Any advice please

[vandewalle0]

Hi my mum has had polymyalga for twenty years and has been on steroids for a long time. The doctor keeps changing her dose as its dangerous for long periods but sbe is eighty now.just lately she is having difficulty getting about. After much moaning we found she was b12 deficient and has just finished her injections. However she is still not back to her mobile self.I think its her thyroid as her tsh is 1.25 and T4 10.4 . Any views or opinions will be very welcome. Thanks

[Marz]

Am sorry to read about your Mum. With a FT4 that low - it does suggest her T3 will also be VERY low too. It is possible that the steroids will affect her thyroid readings. You have not posted the ranges - so am guessing based on other posts

Don't let them stop her injections - she will need them regularly. The NHS protocol is every 3 months - but if symptoms return quickly - she MUST have them more often. The new Guidelines state that GP's should look at clinical symptoms and not the blood test.

There are sprays for B12 - that can be sprayed under the tongue for better absorption. She could use it every day to help out with her levels. In between injections. It is my non medical opinion that all older people are low in B12 as the stomach acid lowers as we age so it is difficult to grab the B12 from food for the onward journey from the stomach. She will also need to take a GOOD B Complex to keep all the B's in balance as B12 works with Folic Acid in the body.

Has she had her VitD tested ? Ferritin - Folate too ? They all need to be at a good level for your Mum to feel well.

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Please take time to look at the above website - as there other tests linked to B12. Also the videos under the heading Films are very interesting and illustrate the importance of B12.

Hope all goes well....

[vandewalle0 in reply to Marz]

Mark Thanks for your great advice on my mum's health. I will check with her previous results for the other vital vitamins that need to be high in range. Every time I go to the doctors with her they a very reluctant to discuss any of her results its like getting blood from a stone.I can see on the monitor lots of exclamation marks and results in red but they insiston only reporting on ther esr rresults for the polymyalga. Its infuriating. Really appreciate your help.

vandewalle0

[Marz in reply to vandewalle0]

nhs.uk/chq/pages/1309.aspx?...

You are entitled to copies of all blood test results and do not have to give a reason. do hope you managed to look at the B12 link - so you know more than the Doc