Hi all,
I have been diagnosed hypo 17years ago and put on Levothyroxine. Most of the time my dose was 125ug, but recently it has been increased to 150ug (due to pregnancy). My dose was kept stable because my blood tests were always “good”, although my GP always told me to take my levo as normal in the morning before blood was taken. Nevertheless, I always had hypo symptoms and just learned to live with them, as I didn’t know that I could be feeling any better.
About 6 weeks ago I saw a dermatologist abroad (private visit) about my detaching nails and white skin around my eye. She suggested some blood tests and that’s how I found out about my vitD deficiency and high fasting sugar (detailed test results below). The dermatologist suggested taking 2000IU vitD daily.
Upon return to UK, I saw my GP who ordered tests to check for diabetes among other things (again, test results below). He said my iron is a bit low and I should take iron pills. I told him that iron pills upset my stomach, so he said I need to eat more meat then. I started reading here whether low iron can be behind my fatigue, muscle aches and memory problems. I learned a lot, so asked my GP practice for my blood test results and found that my iron level was actually much worse than I expected. I told GP I changed my mind about taking iron pills, and he prescribed 3x Ferrous Fumarate daily.
On the advice from PA forum, I wrote a letter to my GP asking him to consider treatment of low B12 level. While awaiting his response, I decided to post here asking for your advice on my blood results. One smart person told me to take one step at a time, so I want to start with supplementation first to see if that will make me feel more like myself (do I still remember what that is though?)
My worst problems are: fatigue, memory issues and persistent hypo symptoms despite taking levo. My fatigue started affecting my relationship quite bad now. Other symptoms: balance issues, ringing in the ears, numbness/tingling sensation in 3 outside fingers of both hands, memory and concentration problems, forgetting easy words (like remote control or keys), irritability, impatience and mood swings, sleep disturbances, increased susceptibility to and length of cold/flu, sensitivity to cold, easy bruising and wounds taking long time to heal.
I will appreciate any help, comments, advice…
My latest blood results are:
On 30th June 2017 (while in the middle of 3week long cold, done in the afternoon after taking levo in the morning – as per GP’s guidance)
Thyroid function:
TSH --- 0.2 mu/L [0.2-6]
Free T4 --- 18.4 pmol/L [10-20]
Blood haematinic levels:
Serum iron --- 5 umol/L [5-33] Borderline low
Serum transferrin --- 2.71 g/L [2.15-3.8]
Serum TIBC --- 62 umol/L [36-77]
Saturation iron binding capacity --- 8% [15-50] Low
Serum vitamin B12 --- 308 ng/L [180-910]
Serum folate --- 16.7 ng/ml [5.4-24]
Serum ferritin --- 55 ug/L [10-291]
Diabetes tests:
Plasma glucose --- 8.2 mmol/L [3-6] High
HbA1c --- 33 mmol/mol [<42]
Serum CRP --- 27 mg/L [<10] High
Serum osmolality --- 301 mmol/Kg [285-295]
Renal profile:
Serum sodium --- 140 mmol/L [135-145]
Serum potassium --- 4.2 mmol/L [3.5-5.3]
Serum urea level --- 5.2 mmol/L [2.5-7.5]
Serum creatinine --- 71 umol/L [53-100]
GFR calculated abbreviated MDRD --- 81 mL/min/1.73m^2 (NOTE: Stage2, CDK only if other evidence of renal damage)
Neutrophil count --- 4.65 10*9/L [2-7.5]
Lymphocyte count --- 1.3 10*9/L [1.5-4.1] Low
Monocyte count --- 0.3 10*9/L [0.2-0.8]
Eosinophil count --- 0.19 10*9/L [0.04-0.4]
Basophil count --- 0.03 10*9/L [<0.2]
Percentage neutrophils --- 71.9%
Percentage lymphocytes --- 20.1%
Percentage monocytes --- 4.6%
Percentage eosinophils --- 2.9%
Percentage basophils --- 0.5%
Full blood count:
Total white cell count --- 6.5 10*9/L [3.8-11]
Haemoglobin estimation --- 137 g/L [115-165]
Platelet count --- 236 10*9/L [150-450]
Red blood cell (RBC) count --- 4.59 10*12/L [3.8-5.8]
Haematocrit --- 0.41 [0.36-0.47]
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) --- 89.3 fL [85-105]
Mean corpusc. haemoglobin (MCH) --- 29.8 pg [27-32]
Mean corpusc. Hb conc. (MCHC) --- 334 g/L [310-360]
Blood tests done 21st June 2017, privately abroad (due to seeing dermatologist about nails detaching)
Liver function tests:
Total bilirubin --- 0.35 mg/dL [<1.2]
ALT (Alanine aminotransferase) --- 23 IU/L [<33]
AST (Aspartate aminotransferase) --- 14.6 IU/L [<35]
Kidney function:
BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) --- 13.68 mg/dL [6-20]
CRP --- 0.18 mg/dL [<0.5]
Glucose --- 103.4 mg/dL [60-100] High
Iron --- 79.8 ug/dL [33-193]
25(OH)D3 --- 23.8 ng/mL [Normal is >=30] Low
TSH --- 0.21 ulU/ml [0.27-4.2] Low
Will have to look into the Mediterranean diet. But thats next, first the iron, vitD and vitB12.
Help please to understand results before doctors appointment.
latest bloods
and all bloods taken over the years
Vit B12 and other levels
Advice on supplements after blood tests.
