Hi.. I have recently been diagnosed with b12, vitamin d and folate deficiency. I originally had private bloods done because doctors weren't listening to my symptoms and also I literally thought I was at deaths door. The thing that was frustrating me was your menopause age! Well you have aches and pains because your in menopause its your age. But I knew something was wrong I was dieting doing sw but not losing weight. So reason I had tests. Then found out my b12 was 58 so private blood tests got me diagnosed not my doctors. Anyway my t4 has always been abnormal my tsh and t3 are in range. So if my t4 is low is that why I can't lose weight? My doctor said I've been borderline ten years but she is refusing to test my t4 and won't accept private tests.
Since having b12 loading doses I don't feel any better for it I know it will take time. All my joints hurt I'm exhausted and so many more issues. I just feel there's more going on with me.
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Lillygirl66
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I think it's so strange that they allow you to pay out of pocket for blood test they refuse to do but won't do a thing with the private blood test you had done at a certified lab, showing you are having issues. Do they think your going to a back room lab.
I know I've never been so frustrated in my life about it all. I went into my doctors and said I want full thyroid test she said she wouldn't be allowed to because my tsh is normal.! I said for some but maybe it's not normal for me but still refused so I'm at a new doctors now.
Thank you I have added them at the start of thread . I'm not sure if it's something I need to speak to doctor about or if it's low its not important enough to worry about.
I'm confused. Your B12 and folate are not low in those results. Was this blood test done after you started supplementing?
Your FT4, on the other hand, is very low. But, are you taking a B complex with your B12, containing biotin? If so, and you didn't stop it a week before the blood draw, then it could have skewed your FT4 result.
OK, but that's not what I asked you. I asked if you were taking biotin - in a B complex, perhaps - people who supplement B12 also need to take a B complex along with their B12, but need to stop it a week before a blood test because it can skew the results. And, I was wondering if maybe that was why the FT4 is so low.
Because the Bs all work together and need to be kept balanced. You don't want too much of any of them, and too little of the others. So, you'll get better results from your B12 if you also take a B complex.
No b complex no biotin. Sorry I'm finding it confusing really I have never had any chat with doctor about any of it. Was told to collect prescription for vitamin d and folate. And I made appointments for b12 injections I'm just trying to learn stuff on the web.
I don't feel well and I've just changed to new doctors and I feel I'm being a hypochondriac and because I don't know enough really don't feel I'm explaining it well to the doctors which means I can be fobbed off.
No, you're not being a hypochondriac. Hypochondriacs are like the Abominable Snowman, they don't exist! If you feel ill it's because something is wrong with you. But, your doctor often isn't well enough educated to make you well or to explain things to you.
The thing with the B vits is that they all work together and need to be kept balanced. So, when people are having B12 shots, they need to take a B complex as well, with all the Bs in it. Not just folic acid - which isn't good, anyway. You need to find a B complex with methylfolate, which will bring your folate up. You can find one on-line. Igennus do a good one.
Your thyroid results are very strange. One would expect your TSH to be high with such a low FT4. But, your FT3 is good. So, what does that tell us? The TSH says your thyroid is struggling. And your FT4 probably says that under the circumstances, the thyroid has opted to make more T3, the active hormone, than T4, the storage hormone, in order to keep you alive. But, that is not a situation that can last forever, so you need to keep testing your thyroid to see what happens.
Your doctor probably just looked at the TSH, saw it was in-range, and therefore considered it was 'OK'. He doesn't have the education to understand the complexities of the situation. Which is why you need to do a lot of reading and learn as much as you can about it all.
I would suggest you start by reading the TUK home site - if you haven't already:
Thank you for your reply your right though definitely not straight forward and I will keep reading up on it all and hopefully my new doctors will be more on the ball.
why has your doctor not referred you to a Thyroid consultant who should be qualified to sort out your thyroid issue instead of you having to struggle finding out information ?
Is this reply for me or for Lillygirl66? Because you actually replied to one of my comments. Even if it's not for me, I have to say that she would be very lucky to find a thyroid consultant qualified to sort out thyroid issues. They're as rare as hens' teeth. Most endos consultants are diabetes specialists and know little to nothing about thyroid.
First step is to get full Thyroid and vitamin testing ......most are forced to test privately
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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
About 80% of primary hypothyroidism is due to autoimmune thyroid disease
Ask new GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies
You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
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 all vitamins
Cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )
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
Lillygirl 66 can I ask was your vitamin b12 ( assume active as medichecks ) 58 prior to you starting on vitamin b12? Mine was 55 with all symptoms.... although need a thyroxine rise so ? If that but they said b12 fine . Thanks
You should both look at b12d.org as 59 is low, just not NHS low. Also advice on other important vitamin levels, how to take supplements, other systems that can be effected etc. Also, you can get something called ‘reversing out’ when the B12 starts to fix things, which can seem like a worsening of symptoms. There’s a free e-book on the site, loaded with case studies and information or you can get a copy for about £5 from Amazon.
Your cortisol and DHEA are very low - almost Addisons. I would investigate this further. I’d advise a 4 pt cortisol saliva test with DHEA eg the one from Regenerus (not Medichecks as they don’t include DHEA).
Exactly. Low cortisol means that any FT3 you have will not be as effective. Each cell needs FT3 and cortisol (makes glucose I believe) to make the energy
I am similar ages and had similar symptoms (fatigue, brain fog, joints) plus very dry skin, brittle hair and nails... Started oestrogen and progesterone supplementation and it eliminated practically all the symptoms.
Low folate- GP is prescribing folic acid. But ....Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be more beneficial.
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
I have decided to take my results to doctor after work and take it from there. Thank you all so much for your response. I will let you know how it goes.
says at paragraph 8.2 :Where the same diagnostic, monitoring or other procedure is needed for both the NHS element of care and the private element, the NHS should provide this free of charge as part of the patient’s NHS entitlement and share the results with the private provider if necessary. Where the same diagnostic, monitoring or other procedure is needed for both the NHS element of care and the private element, the NHS should provide this free of charge as part of the patient’s NHS entitlement and share the results with the private provider if necessary. Patients should not be unnecessarily subjected to two sets of tests or interventions.
I think that this implies that if you have some private tests, the NHS GP should accept them. The final sentence says it all.
Beware that the emphasis of this document is to ensure separation of NHS and private practice for doctors and prevent conflicts of interests.
In any case the GMC in the Code of Practice for doctors "Good Medical Practice" at paragraph 16 (b) require a doctor to "provide effective treatments based on the best available evidence".
If the lab and specific test is properly accredited with UKAS then the doctor should accept the results of the tests.
T4 t3 or ft4 ft3? B problems can be the MTHR gene causes problems w b absorption. Head on over to fb pages Stop the thyroid madness or adrenal fatique and thyroid care. Tons of info on those sites. I'm working my way to wellness. Not there yet but soooo much better than I was. They will help you
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