Last week I had to go for an ECG plus blood tests as I have been experiencing chest pains. I have just found out my blood test results today, and my b12 levels plus thyroid results have both come back as borderline. I have to go for repeat blood tests in a few months time, but what does borderline mean?
Thank you.
Written by
kiya01
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To be honest borderline could mean anything, it's really just an opinion. If your GP surgery have them then you can request a copy although there may be a small charge. Alternatively do you have online access to your medical records/test results at your surgery?
Unfortunately I don't have any online access. As I left to go to university I had to re register with a doctor there. So therefore my local doctors took me off. Then when I started getting chest pains I had to get an emergency appointment at my local doctors as I'm home for the summer so I needed to see someone. It's all very confusing having to re register etc!
Borderline usually means LOW in the range and almost at the bottom with regards to B12. It needs to be around 1000 to prevent cognitive decline and below 500 can result in neurological damage - sometimes irreversible.
You are legally entitled to have copies of your OWN blood test results. It's a good habit to get into - having your results enables you to monitor your own health and progress. Helps with posting here - otherwise those trying to help are shooting in the dark
I am not a Medic - just a Hashimotos gal with a B12 issue
Thankyou for your comments. I'll try to get a copy from my GP, however it's all abit confusing as I'm 19 and will have to get this all followed up when I'm back at university as I'm only back for the summer. I have no idea what the next steps are I've just been told that I have to have another blood test in a months time in regards to the B12 levels but I will be back at university by then and will have to see about following all this up when I'm back! (Uni for me is the opposite end of the U.K. So it could get complicated)!!
If you are supplementing B12 - then further testing is of very little importance as the results will be skewed. It could be useful to have other testing done - Iron - Ferritin - Folate - VitD and raised Homocysteine can indicate B12 deficiency.
Docs are under the mistaken belief that true B12 Deficiency is only present with anaemia - this is NOT the case.
Also ensure the full thyroid profile is tested - TSH - FT4 - FT3 - and the Thyroid anti-bodies Anti-TPO and Anti-Tg.
Is there any chance you could have the testing of all the above done Privately through Thyroid UK - with Blue Horizon. That way there will be no confusion - the results will be complete and you can return here to the forum and post the results in a new post.
Yes you need to get your results. If you are 'borderline' and the results show this plus you have symptoms they should trial you on levothyroxine. But, first things first, get your results with reference ranges and post on here.
If you are hypothyroid do not worry about it. It's very treatable and you will recover, the only bad news being it can take a while and if you're one of the unfortunate approx 15% that doesn't get on with levo you may have a longer road to travel. Honestly though do not panic, you can have a normal life and be hypothyroid!
I managed to get a copy of my blood test results and my Serum TSH level has come back as 'above range'. The figure is 5.1mU/L [0.27-4.5] My T4 range however is normal. I have to go back for a repeat blood test in 3 months time, but could this mean that I do have hypothyroidism?
TSH may be elevated by a virus or infection so it is protocol to retest after 2-3 months when any infection should have cleared. You are almost certainly subclinically hypothyroid ie abnormal TSH with normal FT4.
Arrange to have the next blood draw early in the morning when TSH is highest, and fast (water only) as TSH drops after eating and drinking. When you are next tested ask for thyroid antibodies to be tested to confirm or rule out autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) which causes 90% of hypothyroidism.
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