I would be very grateful if someone could check my test results from Blue Horizon on blood taken earlier this week. If my understanding is correct, my thyroid appears normal. My non-fasting GP test results from October were broadly similar: TSH 1.55, Free T4 13.7.
Advice welcomed - TIA
I'm no expert but having a low ferratine reading of 4 myself last year id be getting myself on some sort of supplement 
Iron is pretty important by all accounts in the metabolism of thyroid medication....but there are people much better equipped to help you than me! xx
Soreknees2016 Your thyroid tests may be in range but they are not 'normal'. Your TSH is too high, FT4 not quite mid-range and FT3 very low in range. Most people would feel better with TSH around 1 and the free Ts higher in their ranges. Your thyroid is struggling. Unfortunately those results won't get you a diagnosis of Hypothyroidism and your antibodies are very low so not indicating autoimmune thyroid disease.
However, what is a concern is that your previous TSH was 1.55 and now it is 3.50. The range will be different but not significantly so for TSH. So your TSH is rising, if it continues to rise on further testing then that would show you are on your way to Hypothyroidism.
Vit D is good, as is Folate - are you supplementing?
B12 could be higher. Anything under 500 can cause neurological problems. Recommended level is top of range, even 900-000. I would suggest you supplement with Solgar or Jarrows sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges. Start with 5000mcg daily and when you've finished the bottle reduce to 1000mcg daily as a maintenance dose. Let the lozenge dissolve under the tongue to get directly into the bloodstream, don't chew or swallow as stomach acid destroys it.
When taking B12 we need a B Complex to balance the B vits. Look for one containing methylfolate rather than folic acid, and stay away from supermarket own brands, Boots, Holland & Barrett - they tend to use cheap ingredients and frequently the wrong form.
Your ferritin is so low that you should ask your GP to carry out a full iron panel. You may need iron infusions. If you are prescribed an iron supplement then take each tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation. Keep iron well away from other supplements and medication as it affects their absorption, 4 hours is generally recommended. Ferritin needs to be half way through it's range with a minimum of 70 for thyroid hormone to work properly, our own thyroid hormone or replacement.
Eating liver once a week will help raise your ferritin level.
Hello SeaSide Susie
Thank you so much for such a detailed response and advice - I'm taking time to digest it all before my next move! I may have some questions for you if that's ok? x
No problem
Hello again Seaside Susie
I recently got a copy of my GP records, so I've been having a good look at these and the previous results from September 2015, and the thyroid results are virtually identical. However, neither of these was a fasting test, so as I'm now due to have more done, specifically to check my glucose levels (I have Type 2 Diabetes) so I will make sure that it is a fasting test and get a print out of the results. Being a bit of a geek, I have set up a spreadsheet to record all my results and be able to monitor things!
With regard to the low ferritin, I did get called in to see my GP in October about this, and she referred me for an endoscopy to check for any internal bleeding, ulcers, etc, but had not prescribed any iron tablets. I've just managed to speak to her on the phone to advise I am still waiting for an appointment 3 months on and to query why no iron tablets. The result of that call is that I now have an early morning appointment to get all my bloods done on Tuesday, including ferritin, and if that's still low, she'll give me iron tabs. Once I get all the results from that, I'll see if I still need to supplement B12. I already take a high strength B Complex from Healthspan, but it does contain folic acid, so I'll look to find an alternative.
Re Vit D - yes I do take D3.
Its worth explaining that I originally went down the route of thyroid testing after, despite doing Slimming World quite successfully until then, I started to experience significant weight gains on weeks when I was only going a bit off plan - 3.5/4.5 lbs a week. This started in May 2015 and my weight has gone up and up since then and won't budge, even when sticking to SW 100%. My GP insists its my age (58 3 years post menopause), but I have had a weight problem all my life and I have never experienced weight gains like that on a weekly basis even when I've been eating total crap! Also, it all began when I started taking a medication for an overactive bladder, but 3 GPs I have mentioned this to are all adamant that the tablet does not cause weight gain.
So now I'm in the position of being nagged by my GP and diabetic nurse to lose weight, finding it extremely difficult to do so but getting no support in identifying whether there may be some underlying cause. All very frustrating, but I'm back on the SW wagon again, so its onwards and upwards!
Hopefully your appointment on Tuesday is first thing. That is when TSH is highest, it lowers as we go through the day.
As you're taking D3, you will also need it's important co-factors K2-MK7 and magnesium. I also take Vit A, it's in a D3/K2/Vit A combo I take.
vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...
Vit D aids absorption of calcium from food and K2 directs the calcium to bones and teeth rather than arteries and soft tissues.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check here to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening -
naturalnews.com/046401_magn...
Your GP won't know any of this as they don't study nutrition.
I, too, have a spreadsheet - date, test, result, range, dose of meds, how I feel, whether GP changes dose. It's very helpful, not only for you to know how things are going, but to argue your case if your GP wants to reduce your dose and you don't think it's necessary, you'll have all the evidence there!
Hopefully, if you can get optimally medicated then your weight should start to reduce.
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