Private blood test results

[Thelindyloo]

Hi finally got my test results for my self medicating path as not getting anywhere with NHS, please could you advise on my next step

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Thelindyloo

First of all, what thyroid meds are you currently taking? Presumably Levo? If so then your dose is a little low, you need to get TSH down to 1 or below. But we can see that your conversion isn't particularly good but neither are your nutrient levels and they play a key part in thyroid hormone working properly.

You need to take these results to your GP as there are some things that require further investigation.

Assuming that you aren't supplementing anything (please say if you are):

Ferritin is very over range. This could be due to infection or inflammation but if it remains over range then it needs investigation. Your CRP is nice and low in range and that is an inflammation market so it's not actually suggestion inflammation is present.

Your Active B12 is dire. Anything below 70, according to this article, warrants investigation into B12 deficiency

viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...

Check for signs of B12 deficiency here b12deficiency.info/signs-an... then list any that you are experiencing and ask your GP to test for B12 deficiency/pernicious anaemia. You must not supplement with B12 or folic acid/folate/B Complex until further investigation has been carried out as it will mask signs of B12 deficiency.

Folate is low and will eventually need supplementing with a good B Complex, but not until after B12 investigations have been carried out.

Vit D is low and t

he Vit D Council, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health all recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L. It's not low enough at 66.9 for your GP to prescribe anything so you will have to buy your own supplements. For your level the Vit D Council suggests:

To achieve this level ...… Take this much supplement per day

100nmol/L ...... 2000 IU D3 daily

125nmol/L ...... 3700 IU D3 daily

150nmol/L ...... 5800 IU D3 daily

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/

There are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council -

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too.

You have raised thyroglobulin antibodies and your thyroid peroxidase antibodies are half way through range. This suggests autoimmune thyroid disease which I expec was mentioned by Medichecks.

You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

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

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

As you have raised antibodies, it might be best to use an oral spray D3 supplement for best absorption and BetterYou do one.

Before you do anything about self treating for your thyroid, you need to optimise all your vitamins and minerals, ie

Vit D - 100-150nmol/L

B12 - top of range but I suspect you may need B12 injections

Folate - at least half way through range

Ferritin - half way through range

This may help conversion of T4 to T3, but see where your thyroid levels lie once nutrient levels are optimal.

[Thelindyloo in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you so much for this information seasidesusie, I will go the the doctor but I have lost all faith in them ever giving the correct treatment.

I am on Levo 100 when I moved to Somerset 3years ago I was on a dose of 150 my doctor here reduced it to 75 and it was only after changing surgeries because I felt so ill they begrudgingly upped it to 100 and told me they only look at Tsh levels etc etc etc

[Thelindyloo in reply to Thelindyloo]

Forgot to say I’m not supplementing

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Thelindyloo]

Here's some information you can take to support your request for an increase in Levo:

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing Dionne at [e-mail] print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.

Dr Toft also mentions in a more recent article that many thyroid patients are better with a combination of Levo and T3

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

[Thelindyloo in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you I will let you know the outcome of the doctors visit

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Thelindyloo]

Your results show you are under medicated, FT3 is far too low.

As direct result vitamin levels are now low as well

Push your GP for 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine, perhaps as 3 month trial, if they are reluctant

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after.

Many take early morning, on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime.

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like HRT, iron, calcium, vitamin D or magnesium at least four hours away from Levothyroxine

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription. Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients