Help with blood test results

[MelonJ]

Hi,

I wonder if someone can help me with these results please.

Thanks 😊

[Clutter]

Melonj,

TSH is over range and FT4 is low in range but FT3 is good at the moment. When you have your blood test in May arrange it early in the morning when TSH is highest and fast (water only) as TSH drops after eating and drinking.

Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

When TSH is over range in the presence of autoimmune antibodies most GPs will diagnose primary hypothyroidism and prescribe Levothyroxine. Read Dr. Toft's comments in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

Active B12 >35 is unlikely to be deficient.

Folate 4.8 is low in range. You can raise folate by eating leafy green veg and supplementing folic acid or methylfolate for 3-4 months.

CRP is an inflammation marker. The lower the better. Yours is mid-range.

Ferritin is low in range which can indicate iron deficiency. I would ask your GP to do an iron panel and full blood count to check.

[MelonJ in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter x

[MelonJ in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter (or anyone else who might have thoughts on this),

I’m traveling for work right now so just read through this properly. Would you recommend I take my results to my own Dr now or wait until they do another test in may?

Are they likely to start treatment when the TSH is below 10 even with positive antibodies?

I also take blood pressure medication (approx 10 years) and have raised cholesterol too (not treated).

I also have tinnitus and hearing loss in left ear which was diagnosed by ent consultant after a visit to discuss my tiredness, ringing ear, erratic and heavy periods.

I have lots of symptoms but thought it was stress or menopause and have put up with it all.

Any help appreciated, thanks x

[Clutter in reply to MelonJ]

Melonj,

I'd show the results and the Pulse article to your GP and ask if they will start treatment. GP may want to order his/her own blood tests first. If they insist on waiting until TSH is 10 I would change GP.

High cholesterol is a common side effect of low thyroid. It will probably drop when thyroid levels improve.

Tinnitus is fairly common in undertreated thyroid but it looks like yours is caused by hearing loss.

[MelonJ in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter. I’m going to contact my GP tomorrow. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Can I download the pulse article or do I need to request it?

[Clutter in reply to MelonJ]

Melonj,

You need to ask for it by email as I said above.

[MelonJ in reply to Clutter]

Thanks I’ll do that now

[MelonJ in reply to Clutter]

Hi, anyone able to give me advice please?

Thanks x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your B12 is very low

It's suggested that any result under 70 is suspicious. 45 is very low

viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...

Do you have any symptoms of low B12?

Yes I see you do ......tinnitus, balance issues too

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Ask GP to test for Pernicious Anaemia before likely needing either B12 injections via GP or self supplement B12 sublingual lozenges. Do NOT supplement until tested.

Folate is also low

Ferritin very low and GP should run a full iron panel to test for Anaemia

Also request vitamin D test, very likely also too low

Hashimoto's affects the gut and often 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 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 and B12, vitamin D and iron panel

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...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Also high cholesterol is likely because you are hypothyroid. Do not accept prescription for statins at this point

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

Some B12 info

Using test of Homocysteine levels to check for low b12

b12-vitamin.com/homocysteine/

Good explanation on homocysteine

veganhealth.org/b12/hcy

Oral supplements may be as good as injections if you can not get GP to prescribe

aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p979...

B12 generally

drjockers.com/warning-signs...

Loading doses of B12

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

[MelonJ in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon,

This is all useful info.

I have a phone consultation tomorrow with my dr so will ask her about this.

I already sent a letter listing my symptoms, copy of medichecks results and requesting tests and treatment. After a week I’d heard nothing so called and spoke to a very stroppy receptionist who said I’d have to discuss it at an appointment, I don’t think it had even been read by anyone.

It’s really getting me down so hopefully tomorrow I’ll get treatment started.

I did ask for coeliac test too, if they won’t do it I’ll get it done privately. It would be good to know if I have it. I am planning to try a GF diet though I know I’ll find it hard.

Fingers crossed my dr will be helpful.

Thanks again x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MelonJ]

You can get coeliac test for £19

Yes I thought GF would be much harder, than it actually is.

Your tinnitus and other symptoms of low b12 been ignored for very long time by your GP, sadly is far from unusual

[MelonJ in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. The B12 thing is really interesting. When I 1st posted I mentioned that my daughter had B12 deficiency picked up by chance when she was pregnant recently by the lab. They noticed she had sticky blood I think it was the dr called it? She had a course of injections and was told to be retested after baby was born. That test was in October, would it be too soon for her to be retested?

Thanks x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MelonJ]

Sticky blood may be Hughes syndrome?

Suggest you put separate post about this on here or on PAS healthunlocked too

[MelonJ in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your help 🙂