Please can someone advise me if I should either increase my T4 or my T3 , I take 100mg levothyroxine and 20mg Liothyronine twice a day in total .
T4 : 18.2 range 12-22mg
T3: 6.1 range 3.1-6.8mg
TSH : 0.02 range 12-22mg
Results from a month ago
I took the flu nearly four months ago plus sinus infection laryngitis and vertigo . I cannot seem to get well . I have had two sessions of cranio sacral therapy and three sessions of acupunture , plus kinesiology and cupping .
I cannot get well I am so lethargic very dizzy so depressed - fatigue is awful , terrible brain fog and so forgetful . I am also very emotional and irritable all I want is to get well. I also have constant migraines .
I really appreciate all your advice so much . Many thanks .
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There really isn't room to increase your T3 as your FT3 is close to the top of it's range, and FT4 is in fairly high in range for someone on combination therapy. Some of us taki g Levo plus T3 need our levels there, some manage very well with lower FT4.
Thank you so much for your reply it means so much .
I got my levels tested about six weeks ago and since that I have just finished my folic acid which needs retested .
Hope you are keeping well yourself
I cannot seem to get well I have constant vertigo hoarse voice and migraines though voice is improving . I am seeing a dietician on Monday as doc thinks it might help with my migraines .
I would consider an Active B12 test. You can have a good Total B12 test like yours but Active B12 (which is available to be taken up by the cells) can be low. Medichecks do a fingerprick test for that. But first check for signs of B12 deficiency here:
"I couldn’t test b12 active test as I would have to stop b12 tablets for six months I would be more ill ."
That's only if you want a baseline to see what you are holding on to. If you are happy to test Total B12 when supplementing then there is no reason not to test Active B12. It will reflect whether or not you are taking an adequate dose of B12.
When taking B12 supplements it's recommended to take a B Complex as well to balance all the B vitamins.
Your Ferritin is high for someone not supplementing; however, infection can cause raised Ferritin.
I would retest Vit D around March/April to see if you need to adjust your dose of D3. Are you taking D3's important cofactors magnesium and Vit K2-mk7?
Sorry seaside Susie I didn’t realise you could do that . Would my GP test active B12 ?
I don’t take B complex though i do take Thiamine and pyrdoxine plus B12.
I take vitamin d3 the spray and 800iu of fultium . I take magnesium citrate flakes once a week though trying to up to twice and magnesium sleep spray most nights spray .
I don't think NHS routinely does Active B12, I did mine with Medichecks.
Vit K2-mk7 is an important cofactor when taking D3, as is magnesium. 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 tissue where it can be deposited and cause problems. Magnesium helps the body convert D3 into it's usable form.
I feel like a hypochondriac when I ask my consultant for tests as he states clearly on my copy of my letter to Gp patient asked for these tests. Does the gp test mk7 ?
I had to argue with my Gp that my folate even though satisfactory was not right for me . I’m not an argumentative person I don’t like confrontation but I’m finding I have to do that a lot at present with this
condition .
I will try and get b complex though can I still take thiamine and pyrodoxine with them as those are prescribed for me .
I really appreciate all your support and advice thank you so much .
Vit K1 aids blood clotting and it's what they inject new born babies with.
Vit K2 does what I explained above - directs calcium to bones and teeth, etc and is needed when we take D3 for the reason explained.
There are two forms of K2 - MK7 and MK4. Vit K2-mk7 is the recommended form we should take as a cofactor of D3.
Doctors aren't taught about nutrients so have little to no knowledge of many vitamins and probably have no idea that when we supplement with some vitamins certain cofactors are needed because they work alongside of them.
So you can't get it tested because there is no test and you can't get it on prescription.
"I will try and get b complex though can I still take thiamine and pyrodoxine with them as those are prescribed for me ."
As you have those vitamins prescribed then there is obviously something going on that you haven't mentioned, so I would forget about the B Complex, it may give you too much of the other B vitamins that you have prescribed.
The better spray vitamin d3 has k2 in it as well I take four sprays on my tongue. I think I will go to see gp this week get thyroid tested again and can’t get iron tested until I’m week off folate and b12 .
Someone on here suggested I stop t3 I’m over medicated would u agree ? I am having heart palpitations now too and very erractic though I thought with slipping between hypo and hyper I would have stacks of energy .
So I'm wondering if you have got your results mixed up and have given the older results instead of your current ones? Or in fact, are the older results your most recent and you don't actually have any new test results?
Apologies I think u are right Sept was the last time I got my thyroid tested . I will get it tested this week and know for certain what my ranges are . Sorry my brain fog is not good.
