Hi I'm a 19 yrs old girl. Went to GP with exhaustion and had some bloods done . After a follow up appointment I've been given meds for under active thyroid. Blood results are. B12 142 ng/L. >140 , serum free T4 8.2 pmol/L (8.0-18.0), FBC and ESR slightly abnormal, Erythrocyte 19 mm (0-13) mean corpusc.Hb. Conc 352 g/L (315-345)
Any advise please
Kapat1,
Your B12 is bottom of range. Ask your GP to test intrinsic factor and gastric parietal antibodies to rule out pernicious anaemia. If PA is confirmed you will require lifelong B12 injections. If not, it would be good if your GP provided a B12 injection to raise your B12 level and for you to then supplement methylcobalamin to maintain levels.
For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water 1 hour before or 2 hours after food and drink, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements, and 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D supplements and oestrogen.
It takes 7-10 days for Levothyroxine to be absorbed before it starts working and it will take up to six weeks to feel the full impact of the dose.
You should have a follow up thyroid test 6-8 weeks after starting Levothyroxine. Arrange an early morning and fasting (water only) blood draw when TSH is highest, and take Levothyroxine after your blood draw.
Most people will find symptoms resolve after their TSH drops to around 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range but symptoms can lag a couple of months behind good biochemistry.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
This link explains low and high FBC and erythrocyte (red blood cell) evaluations labtestsonline.org/understa...
ESR is an inflammation marker so low is good but over range indicates inflammation somewhere in the body.
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I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.
Thanks for ur speedy reply. I took my mum along with me because she has PA and she brought this to the attention of our GP but he refused to consider B12 treatment because he said I was not anaemic
Kapat1,
I think you should ask advice on healthunlocked.com/pasoc
So from my blood results do I have possible PA and an under active thyroid ?
Kapat1,
I suggested you ask your GP to test intrinsic factor and gastric parietal antibodies to rule out or confirm pernicious anaemia as a cause for low B12.
FT4 8.2 is very low in range and I imagine your TSH must have been quite high as you have been prescribed medication for underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
Thank you I will book another appointment for b12 . Looking at my results my TSH level is 1.364 (0.340-5.600)
Kapat1 - Docs do not have a clue when it comes to treating B12 DEFICIENCY. You do NOT have to have anaemia as well.
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
pernicious-anaemia-society.org
Hope you have the time to read the above links - and then you will know so much more than your GP.
Do so hope you will soon receive the treatment you deserve.
Your gp is an idiot.
your doctors response made me scream!
Please join the PAS forum - link that @Clutter providedl
anaemia is a symptom of B12 - it is not necessarily the first to appear.
Generally it isn't caused by lack of B12 in your diet but by an absorption problem. Pernicious Anaemia is one possibility - and the most likely given your age but there are others - and unfortunately the tests for PA are not very accurate.
suggest that you and your mother read through these materials produced by another member of the pas forum and show them to your GP
frankhollis.com/temp/Summar...
i can trace my symptoms of B12 deficiency back over 40 years but have never shown any signs of anaemia
full blood count slightly abnormal and your not anaemic get this result, mine awas slightly low at 112 range 115-500, but my ferritin was 6 seriously low, ask for your results, as your mum and everyone else will tell you your b12 is way too low also
Confused.
Confused by TSH levels
