Vitamin and mineral test results - I think I know what to do, but ....

[Shuttlegirl]

Hello lovely people! I have learned such a lot from this site since my hyperthyroidism diagnosis at the end of Feb. Started then with

TSH <0.03 (range 0.35-5.5)

FT4 35 (range 10.5-19.8) and

FT3 15 (range 3.5-6.5).

TPO Ab >1300 (range 0-60)

GP prescribed 15mg carbimazole daily, and increased it to 20mg after a test at 6wks, because my TSH was still only <0.04, although my FT4 by then was only 8.8. I didn't know enough to argue with her. I saw the endo at the end of April, and he reduced carbimazole to 10mg, which made sense. Told me I had Graves Disease but was generally pretty unhelpful apart from that and gave me no information or guidance - good job I have you lot! My most recent test results on 20th June were

TSH 11.79

FT4 10.0

FT3 not tested (I think I should ask that it is next time, though?).

GP has now said to reduce carbimazole to 5mg daily, and await further advice at next endo appointment on 18th August (by which time I will have had another blood test).

On 9th June, thanks to your advice, I also had my vitamins and minerals tested:

Vitamin B12 495ng/L (211-911)

Folate 6.27ug/L (>5.38)

Ferritin 34.5ug/L (10-291)

Magnesium 0.87mmol/L (0.7-1)

25-OH VitaminD 43.8nmol/l (<30 deficient, 30-50 may be inadequate, >50 sufficient for almost the whole population, near 75 may be beneficial for frail elderly at risk of falling)

So, based on what I have seen here previously, I will take a B12 supplement to raise my level higher than mid range, and a D3 supplement too (but advice would be appreciated, there is too much choice! And I take it with K2, is that right?). I also think my ferritin should probably be supplemented too. Any preferred brands of supplements?

Your expert advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Yes, for B12 you should take sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges along with a B Complex to balance all the B vitamins.

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For D3 I would suggest Doctor's Best softgels 5000iu daily for 8 weeks then reduce to 5000iu alternate days. Retest after 3 months and when you've reached the recommended level of 100-150nmol/L you'll need a maintenance dose. You may be fine to stay on 5000iu alternate days, you may need to reduce during the summer, experiment to see what's net for you. Retest once or twice a year to stay within the recommended range.

bodykind.com/product/2463-b...

Private fingerprick blood spot test with City Assays costs £28

vitamindtest.org.uk/index.html

K2-MK7 is what you need with D3 - a couple of suggestions

bigvits.co.uk/product.php?p...

bigvits.co.uk/product.php?p...

Both are softgels so like Doctor's Best D3 they contain some olive oil to help absorption. They need fat to aid absorption so should be taken with some dietary fat. D3 should be taken four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium is also needed as another cofactor, check here to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

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Ferritin should be half way through it's range so you need either Ferrous Fumarate (buy from Amazon) or if that's too harsh or causes constipation then iron bisglycinate such as Solgar Gentle Iron. Take each iron tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation. Take iron four hours away from thyroid meds and two hours away from any other medication and supplements as it affects their absorption. You will need to retest so you don't go too high with your ferritin level, stick to half way through the range and then go on to a maintenance dose or eat liver once a week which will help.

[Shuttlegirl in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you. I think you have to keep repeating yourself about this, but it does help to have it in a response to your own question, rather than wading through loads of other people's posts. Much appreciated!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Shuttlegirl]

You're welcome