Blood test results

[Charliesays77]

Hi I have just had my latest blood test results back and I was hoping for some feedback from some of more knowledgeable ladies on here please

TSH level - 1.34 mIU/L (0.3 - 5.0)

Vit B12 level - 587 ng/l (200.0 - 960.0)

Ferritin - 91 ng/ml (15.0 - 350)

Folate - 5.3 ng/ml (3.0 - 18.0

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

TSH alone is not enough to give a full picture of thyroid status, as explained in your original post on the forum when you were advised to get

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

and SlowDragon linked to ThyroidUK's testing page so that you could test privately if you couldn't get everything tested with your GP.

With your previous result

Oct 2017 - Serum TSH level - 0.48

and now your current result

TSH level - 1.34 mIU/L (0.3 - 5.0)

Something is wrong considering you had an increase of 25mcg Levo.

Were both tests done at the same time of day? Very first appointment of the morning after an overnight fast and leaving off Levo for 24 hours? You can only compare results if the conditions are the same each time.

It's not possible to comment with just TSH, but you haven't said how you feel.

**

Vit B12 level - 587 ng/l (200.0 - 960.0)

This is pretty good although an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

**

Folate - 5.3 ng/ml (3.0 - 18.0)

This is too low, folate should be at least half way through it's range.

**

Ferritin - 91 ng/ml (15.0 - 350)

This is good. A minimum of 70 is needed for thyroid hormone to work, and I've seen it said that for females 100-130 is best.

**

You also need Vit D testing as previously mentioned.

[Charliesays77 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for your reply, I can't afford a private test at the moment, so these are all the tests I could I get my GP to do.

I always have my blood tests around 9am on an empty stomach and I don't take my levo until afterwards.

I feel down in the dumps & I can't seem to shift this weight I have put on, no matter how hard I try, although I'm not as tired as I used to be.

Please excuse my ignorance but what is Folate & how can improve my level?.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Charliesays77]

Folate is a B vitamin (B9) and works together with B12.

You can get Folate from diet by eating leafy greens but with a low level like yours supplementing with a B Complex containing 400mcg methylfolate is probably the best way. Thorne Basic B is a good one.

[Charliesays77 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks, I really do appreciate your help with this.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Charliesays77]

If you can't afford to test thyroid antibodies ask GP to test

Also request coeliac blood test and vitamin D test, before changing to strictly gluten free diet for at least 3 -6 months

Very, very many patients find it helps significantly or is essential

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Essential to test FT4, FT3 and both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies

If your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

Hashimoto's affects the gut and very 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

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