Blood test results - any thoughts? - cont

[Fogrog]

Here's other part of test result!

[greygoose]

No, you're not over-medicated, but you're not converting very well, so your FT4 is over-range. Although your FT3 is not quite mid-range.

What needs to be done here, is to reduce your T4 a little, and add in some T3. But, it's not very likely you'll be able to convince your doctor of that. Could you possibly buy your own T3 and self-treat?

Also, your ferritin could be a bit higher, and your B12 is rather low. I didn't notice a vit D test - is there one?

[Fogrog in reply to greygoose]

Thanks grey goose...

I've been referred to a private endocrinologist by my gp as he thought I could benefit from t3 - but he obviously can't prescribe it.

I'm waiting for the list of recommended endos to see if he's on it. Got to make sure I don't waste money if he's not going to be open minded!

I have been under a lot of stress over the last few years - so wondering if the adrenals have a part to play here too?

I don't think I had vit D tested.

[greygoose in reply to Fogrog]

Could well be that adrenals are involved. If you have high or low cortisol, it will affect conversion.

Best to get the vit D tested if you can. It's very important.

[Fogrog in reply to greygoose]

Ah - I just spotted it... it was tested - you can see on image above - 91 (range 50-120)

[greygoose in reply to Fogrog]

Ah yes! OK. My eyes aren't so good anymore. lol Well, as Susie says, it could be higher.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Fogrog From your first post it shows that your B12 is too low at 285. Anything under 500 can cause neurological problems. Optimal is at the very top of the range, even 900-1000. You can supplement with Solgar or Jarrows sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges 5000mcg daily for 2-3 months then reduce to 5000mcg alternate days as a maintenance dose. Let them dissolve under the tongue to get directly into the bloodstream, don't chew or swallow as stomach acid destroys it. You can take sublingual lozenges without food.

When taking B12 we also need a B Complex to balance the B vits. Look for one with methylfolate as this is natural, some contain folic acid which is synthetic and has to be converted into folate by our bodies and not everyone can do that very well. Take with food. B vits should be taken in the morning, no later than lunchtime as they are stimulating.

From this page, your ferritin is good as half way through range is best.

Vit D is recommended to be 100-150 and you are almost there. It might be an idea to supplement throughout the winter with something like nutriadvanced.co.uk/d3-drop... (we need K2 with D3). Magnesium is another co-factor of Vit D so you could take that too as most of us need it anyway. Magnesium is best taken in the evening as it is calming.

Your high FT4 and low FT3 suggest you are not converting very well. Good conversion takes place at a ratio of FT4:FT3 at 4:1 or less and yours is 4.9 : 1. If you optimise all your vitamins and minerals, also supplement selenium which aids conversion, and your ratio is still poor, then I'd consider adding some T3 to a slightly reduced dose of Levo.

[Fogrog in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SeasideSusie!

Can you ever take too much b12?!

I take multivitamin supplements that contain selenium, magnesium and b12.

Or do I need much higher doses than a multivitamin can supply?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Fogrog]

Fogrog Well, it's said that we pee out excess B vits but if you continue taking more than you need to maintain an optimal level then it's an expensive pee!

Multivitamins are generally a waste of money as they tend to contain too little of anything to do much good, and the cheapest ingredients which are usually the wrong sort. I imagine that the B12 in your multivitamin is likely to be the cheaper cyanocobalamin rather than methylcobalamin. We shouldn't take cyanocobalamin - see naturalnews.com/032766_cyan...

We need 200mcg selenium, which should be the L-selenomethionine form, and around 400mg magnesium. If your multivitamin contains magnesium oxide then again it's the cheapest and least bioavailable form. Forms of magnesium here naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

It's much better to test and find out what we are deficient in and supplement accordingly.

[Fogrog in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for the info - very helpful... I'll look into it further... but now - I'm off to sleep - can't keep eyes open any longer.... ugh!

[Fogrog in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks again for your reply yesterday... I've spent all morning gathering a shopping list of supplements!! I think the B12 could be the key. I have suffered from bad gastritis the last few years - so I'm sure I'm not digesting properly and often have a feeling of being a bit malnourished even when my diet is good.

Which type of magnesium supplement do you recommend? - there are many types out there!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Fogrog]

Fogrog If you have digestion problems, it might be worth trying a good probiotic, maybe a multistrain one like Biokult Advanced Multistrain Formula or Cytoplan Acidophilus Plus.

For the magnesium, I'd look through the 'best forms' in that link I gave you and see which would suit you best, they all have a use for different 'conditions'. I take Natural Calm Magnesium Citrate powder at the moment as I need help in the bowel department.

Stick to decent makes (rather than supermarket, H&B, cheap brands) as you do get what you pay for. If in doubt I'm happy to look at any for you.

Don't start all your supplements at the same time. Start with one, after a week or two if there are no adverse reactions then add in a second one, give it another week or two and again if no adverse reaction add in a third one, etc. This way if there are any problems you'll know what caused it.

[Fogrog]

Thanks for your speedy reply!

This is what's in my current shopping basket...

B12 - amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00...

B complex - amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00...

Magnesium Malate - amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00...

selenium - amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00...

vit d - amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00...

What do you think?!

And good top tip about starting individually - I was thinking this could be an overload if I started in one go!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Fogrog]

All good Fogrog

[Fogrog in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks so much SeasideSusie - you've been very helpful... hopefully this will give me a much needed boost!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Fogrog]

You're very welcome, many members find that addressing deficiencies and optimising levels really helps, getting that B12 up should make a difference.

Hopefully you can get your meds sorted too. Adding some T3 and reducing Levo has made a difference for me.

[Fogrog in reply to SeasideSusie]

You're right!

My GP thinks that's what I need - and I have been referred to a private endo in Sussex - he's not listed in the Thyroid UK list - but I believe he is open to T3 and NDT.

However I want to wait to see him until I've done everything else I can to help myself first... and with you identifying the low B12 - and today's research - I am even more sure that is a big part of my problem.

Let's hope I can get sorted - and get back to my normal jolly self!