Hello I am a newbie. Two years on from being diagnosed with bilateral Breast Cancer followed by Mastectomy, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, 12-month 3-weekly injections, and tablet for 5 years my on-going bone aching chronic fatigue was always, attributed to these treatments.
However, on one of the Doctor In the House programmes earlier in the year a 35 year old man who had chronic fatigue was finally diagnosed by Dr Chatterjee as being B12 deficient.
At a Doctors appointment in May of this year I asked for blood tests to check my B12 level. My doctor agreed and requested a range of tests, including B12. On recall I was told I was Hypothyroid and that my iron levels were low. I was given no other information, other than I would be on life long thyroid medication, and that I would have my bloods taken every 6-8 weeks until this medication is deemed to be at the right level.
I have found this site absolutely invaluable in learning about this condition, how little the medical professional actually know about it, and importantly in managing it. I have had to inform my GP on my second visit, from the knowledge acquired from this site, that fasting blood tests should be done as early as possible, with a gap of 24 hours since last thyroid medication. She was unaware and promised to look into this further so she could update other GPs in the practice.
In May I was started on 50 Levothyroxine and this was increased in August to 75. I did feel marginally better at first but this last couple of weeks or so I have had some very bad days due to fatigue, and some headaches which I am not normally prone to. I have also quickly gained half a stone recently.
As I am due to see my GP later on this week I would welcome any comment about the blood results I have had so far, which I must admit most of which I don't understand too well!
I asked that my recent bloods included a check test for Hashimoto antibodies, which I have learned from this site is the most common form of Hypothyroidism. Do I have this? Also I have learned that I need to get my TSH to 1.0 or below, again this was not something my GP was aware of.
My blood test results so far are as follows:
24 May 2017
Bone profile
Serum calcium level 2.38 mmol/L [2.2 - 2.6]
Serum adjusted calcium concentration 2.47 mmol/L [2.2 - 2.6]
Serum lipid levels
Serum cholesterol levels 6.1 mmol/L
Serum HDL cholesterol level 1.48 mmol/L [1.17 - 1.81]
Serum cholesterol/HDL ration 4.1
Serum triglyceride levels above range 3.1 mmol/L [0.5 - 2.0]
Serum non high density lipoprotein cholesterol level 4.6 mmol/L
Blood haematinic levels
Serum ferritin level below range 26 ug/L [30.0 - 400.0]
Serum vitamin B12 level 376 ng/L [197.0 - 771.0]
Serum folate level 4.9 ug/L [3.89 - 26.8]
Liver function tests
Serum total bilirubin level 7 umol/L [< 21.0]
Serum alkaline phosphatase level 98 iul/L [35.0 - 104.0]
Serum alanine aminotransferase level 15 iu/L [< 40.0]
Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase level 19 iu/L [7.0 - 33.0]
Serum total protein level 71 g/L [60.0 - 80.0]
Serum albumin level 37 g/L [35.0 - 50.0]
Serum globulin level 34 g/L [25.0 - 41.0]
Urea and electrolytes
Serum sodium level above range 147 mmol/L [133.0 - 146.0]
Serum potassium level 4.3 moll [3.5 - 5.3]
Serum urea level 5.9 mmol/L [2.5 - 7.8]
Serum creatinine level 78 umol/L [45.0 - 84.0]
GFR calculated abbreviated MDRD > 60 mL/min/1.73m2
Thyroid function test
Serum TSH level above range 24.2 miu/L [0.3 - 5.5]
Serum free T4 level below range 7.9 pmol/L [12.0 - 22.0]
4 August 2017
Serum ferritin level below range 23 ug/L [30.0 - 400.0]
Serum TSH level 3.43 miu/L [0.3 - 5.5] If on T4 the TSH suggests adequate treatment. If the patient is on antithyroid drugs or there is a suspicion of pituitary disease further tests may be required.
28 September 2017
Serum ferritin level below range 24 ug/L [30.0 - 400.0]
Serum total 25-hydroxy vitamin D level 69 nmol/L [50.0 - 144.0]
Serum TSH level 3.01 miu/L [0.3 - 5.5] If on T4 the TSH suggests adequate treatment. If the patient is on antithyroid drugs or there is a suspicion of pituitary disease further tests may be required.
Serum thyroid peroxidase antibody concentration 10 ku/L [< 34.0]