Tests and scans and worrying

[Gembe38]

Hi guys, I'm new here.

I had a blood test a few weeks ago that came back with low vitamin d and borderline underactive thyroid. I was prescribed vitamin d and then capsules initially made me feel really sick so I'm now taking it in drop form which seems to be better. The dr was concerned about the underactive thyroid as he said another chemical or hormone was reading as higher then it should be for a borderline underactive. So he sent me for an ultrasound scan. That came back and I didn't have any nodules but he said there was something going on so he was gonna ring an endocrinologist for advice and call me. The endo wanted me to get more blood tests done, one again for my thyroid but the others testing for cortisol and other hormones (they seemed to be to do with my reproductive hormones? Prolactin, oestradiol etc?). The thyroid test from this has come back and says "no further action" the other results are not back yet.

I'm a bit worried now that all this was for nothing. Maybe it's all just down to the low vitamin d? I get extremely tired very easily, I get ill easily, I get foggy brained and forgetful on a daily basis, and I have joint pain in both my knees that often leaves me limping (which is the original reason that I went to see my doctor) that I believe is connected although my doc isn't so sure. Could this all just be down to vitamin d?

Feeling like I've had tests for no reason or I'm just being a hypochondriac. But then I remember that I'm not just making up how tired or drained I feel constantly.

What should I do?

[Marz]

Hi and Welcome ! You must always obtain copies of all results and with the ranges as labs differ. Borderline is a strange thing to say - so what did he test ? Anti-bodies - TPO & Tg ? TSH - FT4 - FT3 - B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD ?? So what was borderline ? Possibly the TSH - but then he needs to look at the FT4 and FT3 - and anti-bodies too.

People are unable to help with so little information ...

thyroiduk.org

The above link takes you to the main website of this forum where you can read everything to do with the Thyroid. We really do have to read and learn to stay ahead of the Docs who are often ill-informed about the thyroid - vitamins and minerals too.

[Gembe38 in reply to Marz]

Ok thank you, ill see if I can get the results

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Gembe38]

You are entitled to copies of your results

If they are difficult about it, come back here for more advice (on a new post)

[Gembe38 in reply to Gembe38]

Have posted results below,

[Gembe38 in reply to Marz]

Have posted results below

[Gembe38]

Test from 2nd August

Thyroid test (x77wg)

Serum free t4 level - below range - 11.0pmol/L (12.0-22.0)

Serum free triiodothyronine level - 4.8pmol/L (3.1-6.8)

Serum TSH level - 1.59mu/L (0.27-4.42)

Serum total 26 hydroxyl vitamin d - below range - 17nmol/L (50.0-120)

B/12 folate level

Vitamin b12 - 322ng/L (197.0-771.0)

Folate level - 10.0ug/L (3.9-25.0) please note new method in use as of 15/11/2016

Serum ferritin - 43ug/L (13.0-150.0)

Serum c reactive protein - 0.9mg/L(0.0-5.0)

Haemoglobin A1c level IFCC standardised - 31mmol/mol (<42.0)

Differential White blood cell count

Neutrophil - 2.6 10*9/L (2.0 -7.5)

Lymphocyte - 1.9 10*9/L (1.3-3.5)

Monocyte - 0.4 10*9/L (0.2-0.8)

Eosinophil - 0.0 10*9/L (0.0 -0.4)

Basophil - 0.0 10*9/L (0.0-0.3)

There's levels for potassium, sodium, bone profile, urea and electrolytes as well and my full blood count Should I write them too?

Then my results for my thyroid test from yesterday, they didn't Test again for any of the other stuff above, but did some other test for cortisol, prolactin, oestradiol, lh and fsh that I am still awaiting the results for.

Serum free T4 - below range - 11.6pmol/L (12.0-22.0)

Serum free triiodothyronine- 5.1pmol/L (3.1-6.8)

Serum TSH - 2.79mu/L (0.27-4.2)

[Clairewalker751 in reply to Gembe38]

Hi put this into a new post as people may not see it here

[bantam12 in reply to Gembe38]

Have you had calcium checked ?

[Marz]

How much VitD were you prescribed ? Ferritin also on the floor and needs treating ....

[Gembe38 in reply to Marz]

800UI a day in capsules. Made me really ill for a week, thought it was a stomach bug at first. Now taking 1000UI daily but in drop form, no bad side effects yet.

What does it mean if my ferritin is low??

[Marz in reply to Gembe38]

When taking D3 it can improve the uptake of calcium from foods. So there are important co-factors to take - VitK2 MK7 - ensures calcium is directed to your bones and teeth and away from the arteries and soft tissues. Magnesium too is good.

Ferritin is a type if stored iron so when iron is low in the blood it means there is little in the store 😊

Your TSH indicates the thyroid is struggling and unable to produce T4 which is low. The FT3 level is puzzling but it is possible the thyroid can produce T3 in the absence of good T4 levels.

B12 & Folate need to be improved.

[Gembe38 in reply to Marz]

Ok, thank you!

[Phoenix605]

Low thyroid hormone, ferritin, vit D or B12 can all individually give the symptoms you describe.

Unfortunately, most common hypo symptoms are 'non specific' which will be why they have used a shotgun approach and done full blood count, nutrient and other hormone tests to see if there are any other causes.

If you havent already done it post all your thyroid results in another post for advice, normally TSH goes up and FT4/3 go down together or vice versa, your very low FT4 result seems odd especially with a fairly high in range FT3 on last test. 'no action' is definitely worth questioning.