (10.0-24.5)
FT3 5.0pmol/L (3.9-6.7u)
cholesterol 6.2
serum B12 304 (180-1000)
serum ferritin 52 (10-300U)
serum folate 5.3 (.4.00)
mcv 90.8fl (80-100)
mch 30.6 (27-32)
neutrophil count 2.97 10*9/L (1.9-7.5 U)
haematocrit 0.418 1/1 (0.37-0.47 U)
Not quite sure if these are right things to post. Would like opinions - seeing gp on Friday to discuss, I think i am low on B12 etc although results say normal. Get very tired especially in afternoons, terrible insomnia/restless sleep, weight gain, poor mood. Second tsh test followed a very stressful few days which left me mentally exhausted and feeling very low, I understand stress can suppress tsh, I was expecting it to be higher than first test as it was done much earlier in the day. Would be grateful for any advice about what to discuss/ask my gp, i think she may be reasonably receptive, I am a new patient having moved recently so don't know her that well. I know Hamster1 has good knowledge on B12 so maybe can respond, thank you all, have learnt so much from the site.
Written by
Frannie58
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I was deficient with a serum B12 of 310 (I had the MMA test which was abnormal), whereas my husband was not deficient with no symptoms at 190ish. It is a rubbish test!
However, I suspect that applies to otherwise healthy people. Everyone is different and, for example, if you are on frequent B12 injections you need to maintain a high level of folate (they work together).
I think I have just as much problem absorbing folate as I do B12, I need to take 5mg about 5 times a week, any lower than that and I get deficiency symptoms back and my B12 injection doesn't work as well (I inject once a week). It's trial and error to work out the correct maintenance dose. The Patient UK article on correcting folate deficiency says treatment is 5mg every day for 4 months, then reduce to a maintenance dose of 5mg 1 to 7 times a week. So it actually recognises that for some people maintenance is the full amount. I've tried reducing my dose 3 times now, and I regret it every time!
I think once you have improved your B12 levels you will feel much better. Vitamin D ? Can't see results for that. Much needed in the body and most people are LOW - causing all sorts of problems.
You could have the VitD test done privately at City Assays in Birmingham - by post and 25 pounds. Sorry Greek keyboard so no pound signs !!
The above link was from spareribs profile - so Docs have been informed of the importance of VitD but forgot to mention Thyroid sufferers You could print off and show your GP.
I have lived in Crete for 10 years but when tested a couple of years ago I was insufficient - have noticed an improvement with a BIG dose.... ( I have Crohns so it helps that too ) Low VitD is a worldwide problem. For those of us born after the war we were dosed daily with Virol - malt with codliver oil I seem to remember. Tasted awful
This is an update, don't know if it will work. Vitamin D insufficient so doctor prescribed me some. Have recently had Active B12 test 53 pmol range 25.1-165. All thyroid antibody tests negative/normal. Just about to start with sublingual vit B12 and B complex, also taking magnesium and zinc. Wondering if I should also do mma test or just start self supplementing.
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.