Haven’t been on here for a while, although I do check in now and again. Reason for this post is I am a bit confused about my symptoms and don’t know if it’s thyroid related or lack of nutrients.
I have developed dry eye and my hair was falling out quite a bit but was regrowing my hair texture has changed to very dry and from wavy hair to having a head full of tight curls, this changed a year and a half ago, I did have my blood done in May 2019 this test was done while changes were happening to my hair, my results came back fine and not really anything to worry about. I get tired throughout the day and sometimes when sitting down I can fall asleep without me even knowing am about to nod off. I have been suffering with headaches and migraines quite often, I think that could also be related to dry eye. I get the odd aches and pains and then other days am fine.
I was diagnosed with Polymialgia April 2017 and I am now just down to taking 1/2 of Prednisone a day and doing ok.
I have recently been put on Vit D by my GP as I was quite low in Nov 19. I do supplement with B12 and Omega 3 and MK7. I have bought B-Complex, Magnesium and Tumeric and thinking of taking them.
Anyone got any thoughts
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misschris
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Your CRP is high, this is an inflammation marker and if you had doctor's comments with your results this would have been mentioned. Maybe it's the polymyalgia that's causing this.
Folate is low, I'd want mine in double figures, the B Complex will help this. Hopefully you've bought a good quality bioavailable one containing methylfolate and methylcobalamin rather than folic acid and cyanocobalamin, good brands recommended here are Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B.
B12 is OK, I'd want mine over 100. How much B12 are you taking? Is it methylcobalamin? The Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B may now be enough without taking a separate B12. You should have been taking a B Complex all along when supplementing with B12 as it's needed to balance all the B vitamins.
Vit D is still very low. The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L. How much D3 are you taking? To reach the recommended level from your current level you will need 5,000iu D3 daily and it needs to be in an absorbable form such as oil based softgels or oral spray rather than the poorly absorbed tablets or capsules.
Retest in 3 months and when you've reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose to keep it there, which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public:
Doctors don't know, because they're not taught much about nutrients, but there are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and Vit 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.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray.
Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.
All your thyroid results are good. The aim of a treated hypo patient, when on Levo only, is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their ranges, your FT4 is 72% through range and your FT3 is 60% through range.
I am under a Rheumatologist for CRP and bloods were taken end of Oct 19 my next follow up app is end of the month, so I should get my results to see if CRP has come down but in meantime GP has been lowering my dose and am ready to come off them.
The B-Complex I have are Nutri-Ark:
Vit B12 (as Methylcobalamin)
Folic Acid (as Calcium L-Methylfolate)
The Magnesium are Swanson:
100% Pure Magnesium Citrate Powder.
I haven’t started these yet, not sure if I need to get blood test done first to see if I need to supplement.
I did manage to get my GP to give me an increase in Levothyroxine to see if it helps the symptoms, that was Nov last year, I have to have bloods done January to see if I carry on with the increase. I went from 125mg a day to taking 150mg alternative days.
No point in testing magnesium, it's an unreliable test so just supplement anyway as most of us are low in magnesium. Did you check to see which form of magnesium suits your needs best? Be aware that magnesium citrate can have laxative properties so the best form of that is the powder form then it can be started at a low dose and built up gradually.
The B Complex isn't particularly well balanced, it's basically a B25 where virtually everything is 25mg. However it has the correct forms of B12 and folate albeit quite a low dose of B12 at 100mcg. If your folate level doesn't improve much within 3 months I'd change to one of the brands I mentioned above as it has 400mcg at the recommended serving whereas yours has only 200mcg.
Also, be aware that B Complex can turn urine bright yellow, it's the B2, Riboflavin, that causes that.
As it contains Biotin (as does most, if not all, B Complex supplements) then remember to leave it off for 7 days before any blood tests. If the lab uses Biotin in the testing procedure (most do) then taking Biotin in any form will give false results.
I have just looked up all forms of magnesium and the one I have (magnesium citrate) is mostly for constipation and can help relieve anxiety and depression, it won’t harm taking it. I think the magnesium oxide would probably be better for me as I do get migraines, I will try the one I’ve got and if I feel no difference I will try the oxide.
As for the B-Complex I have I will also try that and if my folate level doesn’t change I will look into getting one that you have suggested. I will have my blood test taken first before I start my supplements as I am due to have it done this month.
Thank you for your advice, it’s great when you can turn to someone who has more experience, I love this site, I have learnt lots from you lovely people. Keep up the good work...we need sites like these as GP’s don’t give you all the information needed to help you look after yourself properly .
No, I had not seen the links, I have just opened the links and they have fantastic information about which Magnesium are best for your needs. I like drjockers because he really explains them all and what they are for, I am going to read them properly later to see which one I would benefit from.
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What nutrient tests would you recommend please?
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