Hi I've had underactive thyroids for years and can't seem to get stable , I've recently had a B12 test came in as 230 but dr says it's fine

[Dsarge111]

I'm currently on 125 levo , I enjoy walking and go on long days out walking but until recently I can't manage 4 miles with pain in the soles of my feet , like walking on badly bruised soles,I am at my wits end , please help

[puncturedbicycle]

Do you know if you're on enough levo?

[Fruitandnutcase]

When I had my B12 done I came in at 327 (211 - 911) which was at the lower end of the range but my endo still said it was fine. My mother had pernicious anaemia so I ordered some Jarrow's 5000mcg Methylcobalamin sublingual B12 and have been taking that for the last year. My most recent results put me at 600+

So, even though I was within range I can only say that once I boosted my B12 I felt so much better, I also take 1000mcg slow release Vit C, a spray of Vit D an A-Z multivitamin and four or five Brazil nuts for selenium / magnesium every day. I don't care what anyone says I really feel they make a difference. If you take B12 make sure you get the Methylcobalamin ones.

[Dsarge111 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you I will look out for these , definitely need to try some thing , my doctor put me on Gabapentin 100mgs to ease the pain in my feet but after taking them for a week my panic attacks came back , think I need to go back to dr's and get a full blood count including all that you mentioned .

[Hidden]

This page might be of some use to you:

b12deficiency.info/what-to-...

[Dsarge111 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I will take a look now

[Hidden in reply to Dsarge111]

It is better to try and get a diagnosis before taking any supplements. H x

[Dsarge111]

Up until last week I was on 150 but after my blood test came back he said it might be because I was on a high dose and lowered it , I'm also experiencing pins and needles in my hands , not sure if that's got anything to do with it ?

[Hidden in reply to Dsarge111]

It's certainly a B12 deficiency symptom. Neuro symptoms usually start in the feet and hands, numbness, tingling, pins and needles etc. You probably have some other symptoms without realising:

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

[Dsarge111 in reply to Hidden]

I'm totally fine in the mornings but after a couple of hours I'm absolutely shattered , I ache all over , my joints ache , my skin is awful ,

[Hidden in reply to Dsarge111]

Try and get a copy of your results and post them up - thyroid, FBC, B12, folate, ferritin, vit D, calcium, diabetes etc. - if you've had them done.

[Dsarge111 in reply to Hidden]

I've just phoned up my drs surgery for a copy and I will post on here later today although I didn't have folate, ferritin, vit D and calcium done

[Dsarge111 in reply to Hidden]

Hi , just got results

Serum free T4 level Hi 20.3

Serum THS level lo 0.04

B12 230

Folate 4.8

Not sure what they all mean

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Dsarge111]

Do you have the ranges too? Has your t3 ever been tested?

[Dsarge111 in reply to puncturedbicycle]

T4 level (9.0-19.0)

Tsh level (0.4-4.9)

B12 (191-663)

Folate (3.1-20.5)

[Dsarge111 in reply to Dsarge111]

It doesn't say anything about T3

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Dsarge111]

If you don't have hyper symptoms, it may be that you're having trouble converting your levo but without a t3 test I don't know how you'd determine this.

Folate v low, and b12. Have you ever been tested for vit d?

May be best to post these in 'questions' for someone to interpret.

[Dsarge111 in reply to puncturedbicycle]

No I haven't been tested for vit D my doctor says all is ok

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Dsarge111]

Well he can't know that without a test!

Unless you're supplementing you are almost certainly low in d. Most people in the UK are low (or so my gp tells me for what it's worth) and aches and pains are a symptom.

Vit d is an essential vitamin protecting you from various bone problems and cancers, so it seems cruel to me that he won't do it, but If he won't test you, you can get a finger prick test here: vitamindtest.org.uk/

[Hidden in reply to Dsarge111]

Your B12 and folate are both low. Out of interest, did you have a full blood count done? On this you might find MCV, MCH and RDW.

[Dsarge111 in reply to Hidden]

I'm not sure , just phoned up the surgery for a copy of my blood test and that's all they gave me , nothing else was on there , do you think I should go back and ask for a full blood count as well as vit d test

[Hidden in reply to Dsarge111]

They normally do the FBC before they test B12 and folate, it's probably something you've had done before at some point? Most investigations begin with an FBC.

[Dsarge111 in reply to Hidden]

Hi , sorry but before I had the b12 test I ask the receptionist if I need to fast and she said no because I did read somewhere that you should , who is right ?

[Hidden in reply to Dsarge111]

I would say yes, but more so for the folate test. Folate should definitely be fasting.

Just have a read up on B12 deficiency at b12deficiency.info, see if you think it might apply to you. If yes, then generally I would say try and convince your doc to treat you (B12 injections and a 5mg folic acid supplement). You can send him:

1) the UKNEQAS warning about the unreliability of the serum B12 test:

ukneqas-haematinics.org.uk/...

2) The Scottish Petition:

scottish.parliament.uk/S4_P...

3) Dr Chandy's treatment Protocol:

b12d.org/sites/default/file...

Or try and get some further testing done. The GP can do anti-intrinsic factor and anti-parietal cells. Or you can be referred to St Thomas' for the Active B12 test (£18), or have it done privately. If near London I would recommend St Thomas' because they recognise an Active B12 "grey area" and will test MMA if you fall within it:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

The uMMA test is available here but not cheap:

medichecks.com/index.cfm?s=...

If this feels like too much to take in just watch this documentary, and you'll see this is not something to be taken lightly or ignored as your doctor is doing:

youtube.com/watch?v=BvEizyp...(Not working as expected?)

[Dsarge111 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much , I've got some serious reading to do , I've already booked an appointment back at the doctors and will keep you informed , thanks again

[Dsarge111]

Thank you , I'm going to google this I've never heard of it before , let you know my findings

[anjh-blue]

Read the latest 'stop the thyroid madness' you'll be shocked but relieved

[Marz]

Please do read the advice given by hampster1 - she has a wealth of knowledge regarding B12 and anaemia. Please do not ignore her knowledge and valuable links.

[Dsarge111]

Hi all , I've just had my blood test results they are as follows

FBC

WBC. 12.50 10*9/L. (4.00-11.00)

RBC 5.83 10*12/L. (4.20-5.40)

HB. 158g/l. ((115-160)

Haematocrit. 0.484 I/I. (0.360-0.460)

MCV. 83.0 (80.0-100.0)

MCH. 27.1 pg. 27.0-33.0)

MCHC. 326g/l. (300-365)

RBC distr width. 12.5%. (11.0-16.5)

Platelet count 312. 10*9/L. (150-400)

Platelet distr width. 14.4. (9.0-14.0)

Neutrophil count. 9.06. 10*9/L. (2.00-7.50)

Lymphocyte count. 2.42. 10*9/L. (1.50-4.00)

Monocyte count 0.78. 10*9/L. (0.20-1.20)

Eos. 0.0 x 10*9. 0.19. (0.04-0.44)

Baso. 0.5. (0.00-010)

Ferritin test results 42 ng/ml (5-204)

My doctor ensures me that although some are slightly high there is no need to take action

Can you please tell me if the doctor is right

Thank you