Please help, new test results

[Steviethetv]

I currently self medicate with half a 150mg Thyrogold capsule each morning, then take a selenium supplement, Better You vitamin D spray, and Holland and Barrett acidophilus at lunch time, then an iron supplement at dinner, and magnesium lotion before bed.

These are some of my blood test results from last week:

TSH: 4.37 (0.27-4.2)

Free T3: 4.3 (3.1-6.8)

Free Thyroxine: 13 (12-22)

Prolactin: 1672 (102-496)

LDL Cholesterol: 2.97 (<3)

HDL Cholesterol: 1.15 (>1.3)

CRP: 4.73 (<5)

Creatinine: 92 (45-84)

EGFR: 60.26 (60-300)

Folate: 3.29 (>3.89)

B12 active: 118 (>37.5)

Vitamin D: 126 (50-175)

Magnesium: 0.96 (0.7-1)

Iron: 14.83 (5.8-34.5)

TIBC: 57.13 (45-72)

UIBC: 42.3 (24.2-70.1)

Transferrin Saturation: 25.96 (20-50)

Ferritin: 58.5 (13-150)

Basophils: 0.12 (0-0.1)

I was advised to take omega 3 to improve HDL levels, so am looking at algae forms of supplement as I am vegetarian. Does anyone know of a good one? I am also going to supplement with folate. When would be the best time to add these supplements? Maybe at lunch with the selenium, vitamin D and acidophilus?

My CRP and creatinine always seem to be at the top of the range which concerns me. I am trying to lose weight through gentle exercise and eating healthier so am hoping this might help, though any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated

I am also quite concerned that the prolactin is so high. I know this can be a result of stress and hypothyroid, but am worried it is so high. I am very stressed and depressed at the moment as I try and get back into a career after a break, and am struggling to find anything that works with family life and my health. To be honest I feel like my life lacks any purpose and I never get anywhere.

Thank you so much for all the information on this forum which has got me a long way. Any advice is greatly received as I still have a long way to go. And sorry for the long post too!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested

High prolactin is usually linked to autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's)

See you had half thyroidectomy and GP very unhelpful

Your results suggest you are hypothyroid

SeasideSusie may pop along with more info

[Steviethetv in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon, thank you for your response. I did have antibodies tested too and they were normal:

Thyroglobulin Ab: 11.7 (<115)

TPO: <9 (34)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

TSH: 4.37 (0.27-4.2)

Free T3: 4.3 (3.1-6.8)

Free Thyroxine: 13 (12-22)

These definitely show undermedication.

Is there a reason why you are only taking half a capsule of Thyrogold?

Folate: 3.29 (>3.89)

This is below range so technically folate deficiency. You should speak with your GP who should look into this and may prescribe folic acid. Folic acid doesn't suit everyone, so if it doesn't suit you then you can use methylfolate. I wouldn't self-supplement without discussing this with your GP.

B12 active: 118 (>37.5)

This result is fine.

Vitamin D: 126 (50-175)

This is within the range recommended by the Vit D Council/Vit D Society - 100-150nmol/L so is OK. You should aim to maintain this level or even improve to l150nmol/L. Are you also taking Vit K2-mk7 as an important cofactor of D3? This is needed because 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.

Magnesium: 0.96 (0.7-1)

Magnesium tests are unreliable so there's no way of knowing if this result is accurate.

Iron: 14.83 (5.8-34.5)

TIBC: 57.13 (45-72)

UIBC: 42.3 (24.2-70.1)

Transferrin Saturation: 25.96 (20-50)

Ferritin: 58.5 (13-150)

These are optimal iron results according to: web.archive.org/web/2018083...

Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours is 31.46% so it's low.

Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours is 25.96% so it's low.

TIBC (total iron binding capacity): Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron - yours is 44.93% so it's a bit lower than mid-range

Ferritin: 58.5 (13-150)

Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range although I've seen it said that for females a good level is 100-130 and for males 150.

Basophils: 0.12 (0-0.1)

This is a little over range. I don't know what is considered to be "high" but high basophils can be a sign of chronic infection and can indicate an autoimmune condition, amongst other things I suppose.

