Very Fed up. Just seen GP with latest blood tes... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

139,079 members163,221 posts

Very Fed up. Just seen GP with latest blood test results

basil-567 profile image
16 Replies

Blood test results

CRP 0.40 <5

Ferritin 258 13-150

TSH 0.82 0.27-4.20

T4 Total 83.5 66-181

Free T4 14.80 12.0-22.0

Free T3 3.68 3.1-6.8

Anti-Thyroidperoxidase abs 163.0 <34

Anti-Throglobulin Abs <10 <115

Vitamin B12 94 Deficient <145

Insufficient 145-250

Consider reducing dose >569

Serum folate 12,5 8.83-60.8

Gp said high Ferritin probably due to inflammation which I agree with so that's fair enough I talked about Free T4 and Free T3 and the fact that they were low in range and should be higher. This was more or less ignored. I then mentioned B12 and Folate which she said were ok. I also mentioned raising my dose of Levo and she went into a long lecture about putting strain on heart with possible fatal consequences. I am at my wits end. I have seen so many doctors in the last 4 years and none of them have been at all helpful. I know that I am struggling and have no idea where to go from here. I take 100mcg Levo daily and supplement with Selenium , magnesium, vit d and pro-biotics. I am going to try some turmeric to help with inflammation . Where do I go from here????

Grateful thanks to you wonderful people. The advise I have received in the past has at least helped me to realise that I am not alone. This situation is unbelievable.

Written by
basil-567 profile image
basil-567
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
16 Replies
basil-567 profile image
basil-567

Thanks reallyfed123. It is not just one GP, every one I have seen has been the same.

I will look into self medication. Bless you

greygoose profile image
greygoose

But your inflammation isn't high. What sort of an ignoramous have you got there? lol She should be investigating your high ferritin, and testing you for pernicious anemia with that low B12.

She's talking utter rubbish about the T4. Increasing your dose isn't going to give you a heart attack, it's a storage hormone! 100 mcg levo is a small dose, it needs increasing. Although, it's quite possible you won't convert very well, but you need to raise the FT4 level to get a clearer idea on that. She really is very ignorant. I think you're going to need to insist about the ferritin and B12, though, before you worry about your FT3 level.

basil-567 profile image
basil-567 in reply to greygoose

Many thanks greygoose. I am going back next week about another matter so I will address these issues then. I have just realised that B12 is 94 on my post, however it was actually 294. So sorry, my mistake. Blessings

Hillwoman profile image
Hillwoman in reply to basil-567

Even though your B12 is 294, you might still benefit from supplementation. Since many hypo/Hashi's patients are prone to autoimmune gastritis (often 'silent') sublingual tablets might be the best bet.

Have you ever been tested for pernicious anaemia?

basil-567 profile image
basil-567 in reply to Hillwoman

Thank you Hillwoman I will take your advice. I have been tested for pernicious anaemia in the past but not recently. Blessings

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to greygoose

Never mind. Your B12 is still too low. It should be at least over 500. Especially if you have neurological symptoms.

Your B12 and folate are not anywhere near OK, esp B12 which is under range - you need to be tested for perncious anaemia and probaly need B12 injections.

basil-567 profile image
basil-567 in reply to Angel_of_the_North

So sorry but B12 294 not 94. My mistake. Mank thanks for you reply

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to basil-567

Then GP won't test for Pernicious Anaemia as levels are not that low

They are however likely too low for a person on thyroid medication. Like many of us on here you may need to supplement B12 sublingual lozenges and vitamin B complex

Your Levothyroxine needs increasing, but you probably need to see a thyroid specialist to get sorted

Your GP not clued up

Email Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Your B12 is seriously low

Suggest you post this on PAS healthunlocked too for advice on getting B12 injections from GP

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

Symptoms list

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Do you have low B12 symptoms? If so make a list

See a different GP and insist on testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting B12 injections

If you can get injections then you need to take sublingual B12 lozenges plus a good vitamin B complex with folate in

If you start or are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Have you had vitamin D tested? If not ask GP to test or do privately

Vitamindtest.org.uk £28 postal kit

Do you know that your high antibodies confirm you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease

Are you on strictly gluten free diet? If not suggest you try it for 6 months minimum

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's gut and gluten connection is very poorly understood

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first along with vitamin D test

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

You need a dose increase in Levothyroxine. FT4 and FT3 are too low. They are only looking at TSH. TSH is low because vitamin levels are too low

Ferritin is very high - perhaps should be investigated further

drhedberg.com/the-ferritin-...

It can be mildly raised due to Hashimoto's

forefronthealth.com/hypothy...

basil-567 profile image
basil-567 in reply to SlowDragon

Hi SlowDragon. Many thanks for your reply. I have been totally gluten free for a year. I have just discovered that my latest blood test should have included vit D. I have spoken to Bluehorizon and they are sending a test kit straight away. Doctor has refused increase in Levo and says B12 is ok. I have seen so many doctors and they are all the same. Very few options left, what am I supposed to do? I am very grateful for all the information. Thank you once again.

Ps B12 294 not 94 so sorry my mistake. Also I do know I have Hashimotos

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to basil-567

Well you probably need to improve low B12 and folate

Wait for vitamin D results and supplement if required

Then retest thyroid in 2-3 months

See if there's a recommended thyroid specialist near you - NHS or private and get referral if NHS or make private appointment

basil-567 profile image
basil-567 in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks again. How do I improve folate?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

 please email Dionne at

tukadmin@thyroiduk.org

Request list of recommended thyroid specialists, some are T3 friendly

Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many otherwise we need high FT4 and suppressed TSH in order to have high enough FT3

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

Official NHS guidelines saying TSH should be between 0.2 and 2.0 when on Levothyroxine

(Many of us need TSH nearer 0.2 than 2.0 to feel well)

See box

Thyroxine replacement in primary hypothyroidism

pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/pa...

Clutter profile image
Clutter

Basil-567,

There is scope to increase Levothyroxine dose to improve FT4 and FT3. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email dionne.fulcher@thyroiduk.org if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

B12 294 is low. If you have symptoms in b12deficiency.info/signs-an... go to healthunlocked.com/pasoc for advice on how to handle your GP. If you don't have symptoms you can supplement methylcobalamin to raise B12.

basil-567 profile image
basil-567 in reply to Clutter

Many thanks Clutter. I do have a copy of the Pulse article but thank you anyway. I will consider supplementing as I don't really think I have symptoms of B12 deficiency, Blessings

You may also like...

Daughters latest blood test

Insufficient 145 - 250 Consider reducing dose >569 Serum Folate L 5.43 8.83 - 60.8 nmol/L Although...

Latest blood test results

5) Ferritin: 102.0 ug/L (Range: 13 - 150) Folate - Serum: 7.96 ug/L (Range: > 3.89) Vitamin B12 -...

Latest blood test results

TSH level - 0.10 (0.3- 5) Serum Free T4 level - 15.6 (12 - 22) Serum free triiodothyronine - 4.9...

Latest blood test results are depressing

6 weeks and that will also include magnesium, ferritin. Results are T3 - 4.7 (3.9-6.8) T4 11.6...

Latest blood test results

is to take bloods 5 hours after morning T3 dose. Last T4 dose is 29 hours before blood draw (the...