Hi Angie56. From what your previous posts have stated, something unusual is definitely going on here. Iron overload (high ferritin) can cause very similar symptoms to iron deficiency: fatigue, dizziness, and those who get dizziness from high iron are often inclined to have headaches or migraines. However, your current 180 (13-150) is from being prescribed too much iron is not technically iron overload. It's barely over range and in absence of the rest of your iron values and where they stand, we don't have the complete picture. You've had high ferritin even up to 401 for the last 4 years. In all of the times that your ferritin was too high, was it only because doctors had you on too high of iron tabs for too long? These doctors keep mismanaging your iron levels by giving you too much, then too little iron tabs. Then you have your ferritin and haemoglobin swinging between too low and too high, if I am reading this correctly? This just makes me sad and mad that they are doing this and not trying to get a diagnosis. Not one doctor has tried to get to the bottom of what is causing your iron storage issues and other health problems?
Whoever is prescribing you large doses of iron for the last few years and not finding the cause of your blood problems is mismanaging your dosing and your ferritin levels, and they are contributing to making you sick. Too much iron can damage your organs whether it is caused by someone overdosing you on iron, or if it caused by something within your body. Whoever is giving you iron should not just be cavalierly throwing high doses of iron at you without very close monitoring, then allowing your levels to suddenly drop too low. You should never be made to swing back and forth at all, and they have you swinging really far each direction. The fact that they have you swinging so far each direction and feeling sick for years lets you know they are not managing you correctly.
When your ferritin drops too low, how low does it go? In your post a few months ago you'd previously had low haemoglobin. How low does your haemoglobin get and for how many years? Has your haemoglobin been closely monitored and tested monthly since? Is it stable? When you get your ferritin tested, do they also test a full iron panel every time? Considering your history, they need to be. The results can help diagnose what is actually going on here. Five months ago when you had low haemoglobin, they put you on high iron tabs for 3 months and then your ferritin was 180. That was three months ago. In this post you said you said you haven't taken any iron. Do you mean that for the last three months you haven't taken any iron and your ferritin is still currently 180, or is 180 from a test a few months ago?
One thing that you mentioned in a post a few years ago that stands out is that you had swollen lymph nodes for a year. A year is a very long time to have swollen lymph nodes. Did you receive an ultrasound on your lymph nodes? Are they still swollen now?
Which lymph nodes are or were swollen?
I just cannot believe that with all of these blood issues, swollen lymph nodes, and no doctor is trying to diagnose the cause? I read in one of your older posts that one of your family members has some sort of a blood disorder? Have you seen a hematologist and been tested to see if you have any type of genetic blood disorder? You can have primary iron overload if you have hemochromatosis (genetic), but that is this sort of iron overload is not caused by iron supplementation and the levels don't go down on their own. You can also have secondary iron overload caused by other conditions and diseases. Do you happen to have diabetes? Do you have kidney or liver disease? Do you drink alcohol? Two years ago you had your ferretin was up to 211 after some doctor put you on iron tabs because your ferritin was low for 3 months. You also noted that you had two kidney infections. Two kidney infections is a lot to have in a lifetime, let alone in one year. Have your kidney levels been tested and scanned several times since then and are your levels all normal? Has it been eliminated that you don't have hepatitis? Recently you had a sinus infection. Were you given antibiotics and did the infection clear? Are there any other infections that you've had?
Are there any other health issues that you're dealing with besides hypothyroidism, haemoglobin and iron problems? What are all of your symptoms that have been going on for months or years? Are there any symptoms that have recently changed?
I have high Ferritin and has been high for over 3 years now. I don't take any supplements and I did think it was caused by inflammation because my CRP was over 9 but that has dropped now to just over 5. I don't feel ill at all and I have asked my GP who told me the time to worry was if it went over 800 because I would have to give blood then to lower it.
You have Graves, right? Graves is what is causing your iron overload. Your inflammation and high CRP isn't helping. That could be from Graves, some other autoimmune disease, or from something else. Iron overload causes organ damage. You don't just wait until your level is 800 before you are allowed to received treatment because organs can start getting damaged way before you reach 800. Your GP doesn't understand that one doesn't wait until organs are damaged for someone with iron overload is treated. In your other post your ferritin was 350 or more? That's a high. Don't let it think it's not harming your body just because it isn't up to 800 yet. Treatment is not just a matter of a random giving of blood. You need to see a hemotologist so they can manage your iron overload correctly. There is a system to letting blood for iron overload. A hemotologist can help you determine if you need to start receiving treatment now, and when you do, how much blood to give and how often.
I have already been told that and I have asked my GP to refer me for a kidney scan because I had kidney stones in 2005 and was admitted to hospital. I think it has something to do with that so I want it checked out to see if any are hanging around in there. Thanks for your concern btw
Hope you are well , thank you so much I appreciate your advice .
