Hi I'm new on here and from the UK and would like some advice on my thyroid blood tests. I take 75mg of levothyroxine currently and have Vit D deficiency. Here are the results:
Free T4 - 16.3 (12.0 -22.0)
Ferritin 19 (11.0 - 307.0)
TSH 4.05 (0.35 - 5.5)
B12 270 (180.0 - 914.0)
Folate 6.3 (3.0 - 20.0)
Vit D 23.1
Thanks for any replies.
Hi and welcome to the forum. Your results are typical for someone in the early days of treatment for hypothyroid. You are still under-medicated to have a tsh of 4.05, the target for someone treated with levo is to have a tsh of 1 or below with ft4 and ft3 both close to top of range. You also have the nutrient deficiencies that are almost universal with hypo. Have you had anti-bodies tested for hashimoto's auto-immune?This causes 90% of all hypothyroid.
I can't tell you about deficiencies and treatment as eloquently or comprehensively as our resident expert - so read through the thread here: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
and pay attention to the response from SeasideSusie - she is our hero! Whilst your numbers may be slightly different, the same principles apply.
Gillian
Hi Gillian, thankyou for your reply. I was diagnosed a year ago this month and havn't had my dose altered at all. Everytime they say everything is fine, all within range. I've just had full blood tests done but no idea about anti-bodies, wouldn't know what they were in the 5 pages of results so no idea about hashimoto's. I did ask at the beginning but never really got an answer, our uk docs are good at swerving the issue lol. I will read the thread thankyou and thankyou so much for replying.
Kim
kimbo44 You haven't said how you feel.
TSH 4.05 (0.35 - 5.5)
Free T4 - 16.3 (12.0 -22.0)
TSH is far too high and FT4 less than mid-range. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges. If you feel symptomatic then you need an increasse in your Levo.
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Ferritin 19 (11.0 - 307.0)
This is way too low and at this level I would be asking for a full blood count, iron panel and haemoglobin test to see if you have anaemia.
Thyroid hormone can't work properly unless ferritin is at least 70, I've seen it said that for females it's best around 100-130.
You need some iron supplements (or an iron infusion) but I would get the other tests done first because if you have anaemia that needs treating with more iron that what is prescribed for low ferritin.
If you are prescribed iron tablets, take each 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.
Also, eat liver once a week, maximum 200g, and include lots of iron rich foods in your diet apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...
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B12 270 (180.0 - 914.0)
Folate 6.3 (3.0 - 20.0)
B12 below 500 can cause neurological problems and the recommended level is very top of range. Folate is recommended to be at least half way through it's range.
Check for any signs of B12 deficiency here b12deficiency.info/signs-an... and if you have any pop over to the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum here on health unlocked for further advice, posting these results plus any signs of B12 deficiency and your ferritin result.
You need some B12 supplementation, whether that is B12 injections depends on whether you are B12 deficient, or it may be that you need methylcobalamin sublingual lozenges. When supplementing B12 in any form we need a B Complex to balance all the B vitamins so buy a good brand which contains 400mcg methylfolate and that will raise your folate level.
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Vit D 23.1
- as you have Vit D deficiency, what is your GP doing about it? Have you been prescribed loading doses or just 800iu D3?
There are important cofactors needed when taking D3 vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fatties meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check 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...
Hi seasidesusie - Wow, can i have a pocket version of you to take to my GP lol, you have given me so much info that I will read thoroughly. I can answer that at the moment I feel like utter rubbish, so many symptoms but tired, aching, lethargic, fed up etc to name but a few. I think i do have symptoms of b12 but I'm going to take the Vit D to see if that changes anything as the gp never mentioned any other of my results, said they were fine. He has given me D3 25,000 to take twice a week for six weeks and then 25,000 to take once a month thereafter.
Don't rely on your doctor mentioning things, because the odds are, he won't! I doubt he knows very much about thyroid and nutrition. Your vit B12 is 'in range', so for him, that will be 'fine'. However, B12 needs to be at least over 500, or you risk irreparable neurological damage. A B12 that low could also be responsible for some of your symptoms. It is not something to ignore. 
Hi, thanks for your reply and advice. I have 5 pages of results from the blood tests he sent me for so I think I will mark the ones that everyone has mentioned. I have an appt with him in 4 weeks so will bring it all up, I may have to ask for a dble appointment as we only get 10 mins and I always feel rushed even tho i write everything down that i want to ask, just feel as if I'm being a bother. I will certainly question the B12 though because thats why I wanted tests in the first place. I'm glad I found this place because I can talk and people will listen, everyone thinks I'm a complainer or hypochondriac so I don't really talk about it to anyone.
It's true, no-one understands unless they have it. It's really very wrong that doctors make you feel like that. After all, it's their job to deal with sick people. What's more, we're paying them to do it! Indirectly, of course, but even so!
If your 5-page list of results includes a Full Blood Count (FBC) you should find the following things on your list :
labtestsonline.org.uk/under...
If you've been given an iron panel (unlikely I think, but you never know) you can expect to see these things amongst your results (you've already mentioned Ferritin) :
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