Follow on from Sister's results......

[JOLLYDOLLY]

Some of you may recall that I asked about my sisters thyroid results recently. Anyway, you were right, they only tested the TSH levels!! (doh!) Anyway, as she is having assessments for early onset dementia (Jen has Down Syndrome as well), I have been asked recently, why her Free T4 and T3 levels have not been checked. So I rang the GP, to be told "we don't check these normally!" So me being me, said "Oh yes you do, especially with the concerns regarding the problems she has and assessments you have put her forward for! (Silence), I then asked, "did you check her ferritin levels by any chance??" Greeted with "Why", well hello, I had also mentioned to you that because of the B12 deficiency in the family and that is another check they will do, would it not been prudent to have done all the relevant tests, to avoid her anxiety of having as many future blood tests?? (silence again) - then told everything is normal. So I asked for the ranges for the tests that had been done. The GP has booked her in for the Free T4 and T3 blood tests to be done in six weeks. These are the results I have got so far for iron and B12. Tell me what you think? Also mentioned that due to one of her recent seizures, she had fractured her collar bone and might need a bone density scan, she did not seem bothered that she might have a vitamin D deficiency too. She had the menopause a few years ago. Our brother, (Jen's twin) is having blood tests for B12 deficiency today ironically. For the record I have the lot. Congenital hypothyroidism, pernicious anaemia, B12 deficiency and vitamin D deficiency as well as odema because of the messing around with my dosage.

TSH = 1.19 (Range 0.27-4.2)

Iron levels 87 ( Range 30-470) Considered normal?? Does take one iron supplement.

B12 246 (Range 180-900) Considered normal??

Thanks in advance

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I despair JOLLYDOLLY I really do . Either they don't care or they want to keep us ill.

Ferritin should be half way through range. Supplement definitely needed I would say, but iron tablets bring their own problems to many people - constipation, tummy upset. Will you sister eat liver? As a meal once a week, minced and hidden in other meat dishes?

B12 is far from normal. Under 500 can cause neurological problems, needs to be top of range. Sublingual methylcobalamin as a supplement along with a B Complex, but if there is PA in the family she needs testing.

Vit D test is very important too.

B12 deficiency and Vit D deficiency can both be part of dementia I believe.

[JOLLYDOLLY in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes it can SeasideSusie regarding dementia, not sure about vitamin D, but it would not surprise me.

In answer to your question.

Jen can't eat a lot of meat, even minced. But I am willing to give anything a go! How much would you need to eat on a regular basis and which animal? I always thought pigs liver was bitter. (I think we had it over cooked as children and forced fed it lol)

The sad thing is bless her heart, our dear mum passed away last year from Lewy Body dementia. For all we know, she may have had a B12 deficiency as well but was never diagnosed until it was too late. It seems to be in our family. Dad passed away in March, not because of his B12 deficiency which was diagnosed late in life, but for other reasons but I do believe that he had age related dementia developing.

I am glad I have posted now, as I thought it was me being a drama queen! So frightened for our Jen. She is so venerable at the moment. We are seeing the Neurologist next Friday because she has started having seizures. Also having other tests connected with Dementia.

Hopefully they can do the tests and embarrass the silly GP!

Take care and thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to JOLLYDOLLY]

I eat lamb's liver. It's mild and I soak it in milk overnight which, if there was any bitterness, would help. I don't buy from the supermarket, I get mine from the local butcher and I as I I am in Wales I know it is Welsh lamb. For a meal around 120-140g and I've seen it said no more than 200g per week.

Chicken liver and calves liver I think might be milder. Does Jen like pate?

It doesn't need a lot of cooking, I cook mine gently in butter and it only takes a few minutes, too long and it goes hard/leathery.

Have a look at the tables of iron rich foods here, you can probably include some of those as well apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

[JOLLYDOLLY in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SeasideSusie,

That sounds good about the liver. I can remember the leather bounce of the wall stuff we were served up when we were kids! Ever since then, I cringe at the near mention or smell of it! My husband loves liver and onions, but I confess, I have never cooked it.

We all love pate, do you make yours? If so, would love to borrow any recipes. How many minutes do you cook your liver for??

Thanks for the iron rich link and the tips too.

I only buy British lamb anyway, we live in Bristol!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to JOLLYDOLLY]

I don't eat pate JD, I imagine there are some good recipes on the internet though.

It depends on how thin I cut the liver. But for slices about the thickness of my little finger then possibly five to seven minutes. I start the onions in a separate pan first, then once they're in I put liver in another pan on low-medium heat, it just needs gentle cooking so keep an eye on it and turn down if necessary. When the liver has coloured, turn over. It should be tender and maybe just a little bit pink in the middle of you like it like that.

It did take me a few attempts to get it how I like it.

I always roast some cherry tomatoes too.

Sometimes, if I've had a curry and I've only used half a packet of wholegrain rice (I microwave rice as there's only me), I might cut the liver into strips then as an assortment of whatever veg I fancy and mix it all together with the rice, a sort of 'bung it all in' meal