Lab results from blood work.

[Tumbleweed55]

Hi I need help deciphering my blood work. In relation to my thyroid and the fact that I have dropped a ton of weight, have a very high heart rate, emotional issues driving me crazy constant crying and mood swings.

Bun 9 (7-17mg)

Creatinine 0.5 (.052-1.04)

Calcium 10.4 (8.4-10.2)

Bilirubin 0.5 (0.2-1.3)

Alkaline Phos 179 (38-126)

AST 24 (14-36) Not sure why this is flagged.

Triglycerides 507 ugh and I'm careful with my diet!

Potassium 4.7 (3.5-5.1)

ALT 47 (9-52) this is flagged and I don't even know what this is.

TSH .502 (.465-4.68)

Free T4 1.17 (.78-2.19)

Vit D - 25 Hydroxy 17.3 (deficient <20 ng)

Red blood cells 5.87 (4.2-5.4)

HGB 17.1 (12-16)

Hematocrit 49.8 (37-47%)

Any help anyone can give me in regards to deciphering what all of this means would be so helpful.

[bantam12]

Your calcium is high and vitd low so you need a Parathyroid test, Alkaline Phos is a liver enzyme, slightly raised but can be caused by many things, ALT is another liver enzyme and it's in range so shouldn't have been flagged.

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to bantam12]

What exactly is a parathyroid test and what does it test for?

[bantam12 in reply to Tumbleweed55]

Parathyroid glands sit very close to the thyroid but aren't connected with thyroid diseases, if calcium is raised and vitd low it can indicate Hyperparathyroidism so along with another calcium blood test you should ask to have your parathyroid level checked. Hyperparathyroidism is usually caused by a benign adenoma on one or more of the parathyroid glands. It's not a hugely common problem but worth ruling out.

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to bantam12]

Well unfortunately I seem to be the kind of person that ends up with strange and unusual results. It is definitely worth having a conversation with my GP on Monday when I go in. Thank you

[Clutter]

Tumbleweed55,

Thyroid levels are euthyroid (normal_. Both TSH and T4 are within range so you are neither hyperthyroid nor hypothyroid.

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to Clutter]

Yes my GP said that I am not diagnosable as yet but it needs to be watched closely. The symptoms that I am having in regards to the weight loss, rapid heartbeat, mood swings and such are there for maybe contributable to something else? I have an appointment with an endocrinologist March 28th for my diabetes and I am sure this will be addressed as well. I also have problems with my voice becoming very Gravely and deep rather often and that was a question on the endocrinologists paperwork.

[Clutter in reply to Tumbleweed55]

Tumbleweed,

Ask your GP or endo to test thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies to confirm or rule out Hashimoto's. Hashimoto's can cause transient hyperthyroidism. I gained 13kg over a year although I'd always had low bmi and then lost 13kg in 10 months with Hashimoto's and other symptoms suggested hyperthyroidism but levels were euthyroid. Endo should palpate your throat and neck to rule out thyroid nodules causing voice changes.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Tumbleweed55]

Ah, I suspect a lot of it the Type 2. Gravelly voice an also be a fungus infection. A mate recently reversed his type 2 with a ketogenic diet - worth some research.

[thyroidrose]

Tumble, I wonder if that TSH is just too low for you? Have you ever felt decent with a higher TSH? Meaning, are you overmedicated? Although with that Free T4 I am not sure you are. Hmmmmmm......

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to thyroidrose]

I'm not medicated at all. She didn't want to diagnose anything yet or medicate but just watch things. No palpable mass or nodules.

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to thyroidrose]

I have felt awful for the last 6 mo. I also have DDD, stenosis, osteoarthritis, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes insulin dependent. MRI results of thoracic and lumbar show disc protrusion and stenosis impinging on T11, T12 and L5. Also severe loss of disc hgt at L1-L2. MRI on L shoulder shows subscapularis tendonosis and tear. Heart rate is running in the 140s to low 200s, blood pressure 190 over a hundred but can't take medicine for it because of my kidneys. Sometimes I feel like I am at the point of giving up.

[bantam12 in reply to Tumbleweed55]

Kidney disease can cause secondary parathyroid problems so that needs to be taken into consideration when looking at results.

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to bantam12]

Dumping protein into my kidneys all ready for about the last year. That's why I went off the BP meds right away because it started to affect them within 4 days. I told the doc I'm not willing to affect my kidneys any further.

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to thyroidrose]

I like that you said that the TSH might just be too low for me. I was talking with another friend who has thyroid problems and she confirmed that a TSH level might be in the normal range so to speak but not necessarily normal for me personally. For example when I am running 98.6 temperature I have a low-grade fever. How do I find out what would be normal for me? With all of the symptoms - rapid weight loss, elevated heart rate, mood swings Etc all of symptoms that were evident before blood work came in. Also Statin is new since blood work came in and showed need for it.

[thyroidrose in reply to Tumbleweed55]

Girl you have a lot of things going on! What about the diabetes? I have heard that can cause symptoms as you describe, just feeling hideous and losing weight. Maybe try to get that under control and also get further testing, specifically for antibodies against the thyroid as Clutter suggested. At least then if the results come back normal (they are simple blood tests) you can cross thyroid problems off of your list.

