Neutrophils and thyroid results - help please!

[fedup]

My new GP has recently agreed to up my levothyroxine dose to 150mg, after having a review these are the results : Serum TSH - 0.36 mu/L (0.35 - 4.7) and Serum FT4 - 16 pmol/L (7.8 - 21) Obviously the GP is happy with the results - should I be happy too? Or is there something else I should be doing to get rid of the hypo symptoms that remain?

Other results that were included: Serum ferritin - 80ug/L it also said - Ferritin 20 -100 cannot exclude iron deficiency with coexisting chronic or inflammatory conditions. Could someone explain that for me?

Serum folate - 5.8 ug/L (serum folate values <3ug/L suggest deficiency) Does that mean that my result is optimal or could it be better?

Over the last few years of blood tests I've noticed that my neutrophil count is usually right at the bottom of the reference range, and sometimes marked with *, however the doctors never mention it. The neutrophil count this time is 2.1 10*9/L (2.0 - 7.7) Could anyone please explain what these figures mean, and if I should be doing something about the low level?

I apologise for a lengthy post with a lot of questions! After 16 years of hypothyroid symptoms I am picking up the gauntlet once again, to find a way of being symptom free! Huge thanks in advance!

[Nanaedake]

You can increase folate by eating more folate rich food every day. You body doesn't store it so you need to eat folate regularly to benefit.

2.1 10*9/L (2.0 - 7.7) Could anyone please explain what these figures mean, and if I should be doing something about the low level?

Your neutrophil count is in range and so it appears to be fine. The star is simply part of the measurement being used by the lab.

Usually if something is out of range and a cause for concern the lab puts an exlamation mark next to the result.

Serum ferritin - 80ug/L it also said - Ferritin 20 -100 cannot exclude iron deficiency with coexisting chronic or inflammatory conditions. Could someone explain that for me?

I believe ferritin can be raised if someone has inflamation and so it means a person could be iron deficient if they have an inflamatory condition even though their ferritin appears to be in a good range. Hope that makes sense?

What about vitamin D?

[Hather in reply to Nanaedake]

Nanadake, can I ask you a out your info re exclamation mark, although it’s a bit off topic, I’ve been trying to find out what this means..I had an exclamation mark after an edoscopy re previous small hernia..which said on the last endoscopy normal ! ..

[Nanaedake in reply to Hather]

I don't know about that, it sounds like an outcome of investigation rather than a blood test so you need to ask your doctor to clarify.

[fedup in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks Nanaedake, I wonder if the inflammation could be the arthritic symptoms I've been having in my fingers and toes. I haven't mentioned it to the doctor yet, in the hope it would pass! I've had anaemia in the past, so it wouldn't surprise me if I still had low levels of iron. I think my body must be prone to inflammation - as I've discovered that I have an intolerance to sulphites (though only found through experience, not blood tests etc) I will look into foods with folate - I've been trying to take a multivitamin, but the brain fog gets in my way and I rarely remember to take it.

[Hidden]

What about your FT3 and Vitamins D results if you have them.

[fedup in reply to Hidden]

I've never had my FT3 tested, despite numerous times of asking gp's and endocrinologists! The one time I had it done, was during a hospital stay for pneumonia last year, I persuaded the doctor who actually took my bloods for the third time, (he actually ran the tests in the lab himself), I only got the results after I'd left hospital, but wasn't given the ref ranges. Again, due to brain fog I can't remember where I've put the results! Vit D hasn't been tested despite my request.

[Hidden in reply to fedup]

If you can afford it have your blood test done by Blue Horizon the one is ( Thyroid 11 ) it will give you all of the detail required. Post the results on here with the ranges. Don't forget to do the test first thing on an empty stomach and 24 hours after Levo, OK?

I now have mine done once a year and self medicate and feel better with no thyroid either. My medication costs around £6 per month so not expensive and no visits to the doctors either, great. The only other expense maybe vitamins and minerals.

[sue_b]

Hiya, first off, I don't proclaim myself to have any specific knowledge other than what I have discovered about my own health and what i have picked up from here over the last couple of years.

Your folate is too low. I assume it got that way while you were eating a healthy diet? Mine did. To avoid any potential genetic difficulties with folate, I would recommend 5 Methyl THF, 400 mcg will be enough but every day. If you are still having periods you are going to battle with that folate until menopause, so keep taking it, unless a blood result says otherwise. The reason I say this because I have premenopause friends, who have all their b vits up high in the range , just supplementing a very small amount but with appalling diet. Clearly, some of us need additional support and a low folate shows that to be the case. For lots of information about methylation and how it impacts us, check out Dr Amy Yasko, for the most thorough bringing together of all things methyl.

Ferritin, OMG didn't know that about inflammation, that may explain why mine has gone up by 50% in 6mths. Too much ferritin is not good I believe, search Healthunlocked for more on that.

In addition, I just came across a reference to oestrogen levels having an impact on thyroid function. Whether that is a causal effect or it just goes hand in hand with general endocrine issues I don't know yet. Haven't had time to look at it but I guess there is likely to be things on here, other posts.

When I was still just taking Levo I had private bloods done which included Reverse T3. Looking back at it now, I was in range with TSH, T4 and T3 but the ratio of T3 to RT3 was a little high, which may have explained why I was still feeling off. I also had Hashimoto's. I was on 125mcg at the time but tsh was 2.2. Have you had RT3 done?

Interesting about the Neutrophils, mine plummeted from 4.96 to 2.4 (still in range) after a particularly stressful time in my life. Next time tested it was 2.5. Recently I was tested at a time when I had a virus and it was 5 so my body is clearly still able to respond to illness. The people in the know talk bout the ratio between Neutrophils and Leucocytes and after the drop to 2.4 my ratio was "slightly reversed". I mentioned this to my GP at the time and he just shrugged his shoulders; clearly of no interest. My daughter, at age 20, also showed a slight reversal so it seems it is not uncommon in those of us with thyroid issues. Perhaps someone else can shed some more light on this issue.

Hope some of that makes sense and helps

[fedup in reply to sue_b]

Thanks Sue, some interesting points to investigate - will look more into it! It's almost 4 years since I had a partial hysterectomy, due to fibroids. I kept my cervix and one ovary, so I'm still having a light period, but after certain symptoms last year, tests were showing that I'm probably peri-menopausal. So it'll be interesting to find out more about oestrogen affecting thyroid! I haven't had RT3 tested, despite asking my endo. I've no idea what type of hypothyroidism I have - no one has ever mentioned if I have Hashimoto.