Advice on results please

[Kmunro]

I have the usual problem that GP won’t recognise my symptoms. TSH within range, extreme fatigue, low basal body temp 35.9, low pulse at 54. Stopped exercising due to fatigue, was active. Putting on so much weight!

Did private thyroid test which showed antibodies. GP advised retake bloods in 6 months. Symptoms worsening so went back to GP to ask for vitamin check. They advised the don’t do Vitamin D as everyone in scotland is vitamin D deficient! And they don’t do B12. They only tested one thyroid antibody as my “symptoms didn’t warrant the test”. So have went private again. Here are my results

TSH 2.76 (0.27-4.3)

Free T4 17.4 (12-23)

T3 4.53 (3.1-6.8)

TGAb 241 (0-115)

TPOAb 58.5 (0.34

T4 85.3 (66-181)

B12 130 (25.1 - 165)

Ferritin 97.5 (13-150)

Folate 16.4 (8.83 - 60.8)

Vitamin D 51.9 (50-100)

GP tests also showed low calcium 2.14 (2.2 - 2.6) and high bilirubin 22 (0-21) parathyroid hormone 6.6 (1.6-6.9). Not sure if they mean anything, GP said not concerned with anything.

I think I need vitamin D but unsure how much to take. Have been to 3 different GPs in my surgery, none are interested in listening to my symptoms, they keep trying to tell me I’m depressed and giving me anti depressants!

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Clairewalker751]

You have hashimotos as indicated by your raised antibodies so basically your thyroid is under attack Drs don't want to seem to do anything until you have a TSH of 10. You could try going gluten free I did the Amy Myers autoimmune protocol and it really reduced my antibodies and your folate needs raising as does your Vit D I used Vit D softgels 1000iu and take 4 or 5 a day to keep my levels up I also take a folate supplement.

[Kmunro in reply to Clairewalker751]

Thank you so much Claire - I wasn’t sure how much vitamin D to take, so thank you.

[Foxtrot89]

This post could more or less have been written by me! Apart from I’ve lost my appetite so haven’t gained weight.

I have very similar results to you from a private blood test and had to stop exercising despite having been very active before. Doctor didn’t want to acknowledge any of my symptoms as the results “are normal” and she tried to give me antidepressants. Tiresome!

I started on Metavive I (natural porcine thyroid) nearly 3 weeks ago. Only 15mg per day and I am gradually feeling better! Not saying this is definitely the solution for you (and I am taking lots of other supplements) but since your results, like mine, are not right at the bottom you may benefit from this type of support if GP refuses Levothyroxine.

I hope that you can get it sorted! It’s annoying when you aren’t listened to.

Also what kind of logic is “everyone is deficient in Scotland so we don’t test” ?! Surely people need to be tested and then supplement to get themselves to a good level, especially if they’re specifically asking for it to be done!

[Kmunro in reply to Foxtrot89]

It’s finny isn’t it!! Their logic is crazy! Have multiple GP appointments and quite happy to throw antidepressant at me, but wouldn’t do a simple blood test!

Thank you so much for that, I’ll definitely look into Metavive. The lack of exercise is what is getting to me the most as I did it for good mental health and this is now making me depressed!!

Thanks again

[Foxtrot89 in reply to Kmunro]

I think sometimes exercise can be the crutch to keep a failing thyroid going as well though (it boosts thyroid function to a point - but if you go beyond that, which I did, pushing myself really hard - it can cause the opposite effect) so it’s a bit of a spiral downwards when you are eventually forced to give up.

I too found that it helped me to stay upbeat and happy, but I was doing it too much and too often.

Can you still do gentle exercise? I’ve been doing daily nature walks of 30-40 mins. Really helps

I forgot to say, your vitamin D level could easily be double that and you’d still be fine, so you could take what I take, 3000IU (equivalent to 75mcg) a day with Vitamin K2 (as the MK7 form).

Since Vitamin D increases calcium absorption you use Vitamin K alongside it to ensure it absorbs into your bones and teeth rather than depositing into arteries. I have 60mcg of Vitamin K a day.

I supplement both as a sublingual form (best way to absorb it, with a fat based meal) from the BetterYou brand.

You can get a combined spray of Vitamin D and K2 if that’s more convenient.

Also would be a good idea to get your folate higher. You could take a high quality B Complex such as Swanson (what I take) or Igennus Super B complex provided you’re ok with a higher dose of methylcobalamin (B12).

Whatever you do, don’t take folate without B12! They work synergistically and it’s very important not to have folate on its own.

[Clairewalker751 in reply to Foxtrot89]

I didn't realise you can't take folate on its own if I take a Break complex my B12 goes way over range so I only take folate?

[Foxtrot89 in reply to Clairewalker751]

How much folate do you take? If you’re getting enough B12 from food and not taking loads of folate you might get away with it, but high dose folate without B12 can cause a really bad effect.

B12 is fine to be way over the range. Only dangerous when too low. Mine is frequently over 1000.

[Clairewalker751 in reply to Foxtrot89]

Wow ok difficult to know what to do for the best? I only use almond milk which contains B12 I know when I was taking B complex only once a month my B12 was over range? Why is it dangerous on its own?

[Foxtrot89 in reply to Clairewalker751]

Brief explanation here:

sharecare.com/health/vitami...

Basically B12 and folate work synergistically so taking just one can cause a deficiency in the other. Also, your B12 levels can be high but you can still have low B12 symptoms (this may not be the case for you but certainly was for me when I tried to cut down B12 I felt sooo tired and achy muscles within just a few days).

[Kmunro in reply to Foxtrot89]

Wow thank you for all that information! That’s amazing to be told all of this. There’s so much information out there, but I don’t know how to use it, so this is very beneficial. Thank you. I’m hopeful now that I’ll be back out running again soon!

[Foxtrot89 in reply to Kmunro]

You’re welcome. I’ve had to look into stuff so much for myself so am happy that it can benefit others who are struggling with the same stuff.

I hope you’ll be back running soon, as much as I hope I’ll be back dancing before too long!!

Feel free to ask any more Qs if I can help at all

[pgdw]

What do you mean by "went private" ! Did you pay for private tests or did you see a private doctor? I suspect you just did the tests? Ask for a private referral and see an endo. I was on antidepressants too but they did not help my dry itchy skin, my tiredness, foggy head, bad memory etc etc etc. I only felt better when I got my Levothyroxine dose right. If they tell you (lime me) you need antidepressants, how come I don't feel depressed not I have been given thyroid treatment at the correct for me dose!?! Feeling so angry when reading all these messages of people getting ignored as the NHS cannot be bothered. I am shocked how little most GPs know about this and just go on the NHS page and do what it said on it. No independent knowledge or opinion based on the patient sitting in front of them...

[Kmunro in reply to pgdw]

Thank you for this, yes it was private tests, not doctor. I have the list of private doctors but unfortunately none in Scotland! I’m not on anything, as GP won’t acknowledge the antibodies - he had to look it up to see what it meant. Told me doesn’t require treatment and repeat bloods.

You’re right it is shocking how little they know - and how disinterested they are in finding out. I surely can’t be the only one that’s gone to them with this!

[eeng]

If you decide to see a private endocrinologist make sure to see one recommended by other thyroid sufferers - many endos only know about diabetes. The forum administrators have a list of ones recommended by other forum members. Otherwise it's a waste of about £250.