I'm new here so blood test advice appreciated please.

[sbrads]

Sorry this is a long post. Gps have been treating me with various HRT due to extreme tiredness, apathy, low mood, etc (list of symptoms is huge). To cut a long story short, if the HRT works it only does so for a couple of months, when I feel brilliant, then back to feeling crap. I cant believe how good it feels to feel like me again. The gp is convinced that HRT cant stop working so it must be something else causing my symptoms. She ordered a number of tests, some results are as follow:

TSH 1.98, T4 12.4, serum vitamin b12 375, serum folate 8 and ferratin 24.

I have been advised that they are all normal results but I'm pretty sure that the B12, folate and ferratin are on the low side? Do the TSH and T4 results look normal to you guys?

I just don't know what to do next. I doubt the gp will be interested in results that are low but fall within the lab range. Thank you for reading.

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Sbrads.

Do you have the lab ref range for Ft4 12.4 (that's the figures in brackets after the result)?

[sbrads in reply to Clutter]

9.00 - 26.00 pmlo/L I think that is what you need

[Clutter in reply to sbrads]

Sbrads,

FT4 12.4 is a bit low in range but TSH 1.98 is normal so you don't cucrrently have thyroid dysfunction. NHS won't usually diagnose hypothyroidism until TSH is over range (usually >5 or 6) or FT4 below range (<9.0).

B12 can be deficient <500 so I would supplement 1,000mcg methylcobalamin with a B Complex vitamin to raise folate.

Ferritin 24 is low. Optimal is >100. I would supplement iron with 1,000mcg vitamin C which aids absorption and minimises constipation. Retest ferritin in 4-6 months.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

sbrads Your B12 and ferritin are definitely low and need supplementing. Folate - range is needed to comment about that.

[sbrads in reply to SeasideSusie]

Folate is 8 (3.90 - 26.80 ug/L

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to sbrads]

sbrads OK, so your folate is low as well. This needs to be at least half way through it range. If you get the Thorne Basic B I mentioned in the post below (the one about B12 and needing a B Complex) then it contains 400mcg methylfolate which will help raise your low folate level.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

sbrads For B12, the recommended level is very top of range, even 900-1000. You should buy some Solgar or Jarrows sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges 5000mcg and take one daily. When you've finished the bottle buy some 1000mcg and take one daily as a maintenance dose.

When taking B12 we also need a B Complex to balance the B vits. Thorne Basic B is a good one.

B vits can be stimulating so best taken in the morning, no later than lunchtime.

For your low ferritin you can buy some Ferrous Fumarate from Amazon, take one tablet twice a day with 1000mg Vit C. When you've finished the packet (usually 84 tablets) re-test. The recommended level is half way through it's range, with a minimum of 70 for thyroid hormone to work properly (our own or replacement). Take iron four hours away from any medication or other supplements as it affects absorption.

If you find you get constipated or have upset tummy with the Ferrous Fumarate, you can try Solgar Gentle Iron which is Iron Bisglycinate and is supposed to be non-constipating.

[sbrads]

Thank you guys.

[Hidden]

Hi sbrads,

I too have a similar story, I haven't been getting anywhere with my gp for the last 4years.

I'm chronically tired, have knee pain, shoulder tendinitis, always cold, brain fog, memory loss, constipation ( the list just goes on and on). My poor kids are suffering as I hardly have the energy to speak some days

I have similar results,

2015 2016 2017

TSH 3.36 2.43 2.22

(.35-5.5)

T4 10 12.5 12.8

(9-22.7)

T3 4.2

(3.5-6.5)

B12 239 366

(211-911)

Folate 8.8 (2.8-19)

Ferritin 57 (10-291)

TPO <33 (0.0-60)

I'm also going to order the supplements and give it a try, it would be good to keep in touch and support each other.

By the way I also went gluten free 4 months ago as I constantly felt inflamed and sore after eating wheat. I do feel some of the symptoms I have improved slightly but I'm nowhere near 'normal'.

[sbrads]

Hi camajuju, sorry to hear you are suffering. Have you had vit d levels checked ? Your levels all seem on the low side and I would say tsh a bit high but not according to NHS! Let's see if supplementing helps us. Would be great to keep in touch. We understand how flaming awful we feel. I'm a miserable old woman at present. :-).