I recently got recommended to get my thyroid checked out (specifically my vitamin B12 levels) as I have been suffering from severe anxiety for quite a while now. Recently asked my GP to do a thyroid check on my blood, but as I have just learnt on this site, I haven't exactly got the full test that I needed.
Results are as follows:
TSH - 3.11 (0.3 - 5)
Free T4 - 9.7 (7.9 - 16)
Vitamin B12 - 490 (120 - 900)
The person who is helping me informed me that these seem all pretty low, and that in Japan they actually treat B12 deficiency for levels under 500.
Quite honestly, I have no idea what these numbers mean so I'm hoping someone on here can enlighten me on whether they are anything to be concerned about. Obviously having anxiety isn't fun at all and I'm desperate to start feeling normal. Antidepressants have been prescribed but don't really seem to be helping that much, and I've tried a few different types already over the years.
Would greatly appreciate any insight into this!
Thanks a lot!
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jimbobjoho
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The top of your range for TSH is 5 - unfortunately if you are in the UK, we are not diagnosed until the TSH is 10 - irrespective of unpleasant symptoms we've developed.
In other countries we'd be diagnosed when it reaches 3+.
Antidepressants prescribed - seems to me (and I am not medically qualified) that your T3 might be too low. There are two thyroid hormones i.e. T4 (levothyroxine) inactive and it has to convert to T3. T3 is the only active thyroid hormone and it is this hormone which is required in our millions of T3 receptor cells, the brain and heart need the most. The fact that your FT4 is too low, I think FT3 would be also. T3 can also be used for depression.
We have to read and learn and some source their own thyroid hormones but it should not be necessary. B12, you should supplement with B12 sublingual methylcobalamin tablets in order to help prevent dementia etc to bring B12 nearer the top.
This is the procedure for blood tests:-
The earliest possible appointment, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24hours between last dose of hormones and the blood test and take afterwards.
Always get a print-out for your own records and post if you have a query. Always put the ranges to enable members to respond.
If GP or lab wont do all the blood tests but you can get home pin-prick tests and I will give you a link - just for information. If you decide make sure you are well hydrated a couple of days before blood draw and arms/hands are warm.
I'm not really sure where to start in getting myself sorted out. I'd be interested in getting a more comprehensive blood test done, and the testing kits look really good, so as a next step I will consider this. And yeh, will get some supplements to get my B12 up for sure as it does seem quite low to me - would me being quite a large guy (medium build, nearly 6'3) change how I should interpret the results? As in... do I need a bit more than the average person?
Which unit of measurement is your vitamin D reading? In UK it's usually nmol/L. USA is different. Mid-range is said to be sufficient so around 100 nmol/L. What about Ferritin?
Also ask for your ferritin to be checked. I developed crippling anxiety that arrived completely out of nowhere. My ferritin came back as incredibly low, too low for my thyroid meds to work effectively. The result being the onset of dreadful anxiety, which was so disabling that it left me seriously thinking that I was going out of my mind. As I’m slowly moving my ferritin upwards, the anxiety is definitely getting less and more manageable over time. Unfortunately GPs seem as if they are far too quick to throw antidepressants and beta blockers at you, rather than investigate any other underlying possible causes. Good luck I hope that you find a solution very soon. Anxiety really is truly awful.
Yeh, my anxiety came out of no where too with a horrible panic attack, and since then it's pretty much ruled my life and I've completely had enough of it. Never wanted to be on meds but when you're desperate and feeling really low, you'll do anything to feel a little better.
I'm considering getting one of those home kit tests, so will make sure I get my ferritin checked out.
If you do the labs and find yourself to have low iron and low t3, the chances are you'll be low in other minerals which must be absorbed with a good amount of stomach acid.. which, with low in range t3 is inevitably going to be rather weak.
Taking Betaine HCl with meals can help mineral absorption, or vitamin C (soluble is easiest and you can control the amount you use).
Selenium, Calcium, Zinc and Magnesium are likely to be low (Magnesium serum tests are unreliable). Don't, however, supplement calcium - much better to get your Vit D checked and, if low, supplement that (along with vitamin k2 if it's a high dose that you need). Vit d will help you extract as much calcium as you need from food without compromising your iron levels which may happen if you took a calcium supplement. (Western food is typically high in calcium, but lower in the other essential minerals.)
If you have thyroid antibodies selenium can help suppress those AND help with t4 to t3 conversion.
Magnesium is needed in masses of metabolic processes involving B vitamins and vitamin d - if you're taking b12 and vitamin d then you'll need extra Magnesium. Magnesium is known as 'Nature's Valium'.
Zinc is also really helpful and works in synch with Magnesium and B6 supporting cognitive function.
wow, thank you for all this information. I wont lie, being new to this it's quite a lot to take in but I'm now certainly more clued up on what I should be looking out for.
Not sure where to start but will continue to do some research and see where it gets me.
I've found that by increasing my mineral levels in sympathy with b vitamins and vitamin d I am in much better physical and mental shape! If you have thyroid antibodies (Hashi's), with low t4 (and presumably correspondingly low t3) you should certainly argue for a trial of Levo...
I agree with you Great Advice . Electrolytes need to be up to snuff . I would recommend a pinch of Celtic Sea Salt in warm water and lemon would be very helpful first thing in the AM it has over 80 minerals in it . I put some Celtic Sea Salt in my Sports bottle when I'm working out or on the road for a quick energizer . Keep the Sea Salt 2- hours away from the thyroid meds .
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