I'm afraid that I can't comment on the results that I haven't mentioned.

[Steviethetv in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie, thank you for your reply, it is really helpful.

I was taking a 150mg capsule of ThyroGold a day but became overmedicated (high heart rate and anxiety) and had these results: TSH <0.01 (0.27-4.2), T3 9.6 (3.1-6.8), and T4 26.6 (12-22), so decided to split the capsules. Perhaps I need to find a middle ground.

Can I ask why it is better to take folate with GP advice rather than self supplement?

When I started supplementing I was quite deficient in vitamin D (I think my level was in the twenties if I remember right), but now take the better you spray with Vit K2 after reading about it on this forum and my level is rising nicely.

That's interesting on the iron. The blood sample was taken on day 1 of my cycle so I wonder if it may have been a bit lower as a result? Do I need to keep supplementing with iron on those results? Should I try and increase to improve my levels in the range?

Thank you so much

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Steviethetv]

I was taking a 150mg capsule of ThyroGold a day but became overmedicated (high heart rate and anxiety) and had these results: TSH <0.01 (0.27-4.2), T3 9.6 (3.1-6.8), and T4 26.6 (12-22), so decided to split the capsules. Perhaps I need to find a middle ground.

There's a very big difference in your results when you consider it's just half a capsule difference in dose. I'm wondering whether you have Hashi's. I would get a full thyroid panel to include thyroid antibodies.

Can I ask why it is better to take folate with GP advice rather than self supplement?

Because it is "Folate Deficiency" and further investigation may be needed by your GP. Yuu can have folate deficiency without B12 deficiency.

NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary B12/Folate Deficiency - it's worth reading through the menu on the left hand side:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

That's interesting on the iron. The blood sample was taken on day 1 of my cycle so I wonder if it may have been a bit lower as a result? Do I need to keep supplementing with iron on those results? Should I try and increase to improve my levels in the range?

I have no idea if testing on a certain day of your cycle is best. I do know that an iron panel should be done after a 12 hour fast.

I'm afraid I don't advise on iron supplements, iron is complicated and I don't know enough to say one should take iron tablets, which is why you will always see my replies about low ferritin suggest eating iron rich foods.

[Steviethetv in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for that, I have a lot to think about

[greygoose]

If I were you, I'd forget cholesterol, it's the least of your problems. Why do you want to 'improve' your HDL level anyway? Looks good to me.

Cholesterol is a complete red herring, designed to take your mind off the fact that you are under-medicated for your thyroid. And, there's no such thing as 'good' and 'bad' cholesterol, anyway.

[Steviethetv in reply to greygoose]

Hi greygoose, thank you for that. I must admit I am woefully unaware of matters relating to cholesterol levels and will defo look into it. So if I manage to get the NDT right then my cholesterol should hopefully improve? I am still keen to add omega 3 as my joints are very achy of late, does that sound sensible?

[greygoose in reply to Steviethetv]

I'm afraid I know nothing about omega 3.

As for the cholesterol, a) I can't see what's wrong with your levels and b) it doesn't matter anyway. HDL and LDL aren't even cholesterol. They're the protein carriers. Have look at this:

spacedoc.com/articles/50-fa...

[Steviethetv in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for that link, I have only read a few of the points so far, but it looks like a lot of good information to take on board.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies so getting thyroid ultrasound scan is recommended

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Your B12 is good...do you supplement?

Folate deficient. Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be more beneficial than just folic acid (GP will only ever prescribe folic acid as it's much cheaper)

.

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Igennus Super B complex are nice small tablets. Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks

Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Being hypothyroid causes higher cholesterol. Once levels are better cholesterol should improve

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[Steviethetv in reply to SlowDragon]

That's interesting on the antibodies, I didn't know that, thank you.

I don't supplement B12 at all so was pleasantly surprised at that result too. I was looking at maybe supplementing with Solgar folate tablets and retesting in a couple of months, though will look into the supplements and information you provided as that could be a better option. I guess I should probably think about trying my GP with my current results for what its worth.

That is good to know on cholesterol level too, hopefully I can get my thyroid optimally treated and see an improvement in time.