Thyroid

[Searching4help]

Hello, I've been suffering with suspected thyroid for a while now. I feel terrible. No energy, extreme fatigue all the time, fatigue pain behind my eyes, low mood, brittle hair, easy to bruise, extra cold feet in winter, bad memory. Worst bit is being bed bound most of the time. I will attach a recent copy of my ferritin blood tests I asked my gp to do. It also has notes about possible b12 deficiency which my gp has not flagged up to me. I literally asked for this test to be done and I got reception to print it off for me. He hasn't been in contact with me over it. He did my thyroid TSH level and T4 level but he wouldn't do thyroid antibodies, which is what I was advised to ask him to do. I will attach both results and any feedback would be gratefully received. Now thinking of seeing a private gp like spire in Norwich.

My results.. the range is in brackets.

Serum TSH level 2.1 mu/L (0.35-3.50)

Serum free T4 level 14 pmol/L (8-21)

Looks like they haven’t done FT3

Vitamin D 53 nmol/L (50-120)

Serum folate 4.7 ug/L (2.7-15)

Serum vitamin B12 5.15 ng/L (130-1100)

Ferritin 25 ug/L (23-300)

[shaws]

It is impossible to read your copy. Can you type the results and the ranges? Can you put your results/ranges for the thyroid tests too.

The fact is that most doctors have no knowledge about dysfunctions of the thyroid gland - have no idea about symptoms which used to be known by all doctors before blood tests replaced knowledge as a way to diagnose. Many patients have found this is not the case and people are disabled with crippling symptoms which are ignored.

Most of us have gone our own way by sourcing our own hormones and self-treating and recovering, despite the ignorance shown by the medical professionals.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I have removed the image, as the only thing you could read well was your name and DOB

Can you add new photo or type in results and ranges for

TSH, FT3 and FT4

Vitamin D

Folate

B12

Ferritin

[Searching4help in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok thankyou, I have posted it by editing the original.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Searching4help

There are problems here:

Vitamin D 53 nmol/L (50-120)

The Vit D Council, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health all recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L. You wont get anything prescribed so will have to buy your own D3 supplement along with it's important cofactors magnesium and Vit K2-MK7. For your current level the Vit D Council recommends taking 5,800iu daily to reach 150nmol/L. You could buy some 5000iu dose softgels (eg Doctor's Best) and take one daily. Retest in 3 months. When you've reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/

If you've had thyroid antibodies tested and they were raised confirming autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's, then for best absorption an oral spray is recommended, eg BetterYou.

Serum vitamin B12 5.15 ng/L (130-1100)

Can you please check this. Is it 5.15 or do you mean 515?

Serum folate 4.7 ug/L (2.7-15)

This is low and should be at least half way through range. Eating leafy greens and other folate rich foods can help but you might want to consider a good B Complex containing methylfolate. Good brands are Thorne Basic B and Igennus Super B.

Ferritin 25 ug/L (23-300)

This is dreadful. Even though it is range it's at the very bottom. With such a low level you really should have an iron panel and full blood count done to see if there is any iron deficiency anaemia before considering supplementing.

Serum TSH level 2.1 mu/L (0.35-3.50)

Serum free T4 level 14 pmol/L (8-21)

Are you taking any thyroid meds?

[Searching4help in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yeah it’s meant to be 515. Thankyou for your in-depth reply. Thankyou for taking the time.

[Searching4help in reply to SeasideSusie]

No I'm not on any thyroid meds. I need to change drs or go private I think. They are useless at my current practice. I feel so dreadful and they do nothing.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Searching4help]

Searching4help

Your thyroid results are currently "normal" and would not garner any interest from a GP.

I think you should concentrate on your vitamins and minerals for now. Your extremely low ferritin needs investigating so ask for those further tests. Your folate needs improving. If you go for the Igennus Super B Complex that has more B12 at the recommended dose (2 tablets) than Thorne and that will nudge your B12 level up as well. Also, work on getting your Vit D up into the recommended range.

Once all your levels are optimal (and it may take a few months) retest everything (Medichecks Thyroid Check UltraVit or Blue Horizon Thyroid Plus Eleven) and see how things are then. There's not a lot of point in paying to see a private doctor about your thyroid at the moment because there's nothing in your thyroid results that will flag anything up.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Can you double check the B12 result, if it really is 5.15 then get urgent appointment tomorrow at GP

Getting vitamins optimal is first step

You need both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Ask Gp or test privately

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.

All thyroid tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease). About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's.

Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

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

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

Also ask GP do coeliac blood test

[Searching4help]

Meant to be 515. Thankyou for your reply.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Searching4help]

Getting thyroid antibodies tested is next step

Wouldn't be surprised if antibodies are high

Plus improve low vitamin D, folate and ferritin by supplementing

[Hidden]

I would want my B12 higher than 515.It needs to be about 1000 to prevent damage I belive. Check Dr Chandys B12 support for furthur advice ( you can just google and it comes up). I would imagineyou could behelped by some thyroid hormones and that your low ferretin is as a result of poor aborbsion as a result but I think you need to get the vits and minerals sorted out first. There is a list of more helpful doctors available via the thyroid uk website. I would suggest that you see one of these rather than waste your money on someone who might be no more helpful than your current GP.Are there any other GPs in the practice as your sounds unhelpful.