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to thyroidrose]

Thank you! I truthfully feel at this moment like giving up!

[thyroidrose in reply to Tumbleweed55]

I can understand that kind of desperation. But then I see my son's face and I know I could never. Do you take anything for anxiety or depression? I have had to take anti-anxiety medication here and there. It has saved me a couple of times.

Are you treating the low D level? That alone can cause many problems.

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to thyroidrose]

I haven't been on anything for anxiety or depression but I called yesterday and made an appointment for Monday. I also had to sell my car this month because I won't be able to drive it very long and the expense is too much. I asked someone for a ride yesterday to go pick up some vitamin D and they never responded. But I will be going to pick some up today.

[Saggyuk]

Do you have an albumin result?

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to Saggyuk]

Albumin is 4.2 (3.5-5.0)

[Saggyuk in reply to Tumbleweed55]

Are you on any other meds for your other problems - statins/metformin/diuretics or bood pressure tablets?

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to Saggyuk]

I just started a Statin last week. I haven't taken any metformin since September of last year because I ended up in the emergency room intubated because I stop breathing several times and they said that it was a chemical reaction with the metformin and my kidneys and other things. I'm not on any BP meds because it was messing with my kidneys immediately. I have been suffering dehydration for some time now. I am on meloxicam, Neurontin, omeprazole and Tizanidine. No pain meds. I take Levemir for my sugar twice a day and latanoprost for my glaucoma. The rest is just supplements.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Tumbleweed55]

Statins can make you feel very ill and cause heart problems (muscle weakness and the heart is a muscle). If you are female, you might note that there is no research showing that statins help women (or improve length or quality of life in a statistically significant way). I recommend Dr Malcolm Kendrick's blog - look him up on the web. PPIs ruin your digestion so you lose weight as you aren't getting the nutrition from your food. You need extra B12 and coQ10 to make up for the statins and metformin, and extra everything to make up for the PPIs.

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I will look up his blog today. Thank you

[marin5 in reply to Tumbleweed55]

Dr Oz who is a Cardiologist in US and also has a show on TV says that he would never allow anyone in his family to take statins. more harm than good!

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

You can buy an app

calciumpro.com

£2.99

Put your results in to assess if might have parathyroid problem

parathyroid.com

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to SlowDragon]

Is there a free way of doing this?

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to SlowDragon]

Don't seem to have this problem but thank you for the heads up.

[Bluedragon]

Have you had your B12 tested? I see you are on omeprazole which can cause malabsorption. Your vitamin D is low- as stated test the parathyroid glands.

You can download a BNF now into your phone. I would be tempted to put in your drug names and see what side effects and contraindications they have. I’m on a train so I can’t do right now, takes too late by to do properly.

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to Bluedragon]

I am looking forward to my Cleveland Clinic appointment April 11th to have a complete work up on everything. I have added 8,000 IU D3 and 2000 IU vitamin C and feel better and am sleeping again!

[Angel_of_the_North]

Not hyper or hypo, anyway. High triglycerides can be caused by too much sugar/starch in the diet. Have you been tested for prediabetes?

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I am full-blown type 2 diabetic since 2000 and am insulin-dependent. Levemir is the insulin I take twice a day.

[thegemprincess]

You can do this don't give up. I would look to an expert nutritionist as far as guiding me on what to eat and not eat for your specific circumstances. So happy to see that a lot of people on this site have some medical knowledge that must be very comforting

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to thegemprincess]

Thank you so much for your encouragement!

[thegemprincess]

We are here for you. With each day you are one day closer to regained health

[lindabcampbell]

find a doctor or some one you trust and get a t3 t 4 and most important the tsh i know what you are feeling and it get months to get back to normal # iam still working it started a year ago and i didn"t feel it until 3 months ago going every where to find out what was wrong it took 1 doctor to do t3 t4 and tsh to find out the thyroid was so low its getting better i just hope the doctor who was not paying attention hasn't damaged my thyroid wish you good luck tumble weed55

[Tumbleweed55 in reply to lindabcampbell]

I am getting a referral to the Cleveland Clinic and will be getting a complete work-up on all of my issues at one time. I have not had much confidence in the doctors I have been seeing. I have had so many new diagnosis this year that it is somewhat daunting. I added 8,000 IU vitamin D3 and it seems to have helped somewhat.

[monty6]

With low FT4 think your Pituarity gland would be producing more TSH , it's very low and only just in range suggesting Hyperthyroidism yet your nearly Hypothoid.

Suggest you get Prolactin checked and ideally MRI to exclude Pituitary disease

[thegemprincess]

Trust Cleveland Clinic...TOP place here in the U.S. ---it helped my friend with a slew of heart, diabetic, thyroid and pituarity problems. Please let us know you have made strides or regained your health.

[avocadolover]

Hi!

It looks like some levels aren't optimal.

Have you checked your Antibody count ? ( TPO) ?

It could be an indicator of Hashimoto's or another autoimmune disorder

Hope this little bit helps