Advice regarding blood results please, with regards to thyroid and B12

[vicks05]

Hi.I posted this on another community and was informed to post on here, so sorry if replicated.

I have just got a print out from my doctors with regards to the numerous blood test I have had due to symptoms for extreme tiredness, (keeping falling asleep) weakness throughout body, including legs and arms, muscle pains, pins and needles throughout body especially lower limbs (worse in feet on a night time, burning/fuzzy sensation), hair loss, ringing in ears, forgetfulness, bloating, feeling nauseous, IBS and shortness of breath along with short term memory problems. Anyhow when I have looked through them I have noticed that my B12 levels have continued to drop however my doctor says they are normal, so I'm after some advice as I have an appointment on Friday and would really like this sorting as it as gone on for a long time and symptoms have got worse over time and I'm currently off work on sick at the moment. They have diagnosed me with ME now, but I feel it’s more to do with either my b12 or thyroid. (My TSH levels are in normal range but continued to rise). I also had a Vit D3 level of only 6 and was given loading dose, this has now finished and due to get Vit D levels taken again this week.

August 2016

TSH 3.25mu/l (0.35-5.5)

serum B12 560ng/l (190-910)

serum folate 4.8ng/l

Mean cell haemoglobin concentration 316g/l (320-360) slightly below

March 2017

TSH 3.46mu/l

Serum B12 270ng/l (190-910)

Folate 4.6ng/l

Ferritin 113.3ug/l (13-300)

Serum globulin 37g/l (20-35) slightly above

Mean cell haemoglobin conc 327g/l (320-360)

Serum creatine 47umol/l (50-1110) below range

June 2017 (private tests)

TSH 3.69mu/l (0.27-4.2)

B12 243ng/l (197-771)

selenium 1.19pmol/l (0.89-1.65)

FT3 4.7pmol/l (3.1-6.8) FT4 12.39 pmol/l (12.0-22)

TotalT3 1.5nmol (1.3-3.1)

TT4 71nmol (59-154) Reverse T3 17ng/dl (10-24)

Sorry for the long post would just like some advice and to get to the bottom of things. I did post something the other day and had a reply off two people so thank you(SeasideSusie and Sleepybunny) but I didn't have this print out then so didn't have all values.

Thank you for reading and hopefully I can get to the bottom of this with your guys help.

An update had an appointment today at hospital regarding something else and consultant asked what did I think was causing my fatigue/symptoms explained blood tests and stated either B12 or thyroid told him and shown him values but just got they are in normal ranges and the usual…getting put down to chronic fatigue, explained how so many people get misdiagnosed as they don’t take symptoms on board, but just left frustrated and upset as feel I don’t get listened too. Feeling fed up

[shaws Administrator]

Hi,

This is from your latest test:-

FT3 4.7pmol/l (3.1-6.8) FT4 12.39 pmol/l (12.0-22)

I would say you are hypothyroid because both are low, particularly FT4.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Doctors have been instructed, in UK, not to prescribe levothyroxine until the patient's TSH reaches 10, but you will see from the above link, how ridiculous this is.

Did you have your blood tests at the very earliest time, fasting?

Tick off your symptoms below:

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

I shall alert SeasideSusie and Sleepybunny of your comment. All you do is put an @ before name and a choice of names will appear below.

I will say I am not medically qualified but had undiagnosed hypothyroidism.

[vicks05 in reply to shaws]

Thank You and thanks for the links. I wondered if you could help shed some light on my antibody levels. I thought they were fine as for thyroid peroxidase didn't give me a value just that it was negative and that thyroglobulin antibodies was 129IU/ml was normal, but after reading some stuff I'm a bit confused. Is this a normal level?

Thanks

[Wishingwell]

Also regarding b12 level lots of people need injections when the fall in the low 200s, even though it's classed as normal as it's in range, you can infact suffer many of the symptoms you describe with b12 at that level so I would guess it's probably both b12 and thyroid that need addressing. Did you post you b12 result in the PA group ?

[vicks05 in reply to Wishingwell]

Thank you. Yes I posted on PA group

[eeng]

It does look as though your thyroid is failing gradually. It is very common for people with hypothyroidism to have low vitamin and mineral levels, especially ferritin, B12 and Vit D. It seems that the stomach becomes low in acid and stops absorbing these nutrients from our food. The low levels of vitamins and minerals probably don't help the thyroid so it becomes a vicious circle.

You don't seem to have had your TPO antibodies tested. There are 2 types of thyroid antibodies which attack your thyroid and slowly cause it to stop working. Your Serum globulin 37g/l (20-35) might (or might not) be the other type.

Some doctors will prescribe thyroxine once you have had 2 TSH results 3 months apart with a TSH over range (usually something like 4.5 or 5). In some countries you would be treated with a TSH over 3.

TSH is highest first thing in the morning, which is why shaws has suggested an early morning blood test.

If you can't get your doctor to treat you there is always the option to buy in some NDT and self treat, but you would then be dependant on private blood tests. It depends how debilitating your symptoms are.

It does get up my nose that doctors seem to think they own our bodies and are in control of what happens to them health-wise, regardless of not being able to experience our symptoms.

[vicks05 in reply to eeng]

Thank you for your reply. My symptoms are having a negative impact on my life and I am on sick leave at present. I just want to feel better. I did have some antibodies tested but thought they were ok.

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies it didn't give me a value just that it was negative, however for Thyroglobulin antibody was 129IU/ml and said this was normal, but after reading some stuff I'm a bit confused. Is this level normal, could you shed some light at all. Thanks

[LAHs]

Like others above I would consider you to be hypothyridic going by your TSH levels. Your reverse T3 is higher than it should be, the ramifications of which may be contributing to your general feeling of malaise. Your FT3 is OK while your TT3 is low, could mean that you are converting adequately - as would be expected with an adequate selenium level. Conversion however does not solely take place in the thyroid, your liver could be doing all that work. Meaning, as eeng said, your thyroid could be slowly failing.

It wouldn't hurt to supplement B12, vit.D and iron (you are looking for ferritin). For what it is worth, I begin to get hypo symptoms at TSH = 1.0, at 3.7 I would be completely out of it. Now, I do not have a thyroid and I am completely dependent upon meds but some people react very sensitively to the effects caused by high TSH, maybe you are one of them. If your GP is not very enlightened you might need to take matters into your own hands like many of us here inasmuch as we have to read up as much as we can and apply what we have learned to ourselves. This usually means that we self medicate, get our own blood tests done privately, ask questions on this forum and pass along what we have learned. Many of us (myself included) have to change GPs and Endos often before we get a half way sensible one and often have to drive a long way to see them. Do not be shy to fire your doctor, many of them are undereducated in this field and can keep you feeling ill for years.

[vicks05 in reply to LAHs]

Thank you for your reply. I have been doing a lot of reading and found out a lot of information from everyone on here and I'm extremely grateful.

I had a doctors appointment Friday and I'm due to get Vitb12 injections tomorrow, but they didn't want to know when it came to my thyroid. Like you say. It's a case of educating yourself and deciding which treatment option is best or will work best for you.