Do my mothers blood tests suggest any reason for feelings of exhaustion

[Steni]

I feel so worried about my mother who has been feeling so drained and exhausted for long. She complains of chest pain and has ectopic beats, otherwise tests show heart is ok. I would really welcome any comments.

Ps her age is 82

[SlowDragon Administrator]

There are no thyroid tests on here at all

You need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO & TG thyroid antibodies, B12, vitamin D, folate & ferritin

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

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

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.

[shaws Administrator]

SlowDragon is so right. Get her thyroid hormones tested. Considering they drive our whole metabolism it is the last thing doctors think of. They are very badly trained with regard to anything thyroid connected.

I know to my cost as I was so very unwell - told nothing at all wrong with me and GP phoned to tell me so as I said there's something far wrong I want to pay for a whole body scan. He then phoned a few days later and said all your tests are fine. The only thing he didn't do was a thyroid hormone test. As did the Cardiac Dept after an overnight stay.

I was very, very hypothyroid and not one (I also paid others) and given different diagnoses.

Regards.

[Gambit62]

two items above marked as low - so providing links that list possible causes of low results

Haemocrit

labtestsonline.org/understa...

(list B12 deficiency as a possible cause - though results not showing any obvious sings of macrocytosis - large red blood cells - that most GPs think of as a defining characteristic- but at least 30% of those with deficiency present with other symptoms first)

lymphocytes

labtestsonline.org/understa...

lists infections and auto-immune disorders (PA - the most common cause of B12 deficiency is an autoimmune disorder - as are some thyroid problems)

Unfortunately the usual test for B12 deficiency - serum B12 - is a test that needs to be evaluated in light of clinical presentation - but most GPs aren't aware of this so focus on macrocytosis and overlook the possibility unless this is present)

You can find a list of symptoms of B12 deficiency here

pernicious-anaemia-society....

if it seems like a possibility (and your mother's age makes it a significant possibility) then would suggest that you join the PAS forum as getting diagnosis is one battle - getting correct treatment is another

healthunlocked.com/pasoc