Vitamin b12 deficiency

[Lily2013]

I have been advised I have a vitamin b12 deficiency is this related to the thyroid

[Jazzw]

Hi Lily - it could be, especially if you’re undiagnosed for a while before being found to be hypothyroid or if you’re on an insufficient dose of thyroid replacement hormone.

Low thyroid hormone levels make our guts very unhappy - they just don’t work as well and don’t absorb nutrients as well as they should.

However, low B12 can also occur entirely independently of hypothyroidism - it depends on the cause.

Are you hypothyroid?

[Jazzw]

Just so you’re aware, the pernicious anaemia society forum (which covers all those with low B12 issues) can be found here: healthunlocked.com/pasoc

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jazzw]

Hopping over to the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum is a jolly good idea.

Suggest posting over there because there is so much experience of B12 deficiency and treatments.

[Lily2013]

I had a benign tumour removed in 2012. This left me with not much thyroid left after removal. I have always been underactive, however my last test showed I was over at levels of 32. They reduced my medication to 125 and have now said it is normal but my b12?is low

[Jazzw in reply to Lily2013]

Ah, so it is quite likely to be related to your hypothyroidism being undertreated.

Do you know what your B12 levels were? And folate?

As for thyroid tests being “normal” we often say around here that “normal” is an opinion, not a fact...

We’re always happy to have a look at blood tests results here. While we’re all patients, not doctors, the wealth of knowledge here can be phenomenal.

[Jazzw]

Lily’s now explained that she’s missing much of her thyroid.

[Lily2013]

Sorry for me being stupid too. I always though is was t4 and tsh levels ???? Can you explain please

[greygoose in reply to Lily2013]

T4 is the storage hormone which has to be converted into T3, the active hormone needed by every single cell in your body. It's low T3 that causes symptoms, so the FT3 is actually the most important number, despite what doctors think.

TSH is a pituitary hormone. When the pituitary senses that there isn't enough thyroid hormone in the blood, it increases its output of TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone - to tell the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone. However, the TSH is not a very reliable test, and was never intended to be used on its own, the way most doctors do. You can still be hypo even if your TSH is low.

[Hidden]

Are you vegetarian?

[Lily2013 in reply to Hidden]

No

[Hidden in reply to Lily2013]

That's good, that would make it much harder!

[Lily2013 in reply to Lily2013]

I do eat fish red meat and chicken

[Marz]

How low is low for your B12 ? Was Folate also tested and Ferritin & VitD ? How is your low B12 being treated ? If all your vitals are low then it could indicate an absorption issue so B12 injections would be better. You look very healthy in your pic. 😊

[Lily2013 in reply to Marz]

My levels are 149

[Jazzw in reply to Lily2013]

Oof, that’s very low. So yes, your doctor should have prescribed some B12 loading injections - or at the very least doing some more tests. What’s the doctor said?

With a B12 level that low you’re likely feeling quite poorly.

[Lily2013 in reply to Jazzw]

Starting injections Thursday. What are the symptoms of low b12 please ?

[Jazzw in reply to Lily2013]

See here for symptoms of B12 deficiency: pernicious-anaemia-society....

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Lily2013]

Could you please check that is a Serum B12 test result? And what units.

(That is, confirm it is not an Active B12 test result.)

[Lily2013 in reply to Marz]

My levels are 149 the pic a couple of years ago ..

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just testing TSH and FT4 is completely inadequate

Essential to test FT3

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised or if under medicated

All thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Do not take Levothyroxine dose in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take immediately after blood draw. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

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

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 special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[Tnhundley]

you definitely should be on injections, and you may need them for life if you have Pernicious Anemia. Thyroid issues are closely linked with lack of absorption for B12.

[Eperry]

I have been low in B12 and vit D for years. I've asked the question why is my body not absorbing those vitamins, but nobody has any answers. I think it's related to the thyroid as well. It has to be. I have hasimoto's hypo. I have to get retested this week to check my b12 and D3 and then also my TSH. I was told that my TSH was out of range and that I needed to take 10,000 units a day of D3 and 2,000 b12. About 2 years ago I was getting b12 injections every other week for 3 months and then monthly for another 3 months and I was still considered low. Not real sure if I'm doing enough to make a difference. If anyone else has any other suggestions, I'm all ears.