RESULTS RECEIVED

Hi Everyone, I have at last received my blood results and wondered what you guys think, it still doesn't explain why I feel so exhausted before my period. I am on 125mcg Levthyroxine, HRT, 20mg Citralopram, 16mg candersarten for high blood pressure and statins, What do you think?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I'm on my PC and I can't read all of those results. However, from the ones I can make out your ferritin is very low at 22 when the bottom of the range is 20 - I can't quite make out the top of the range. Low ferritin causes fatigue. You need an iron supplement (or eat liver once a week) to get that ferritin up to at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work properly, it's usually suggested it needs to be half way through it's range, and I've seen it said that for women it should be 100-130.

Your B12 also seems to be low from what I can make out. Is it below range? If so, or very close to the bottom, you should speak to your GP and ask to be tested for Pernicious Anaemia. Pop over to the PA forum here on Health Unlocked also and ask their advice healthunlocked.com/pasoc

Vit D also looks low.

Maybe you can type out your results, it's very difficult to see them, and I imagine that all your vits and mins could be low which would account for you not feeling well. I also think Citalopram and HRT might not be helping, but I don't know too much about that so can't comment further.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to know if you have raised thyroid antibodies. There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's the most common cause in UK of being hypo.

NHS rarely checks TPO and almost never checks TG. NHS believes it is impossible to have negative TPO and raised TG. It's rare, but not impossible, there are a few members on here that have this.

ALWAYS Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out.

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed

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. £99

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

Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, (home one or on NHS) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) If you are taking Levo, then don't take it in 24 hours before (take straight after). This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible

If you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too.

Selenium supplements can help improve conversion and reduce antibodies and reduce symptoms.

You do not need to have ANY obvious gut issues, to still have poor nutrient absorption or low stomach acid or gluten intolerance

Best advice is to read as much as you can. Vitamin and minerals levels are very important, but standard NHS thinking, doesn't at the moment seem to recognise this. You will see, time and time again on here lots of information and advice about importance of good levels of B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D, low stomach acid, leaky gut and gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's too.

Your magnesium level is also low. When supplementing vitamin D it's recommended we are also supplement magnesium as well

Only start one supplement at a time, waiting at least 10 days before adding another

[Saggyuk]

Hiya, from what I can see if it helps anyone else, is that it mentions you are overtreated for thyroid replacement as your tsh is less than 0.55 so they are likely to reduce your dose. My endo certainly is happy when I'm at 0.3 but others here will help you with this more than I can. I agree with SeasideSusie, B12 and ferritin are too low. My endo will normally treat me for aneamia with ferritin that low in the range. Your level of B12 would be considered deficient in other countries so worth while looking into supplementation if your GP/endo wont help further in this regard. It does mention your folate may be deficient too but they want a fasting test done ( i think - it's abit blurry lol)

Your vit d is deficient but it states for this to be dealt with at your appointment so they should prescibe on this basis.

Blood pressure and statins have made my nan feel dreadful to be honest, maybe look into more natural ways to reduce both and see if this makes a difference or if you still feel bad after all else resolved maybe look into changing to a diffferent one to see if feel better. You should try and figure out why your blood pressure and cholestoral are so high and try and reduce other than just taking meds maybe - if you haven't already tried or don't already know the cause I mean.

Hope you feel better soon :o)

[Saggyuk]

Blood pressure meds and statins I meant

And yes, a gluten free diet made a huge difference to me also

[Marz]

Great advice from everyone. Yes everything is LOW and needs sorting