Whoever told you that ranges were shown doesn't understand what laboratory ranges are then. I would contact them and ask for a copy that includes the lab ranges if you want to know how much over or under the ranges you are.
Well, she gave me the TSH range over the phone - and it was a range (0.3-4.2) - so I'm thinking it could be something to do with the way the sheet printed. I think she was going to scan it for me, but maybe she had to print a copy from a database... just guessing!
I was hoping some of these would be more or less obvious to people in the know. I may not bother, and wait - expecting to meet my new GP within a week or so, and ask her for tons of tests that will be bang up to date.
Only the TSH tested too - so you will need the FT4 - FT3 and Thyroid anti-bodies TPO & Tg tested as well. Doubt very much the FT3 and the Anti-TG will be done by the NHS .
This is a very knowledgeable forum but without the ranges - which vary from lab to lab - so even for people in the know - nothing will be obvious
When I change my GP, I'll be changing authority (from Glos to Wilts), so hoping Wilts will do at least the T3 and T4 if the GP tells the lab to. I *was* emphatically told to get T3 and T4 done every year! I'm not even sure whether Glos actually wouldn't, or if the doctor decided it was quicker to say that than to find out... but I'm not stuck with Gloucestershire.
From reading the posts here - it is the labs that will not do the requested tests if the TSH is in range ... even when requested by the GP. Hence why 100's on this forum use Blue Horizon or Medichecks.
Well, I'll know in a week or so whether Wiltshire is the exception. If not then I'll continue on the payment route - but pretty sure this new GP will be on my side as opposed to the one I'm escaping.
I know I can't do this without the ranges... and I am going to call tomorrow and get those ranges... but I had a quick look back at these figures. I think it's reasonable to think that the results in coloured ink, with a tick against them, are out of range - and it looks like H stands for high and L for low. (I know the two H results are too high, for example, because these are my blood glucose). So...
I did a search and most sites say the range for sodium is 136-145 mmol/L. The sheet I scanned says "132 mmol per..." and so I looked up low sodium. It goes with an underactive thyroid. It also goes with kidney or heart problems (and I think mine are ok, my kidneys are checked with every diabetes checkup) and things like malnutrition and poor adrenal function. Given that I now know about Vit D deficiency, low iron and high B12, this all confirms that i need to get onto this.
No question really, just thinking aloud. I know, I shouldn't think until I have the facts. I know... I registered with the new practice today and will book to see the new GP as soon as my registration goes through. Maybe she'll be able to write me up for more tests given the Vit D thing.
I had a call from the doctor at Medichecks - because I had phoned up about a typo to check the comments weren't based on a misunderstanding - and had a long, friendly chat - really great! Two pertinent points out of it:
Some results can be read without knowing the lab range, because they're standard. Sodium is one, it's always 135 to 145, so my 132 is definitely low. Glad to be on the phone because my aunt had low sodium (hyponatraemia) a few years ago, and I could ask about family history, but it isn't a connection - he said there are different reasons for it in the elderly. He agreed that once I get the main things right, this could sort itself out so I'm going to forget it for now (while keeping all future blood tests so as to spot any up or down trends).
I know for definite that liver trouble isn't the cause of the high B12 - which is really good to know. It's the scary one that needs ruling out, that and blood cancers such as leukaemia. He based this on the two things that would have been in a liver screen, the alanine aminotransferase and the alk phos, which he called ALT and ALP. Being on the phone, he could throw out ways they may be referred to and confirm that I'd guessed the right ones from the list! Mine are fine.
I think I'll get a full blood count at the new patient check with my new GP practice, so for now I'm happy.
Just remembered that someone suggested I look up my CCG's rules on vitamins they can prescribe / blood tests they can do - so now I'm going to find out how to look at those.
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