Any advise on my latest blood results please!

[Duckegg2]

Hi,

I posted a few weeks ago with results following a Medichecks Ultra vit blood test, the results were as follows -

TSH 3.14 (0.27 - 4.20)

Free thyroxine 14.4000 (12.000 - 22.000)

Free T3 4.71 (3.10 - 6.80)

25 OH VITAMIN D 94.7 (50.00-200.00)

Folate (serum) >19.8 (3.89-26.80)

As some members suggested I had another blood test (Medichecks thyroid test), took bloods at 9am after fasting. My results have come back as follows -

TSH 3.01 (0.27 - 4.20)

Free thyroxine 13.2 (12.000 - 22.000)

Free T3 4.69 (3.10 - 6.80)

Thyroglobulin antibody 10.2 (<115)

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies <9 (<34)

As some of the levels have decreased, I'm not sure how to interpret this results, therefore I'd really appreciate any feedback please.

Thanks so much in advance

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

HI Duckegg2

Your thryoid antibodies are low so that result doesn't indicate autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashi's).

There is very little difference in your TSH, FT4 and FT3. One might have expected a higher TSH with a fasting 9am test. These results are euthyroid (normal) although a TSH over 3 means your thyroid is starting to struggle and your FT4 level is low in range. You could be on the way to hypothyroidism but nothing will be done until your TSH is over range.

From your previous post

25 OH VITAMIN D 94.7 (50.00-200.00)

Folate (serum) >19.8 (3.89-26.80)

These are good, although the Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L and the Vit D Society recommends 100-150nmol/L so you're just shy of that.

Active b12 84.400 (37.50-188.00)

If this was below 70 then testing for B12 deficiency would be advised. Personally, I would want mine higher in range, I'd be aiming for half way (112.75) but that's just my opinion.

It also stated my transferrin was low (12.4) and ferritin normal (18.7) but towards the lower end of the normal range

What was the range for Ferritin. It's usually something like 13-150 with Medichecks. If this is your ferritin result then it is very low and needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work properly (that is our own as well as replacement hormone), half way through range is recommended.

[Duckegg2 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi there,

Thanks for taking the time to reply and offer advise and making it easy to understand! The range for Ferritin in my original blood test was 13 - 150 so it does seem very low. My transferrin saturation came up with a red warning, the results for that were 12.4 with a range of 20-50. I've started taking 14mg iron each day with orange juice and trying to increase my greens but I'm not sure if that is enough? Do you have any advise on that please?

Thank you again!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Duckegg2]

Iron is complicated and I can't advise on iron tablets.

The optimal results for an iron panel are

rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_...

Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men

Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men

TIBC (total iron binding capacity) or Transferrin: Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron

So if yours was Transferrin Saturation %, then your percentage is low.

If it was Transferrin, then a low results means you don't need additional iron.

You don't have a serum iron result. If your serum iron is already good, then taking iron tablets will possibly push it too high.

So you can see why iron is complicated and why I only ever make suggestions for low ferritin, and that's only ever to help raise that level by eating iron rich foods.

[Duckegg2 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks again for responding. Yes it was Transferrin saturation %. My iron serum result was 8.9 (5.8-34.5) and the link you attached above recommends iron supplements if both these things are low. The TIBC results are at the high end of the scale 71.8 (45-72), as was UIBC which was 62.9 (24.2-70.1), which according to Medichecks means iron deficiency.

I wonder if a trip to the doctors for an iron blood test is needed and see what they recommend?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Duckegg2]

Yes, take these results to your GP, tell him it appears to suggest iron deficency. If he doesn't like it then invite him to do his own tests. Iron panel and full blood count.

The FBC will show if it's iron deficiency anaemia. If it is then there is NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary that suggests treatment and he should follow that.

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...

I would suggest taking 1000mg Vit C with each iron tablet, orange juice may not be enough. It not only helps absorption but also helps prevent constipation.

Take iron at least 2 hours away from any other supplements and medication (if you were on Levo it would be 4 hours).

[Duckegg2 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi, thanks again for your feedback and suggestions. I’ll make an appointment with the doctor and try and get my iron levels more within the correct range.

Thanks so much!