Updated blood results

[Mourastar]

Hi folks please see attached my previous (MAY 18) and recent (NOV 18) bloods results.

I have asked to be tested for Hashimotis and to have thyroid antibodies tested. I am on 100mg of levo daily and have been supplementing myself with 3000mg B12 Methylcobalamin and 2000iu of D3, a b complex and recently organic ashwagandha 300mg (twice daily) . I have just recently gone gluten free. Any and all thoughts/advice on my numbers would be welcome

results taken on the 4th May 2018

TSH : 4.26 (lab range 0,27 – 4.20)

Free T3 : not tested

Free T4 : 17 ( lab range 12 - 22)

Serum folate 13.1 (3.89 – 26.8)

Serum ferritin : 174.2 (lab range 13-150)

Serum Iron level 22.3 umol/L 10 - 30

Serum Transferrin 2.2 g/L 2. - 3.6

Transferrin saturation index 40.5 -55

Vitamin D 47 (lab range 30- 50)

B12 159 ng/l (191 - 663)

Blood results for 8th Nov 2018

TSH : 3.18 (lab range 0,27 – 4.20)

Free T3 : 4.8 pmol/L (3.1 – 6.8 )

Free T4 : 17.3 ( lab range 12 - 22)

Serum folate 7.4 (3.89 – 26.8)

Serum ferritin : 191.3 (lab range 13-150)

Serum Iron level 22.4 umol/L 10 - 30

Serum Transferrin 2.3 g/L 2. - 3.6

Transferrin saturation index 39 -55

Vitamin D 58 (lab range > 50 nmol/L SUFFICIENT

30- 50 nmol/L Insufficiency

< 30 nmol/L Deficiency

B12 272 ng/l (191 - 663)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

What happened about testing for B12 deficiency/pernicious anaemia? Your level is still very low.

Your Folate is too low, it should be at least half way through range.

Your Vit D is also very low and should be 125nmol.

Your levels aren't improving and it's possible that you may have an absorption problem.

You need optimal nutrient levels for thyroid hormone to work properly.

Why are you taking Ashwagandha? Did you know that it can lower cortisol?

[Mourastar in reply to SeasideSusie]

I asked to be tested for B12 deficiency/pernicious anaemia and was told I was FINE!! (I wasn't, and still only slowly fighting my way back to health) so I will possibly have to look into doing this privately. everything , including testing the T3 and vit D etc is a constant battle. I am concerned that the folate level has dropped & is now very low (any ideas on how to improve this? My ferritin levels are very high which is usually a good indication of inflammation which is why I asked to have TPO & TGA tested. when I suggested the test the Doctor I was seeing (no constancy within my local gp practice so different Dr every time which is VERY frustrating) looked at the computer and said ' oh yes I see your antibodies were very high in 2015!!! first I had heard of it as no one had thought to discuss the results with me, the patient. At the time, once again I was told I was 'fine'.

The reason for the Ashwagandha is because I was feeling quite anxious and stressed lately and felt that it could potentially help with this (so far so good) and the fact that being menopausal (again with no medical support - the exact words the then endocrinologist used were - oh dear you are having a tough time of it ' and left it at that . needless to say I didn't go back to her and decided that it would be up to myself to heal my body) and the fact that my hormones were out of wack. I am currently in the process of trying to gain access to all my medical data since being diagnosed in Feb 2015 as I have only fleetingly (usually in the summer abroad) felt remotely like my old self before I was diagnosed Hypothyroid and the constant poor treatment and lack of knowledge from my local GP practice is frustrating. This forum is an absolute life saver.

,

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Mourastar]

Which B Complex are you taking? It's very strange that your folate level is so much lower now.

Did you ask on the PA forum about your B12 as someone suggested before? They may be able to help with the way forward with your doctor and getting tested/treatment.

I think you need to be careful with the Ashwagandha, if your cortisol lowers too much it will bring further problems.

[Tnhundley]

B12 is WAY too low. Look into self injection!

facebook.com/groups/PAB12DS...

This group is extremely helpful.

[Hidden]

Hi Mourastar

I had never heard of ashwagandha so, being nosy (as usual ) I looked it up.

webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingre...

In the "Side effects" section (link above) it says:

"“Auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Ashwagandha might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using ashwagandha...

...Thyroid disorders: Ashwagandha might increase thyroid hormone levels. Ashwagandha should be used cautiously or avoided if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid hormone medications."

So, as SeasideSusie said, you do need to be careful

[Marymary7]

Better You B12 spray under the tongue seems to work well, or at least the levels seem to come up in further blood tests. It's also in the form of Methylfolate which is easier to assimilate.