Help understanding my test results - I'm new :-)

[Leebristol33]

Hi all - my first post! I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid in 2005. I increased from 100 to 150 Thyroxine last year. I've never really felt well. Very tired, mood issues, weight gain etc. My bloods all seem to come back OK from the GP following the annual tests.

I saw a endocrinologist in March this year and attach the below results. All seem to be OK (according to them) except my vitamin D Levels - which I am on a supplement for.

I have a follow up appointment in the summer and want to go along well prepared. I cant really make head or tail of the results. Any advice would be very warmly received.

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, LeeBristol33.

TSH is low-normal and FT4 is good in the upper quadrant. The assumption is that T3 level will therefore be good. T3 is the active hormone which is converted from FT4. It may be worth you ordering a private TSH, FT4 and FT3 result to see how well you are converting. If FT3 is low you will benefit from increasing Levothyroxine dose or even adding some Liothyronine (T3) to Levothyroxine. You can order private thyroid tests via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

tTg result is negative for coeliac disease.

Parietal cell antibodies and intrinsic factor antibodies are negative for pernicious anaemia. B12 is very low though and folate is deficient. My GP prescribed 5mg folic acid for a couple of months to correct folate deficiency. If you have symptoms of B12 deficiency inb12deficiency.info/signs-an... I recommend you go to healthunlocked.com/pasoc for advice about PA, B12 and folate deficiency.

All your other results are within normal range.

What was your vitD result and how much vitD are you supplementing?

[Leebristol33 in reply to Clutter]

Thank you VERY much Clutter. That is really helpful and you replied so quickly.

I have been prescribed Colecalciferol 3,200 one per day. I think this is the Vitamin D.

I'm pretty sure I am suffering from quite a few of the symptoms of B12 deficiency. My Mother used to have injections so I wonder whether the same maybe required for me.

I ordered some Farrows B12 sublingual capsules (5000). are these any good?

With B12 It looks like I am at the very low end but not under the 200 that the GP would consider deficient. Would I be right in assuming that they wouldn't consider injections?

Also, any views on what I should be doing to increase my Folate levels? Can I supplement this?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

[steviecat in reply to Leebristol33]

Hi, LeeBristol.

Excerpt from Clutter's post above:

'My GP prescribed 5mg folic acid for a couple of months to correct folate deficiency'.

Excerpt from info on Colecalciferol:

'Treatment of vitamin D deficiency: 1-5 capsules (800- 4 000 IU) daily for 10 weeks dependent upon the severity of the disease and the patient's response to treatment, followed by maintenance therapy of 1-2 capsules (800- 1 600 IU) daily, as directed by your doctor. Follow-up serum 25(OH)D measurements should be made approximately three to four months after initiating maintenance therapy to confirm that the target level has been achieved.'

Personally, I would be looking at the top end of that to have any hope of correcting deficiency. (However, you mention '3200' - is this IU?) Even that sounds a little on the low side to get your levels up reasonably sharpish. Search this site for more advice on Vit D. You must, must, take Vit K2 Mk 7 with Vit D (search will tell you why). Consider magnesium supplementation, too, as Vit D hoovers it up - search on this, too - 'all magnesium was not created equal'. Take Vit D 4 hours away from thyroid meds.

(I am not medically qualified) (Wish I was - I'd put a bomb under their collective asses).

If you meant 'Jarrows' rather than 'Farrows', then yes, that is exactly what you should be taking.

Clutter's advice should be followed.

Best. S.

[Leebristol33 in reply to steviecat]

Many thanks Steviecat that's very helpful and kind of you 😀

[Clutter in reply to Leebristol33]

Leebristol33,

If you think you may be B12 deficient I recommend you go to the PAS forum before you supplement B12.

Your GP should prescribe 5mg folic acid for your folate deficiency.

[Silver_Fairy]

Don't supplement B12 yet as it will skew the results