Over range Serum Urea and Plasma Viscosity.

[lucylocks]

Hi

Just picked up a print out of some blood results from Doctor.

The tests were done in May when I had a bad virus.

I am concerned my Serum Urea is over range at 8.6 range 3.0 - 7.6 (this was same result when tested a couple of months previously and Doctor told me to take in urine sample, the result was normal)

Plasma Viscosity slightly over range at 1.74 range 1.50 - 1.72

remark says slightly raise, patient has a follow up appointment with Doctor.

When I saw him next about his awful eczema I have started with he never mentioned it.

Does anyone know if these levels can have anything to do with hypothyroidism, or is it something totally different and should they be cause for concern.

Many thanks.

[Hidden]

All I can tell you is that many of my results have been slightly raised over the years - or low with my thyroid bloods. My PV generally sits between 1.92- 1.98 (range same as yours). I have Sjögren's as well as Hashimotos but have assumed this is still pretty high. CRP is 14-18 (normal 0-5) depending how I'm feeling. Creatinine always slightly over range too.

I asked the doctor and he explained that for me, because I have high concentration of antibody level in my blood (IgG), my PV and Creatinine will always be high - this is my normal range and is therefore meaningless. He says the reason the fatigue levels are so high for me is because my body is battling inflammation 24/7 regardless of any medications.

Unless you have signs that something is wrong, the main thing is how you feel and not whether your bloods are slightly out of range. Any small infection or virus can send these over so your GP will know this.

They are fairly non specific markers anyway so could be normal next time where others might be raised or low. Doctors tend to only comment when things are very elevated because they are used to everything being slightly over or under with most people. With chronic illnesses they look for patterns in the blood results. If your thyroid is out of whack it can also send other blood results slightly off too, but more likely to be a virus or just the eczema even.

[lucylocks in reply to Hidden]

Many thanks for your reply Twitchytoes,

it is really reassuring. I do think my thyroid levels are out of whack. When I had what I thought was a virus I had my levels checked and one of my Thyroid peroxidase antibodies had risen from 27 to 32.2 top of range 34. A member on the forum thought I might have had a hashi's atatck even though the antibodies are in range, although my T3 had dropped from 5.4 to 3.58.

Now whether the T3 had dropped after the" hashi's attack" or it dropped because it was virus (another member said this can happen) clearly something was not right.

Sorry to hear you have Sjogrens as well as hashi's.

What do you mean by fatigue levels are so high? which are the fatigue levels?

Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to lucylocks]

For me everything is about Sjögren's. I don't bother About my Hashis much - just take 125mcg Levo and add another 25mcg every few days as top up. Many people with rheumatic diseases like mine or Lupus or RA just forget about their thyroid bloods and leave this for the doctor to work out. I do know doctors get it wrong with lots of things but I just work my Hashis bloods out for myself now.

The serious disease for me is the one attacking my connective tissue everywhere - including my thyroid, kidney and nervous system. I tried taking T3 for a bit but it just made my heart pound and my GPs got cross with me. And I need to keep my doctors on my side! I don't think my thyroid bloods are ideal ever but they at the low end of range, TSH suppressed. If I try and argue that I need more thyroxine, as I believe I do, they will get narky. So I just keep extra 25mcg and self administer every few days.

The fatigue of Sjögren's is out of this world! info.sjogrens.org/conquerin...

All I was trying to say is that your PV is only slightly elevated, could mean something, could mean nothing more than a cold.

[lucylocks]

Oh gosh Twitchytoes the fatigue from Sjogren's sound absolutely awful, it is bad enough having it with thyroid problems but to have that is well must be terrible.

What do you take for Sjogren's?

[Hidden in reply to lucylocks]

Thanks lucylocks. There is one of the 13 types of fatigue listed, which is thought to relate to those with Hashis too when this isn't being sufficiently well managed by thyroid hormone replacement. That's why I thought you might be interested. I seem to have all 13 - and unlike other connective tissue diseases there is no treatment they can use for us because of the thicker concentration of antibodies in our blood. So it's a really horrible multi system disease that can only be managed with topical medicines. Many try alternative therapies and diet - particularly veganism. These haven't worked for me but occasionally they do seem to help a lot. I'm on the highest dose of an immunesupressant called Mycophenolate - but I can't really see it's doing that much. I'm preparing to throw in the towel with it in the long run but on the other hand, I may find that it's been helping more than I realised? Still freezing cold in bed while my husband sunbathes topless in the garden!!

[lucylocks]

Oh it sounds absolutely dreadful.

I do hope you find something that works for you and you can find some improvement in your health very soon.

Take care.