Help with results..

[Curlybob]

Hi, recently had some bloods taken with blue horizon for thyroid. I have been treated recently with b12 injections as I had levels of 362. After the injections I have had more stamina but still generally feel unwell. The doctors have slapped the label on me of having ME but just wandered if anyone could help with more insight to my results. Thanks in advance.

Doctors Comments

The very small rise in magnesium is highly unlikely to be of significance. A repeat test in a few weeks time would be reasonable if you are concerned to ensure the level is not rising. A sustained higher level of magnesium may be a sign of Addison's disease, hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, high intake of antacids or laxatives, or kidney disease.

The Vitamin B12 level is elevated. This is not likely to represent significant overdose, as B12 is well tolerated by the great majority of people even in very high concentrations (as indeed are most water soluble vitamins). Excess levels are usually a result of supplementation or from following a diet rich in the vitamin. A few exceptions to this rule include those who suffer from a rare hereditary eye complaint known as Leber’s disease. Too much vitamin B12 in these individuals can lead to damage of the optic nerve, which might lead to blindness. Anyone who is allergic to cobalt should also avoid taking vitamin B12 - as the vitamin contains a significant amount of this element. Rarely, high dose supplements or injections of Vitamin B12 cause diarrhoea, itching, blood clotting and allergic reactions. Liver disease and myeloproliferative disease (disorder of the bone marrow) can lead to elevated levels of B12. Some practitioners advocate high doses of Vitamin B12 to help sufferers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and to combat the development of Alzheimer's disease, amongst other conditions.

In brackets are the 'what's normal ranges) for your information I have been treated recently for vitb12 deficiency and low Vit d.

HbA1c (IFCC) - 31 (20-42)

CRP - 1.80 (< 5.0)

Ferritin - 71.4 (20-150)

Magnesium- 1.05 (0.6 - 1.0)

Insulin- 47.1 (<88)

TSH - 1.73 (027- 4.20)

T4 total - 108.9 (64.5-142.0)

Free T4- 14.97 (12 - 22)

Free T3 - 5.32 (3.1 - 6.8)

Reverse T3- 17.0 (10 - 24)

Reverse T3 ratio- 20.37.(norm >15)

Anti Thyriodperoxidase 17.0, (normal < 34)

Anti thyroglobulin Abs- 24.9 , (normal <115)

Vit d - 166 , (reduce dose >175)

Vit b12- 1476.( >725 reduce

Dose)

Serum folate- 34.72.( 8.83- 60.8)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Curlybob Are you taking any thyroid meds?

Ferritin is a bit low, recommended is half way through it's range which would be 85. Personally with your level I wouldn't bother with iron supplements (they can cause constipation, stomach upset and have to be kept away from other supplements and meds so an all round faff!), I would just eat liver once a week as that is very good at raising ferritin levels.

You have a pretty good amount of total T4 and although your FT4 is low it is converting well to T3 - that comment assumes you do not take T3 or natural dessicated thyroid.

You have no problem with reverse T3.

Your antibodies are low and do not indicate Hashimoto's. However, one negative result doesn't rule it out completely, you'd need a couple more over time to show up negative to be totally confident you don't have Hashi's.

Vit D is recommended to be 100-150nmol/L so you don't need yours to go any higher, just maintain it at the recommended level.

Folate is recommended to be at least half way through it's range so that's 34.8+ and you're just about there.

As you have been having B12 injections, have you also been taking a B Complex to balance the B vitamins?

[Curlybob in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. I'm not taking any thyroid medication but I have a goitre feeling in my neck that the doctors won't address, so that's why I looked at the blue horizon test.

I am only having b12 injections and no other b vitamins. ( was originally taking b12 orally in tablet form but made no difference) hence injections.

Just still feeling poorly. ( currently in bed )

Any information you can glean from my results, I'd be grateful. X

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Curlybob]

If you have a goitre feeling then you need it investigating. Is it just a feeling or is it visible?

I have no experience of a goitre but have just looked at this NHS Choices website which explains that sometimes a wait and see approach is taken if the goitre is small and causing no problems nhs.uk/Conditions/Goitre/Pa...

Can you see a different doctor? Can you take someone to your appointment with you for moral support and ask for further investigation such as a scan or a referral to an endo?

Your thyroid results are all in the normal range so won't flag anything up with your doctor so you are going to have to emphasise how much your symptoms are affecting your everyday life.

We're you given B12 injections because your level was under range? Ranges differ but 362 doesn't seem low enough for injections with the ranges we generally see on here. Are you still having the injections? The B Complex is important when supplementing with B12. Has your level been re-tested by your GP? I am assuming that he prescribed the injections.

[Curlybob]

My b12 levels I had tested as I had every symptom of being deficient ( especially terrible nerve pain in my feet which I was given anti depressants for) I was finding that since having the ME diagnosis, every medical issue has been put down to that. I've been having to do my own investigations as I was getting to the point of being bedbound and even looking into dignitas (!) as I was being written off . ( btw, I'm not depressed , I was just desperate) . My doctor basically said that if I did some digging, and came up with a viable reason why she should give me injections, she would prescribe me it. I was on omprezole for two years and that depletes your b12. She then gave me the injections and my brain fog has lifted ( in part) and my nerve pain in feet has disappeared and I have less crippling fatigue.

The goitre is not visible, although you can feel a lump in my throat. It was put down to anxiety?! ( I'm not stressed or anxious) Like you say, think I need to tell them how annoying it is....

Thank you so much for your reply... I'm feeling my way through the dark with most of what I'm doing , so is good to have someone else's opinion. Thanks again.

[Marymary7]

Sorry to hear this. Keep your spirits up, there are great experts on here. I hope someone can help you.

[Learner1]

I have CFS and am going through large amounts of B12. It seems to be due to a chronic chlamydia pneumoniae infection, which is notorious for causing B12 problems.

CFS/ME is linked to several other chronic infections, HSV, HHV6, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, Lyme, Bartonella, mycoplasma, etc. Chronic infections may look very subtle on blood tests. These can cause all kinds of problems in the immune system.

It's also related to oxidative and nitrosative stress creating peroxynitrites which damage mitochondrial membranes, impacting energy production.

Treating the infections with antibiotics, antifungals, botanicals like artesunate, banderol, samento, etc., oxidative therapies like ozone, HBOT, high dose vitamin C, and glutathione, while supporting the immune system nutritionally (B vitamins, amino, and cofactors) will help. And addressing mitochondrial dysfunction with lipid replenishment, carnitine, CoQ10, magnesium, d-ribose and niacin compounds will help. And supporting adrenals and thyroid.

There's a lot of significant research in the past 3 years, which is not yet in mainstream clinical practice. But the few people who recover are addressing the above with doctors who are wading into all this with sleeves rolled up to figure this out.