I lost my job nearly two years ago in civil service though it was a stressful job . My mum took very ill around that time and within the last five years either my mum or dad were ill.
My mum has pernicious anaemia and was taken off b12 injections levels dropped to 200, though thankfully it took a year but got back on it .
Docs say I’m under a lot of stress and that’s why I am sick all the time .
I have constant ear infections get antibiotics then it comes back again . I took the flu four months ago plus sinus infection and vertigo . The nasal spray I was given swelled my vocal cords it was so painful , my voice is still coming back and I’m a singing teacher .
I haven’t had my iron tested in a few months which was 180 at that time and I did have the flu .
I was given folate tablets a month ago as even though it was satisfactory I felt awful .
My swollen lymph nodes keep coming back though I got scan done in December and it’s not nodules though it’s been kept eye on for a year .
I am so stressed depressed , shaky weak fatigued vertigo is horrendous and migraines . I feel like heavy weight is on my head all the time .
I have had three sessions of acupunture now plus cranio sacral therapy which helped the sinuses .
I have stopped yoghurt , ice cream, coleslaw mayonnaise to see if it helps.
Someone else on this site has suggested I stop t3 and take only t4 what do u think ?
I was thinking of contacting my consultant though he said in October that I was run down . All they see is stress as I’m caring for my mum as I’m only child and all I want is to work .
Doc says im under stress attack on my body all the time as it’s what I have been used too this last number of years .
Hi Angie56. You're very welcome. It's morning where I'm at. I am doing well, thank you. How lovely that you are a singing teacher! I'm sorry that your vocal cords swelled from nasal spray. What was in the nasal spray that they give you that caused swelling?
That doctor is full of bunk, writing you off as if this is normal and because it's what you are used to. That's like telling a hypo patient that being hypo and feeling horrible is normal and that they don't need treatment because they are "used to it". Your doctor is doing you no favors not diagnosing what is causing all of your infections. There is ALWAYS a reason, and it is always treatable. It is true that stress suppresses your immune system, but it appears something else is going on. Lymph nodes should not be swollen for years and years. This is not normal. You either have an untreated major infection somewhere or you have something else causing your lymph nodes to swell. Have you routinely had a complete blood count and a comprehensive metabolic panel tested? What do these tests show? I take it your doctor has not referred you to any specialists so that you can be diagnosed, treated, and healthy again?
Having lots of ongoing infections is very concerning. The fact that whatever type of doctor that you are seeing doesn't have the skills and knowledge to get to the bottom of what is causing these infections and to cure you of the infections means they should not be trying to treat you. An immunologist is the type of doctor who diagnoses and treats patients who have ongoing infections. Have you ever had your immunoglobulins tested? You don't need a specialist to run these tests. Immunoglobulins are the part of your immune system that responds to fight off bacteria, viruses, fungus, toxins and allergens, and heal injuries. Each one plays a specific role in your immune system. The main ones called IgG, IgM and IgA. There are several others, but these are the most important ones and the ones routinely tested when someone has an immune system problem. Depending upon your results, you might receive other tests. Another consideration is that you don't have antibodies for the bacteria that are causing these infections. In another post, there was discussion about receiving pneumoccocal or pneumonia shots. Have you ever had this shot? It is not only for pneumonia. The same bacteria that causes pneumonia also causes ear, sinus, blood infections and meningitis. You can have a blood test to see if you have antibodies against the 23 serotypes of this bacteria. Based on the amount of ongoing infections you have, you probably don't have good immunity against the bacteria causing your infections, otherwise they wouldn't keep occurring. If you don't have adequate antibodies, that can be fixed with an inoculation and then you should have less infections, unless something else is going on with your lymph system. Are you up to date on all of your other jabs?
Your headaches and dizziness could be related to an untreated infection, your iron status being either too high or too low, or something else. Migraines could be caused by something in your diet. Certain foods and drinks should not be consumed if you get migraines. What do you eat and drink?
I'd have to know the details about your thyroid disease before I could comment on your meds. Can you share details about your thyroid disease? What are your symptoms? You take "20mg Liothyronine twice a day in total". It's mcg, not mg. Does this mean that you take 20 mg twice a day and the total is 40 mcg? Migraines and fatigue could be caused by sleep problems. How is your sleep hygiene? You could have sleep apnea and not even know it. If you have weight gain and edema and are hypo, this compound sleep apnea.
What was the reason that someone thought that you should lower your T3? Do you have symptoms that your T3 is too high for you?
I am from Northern Ireland . I went to see an Endocrinologist privately five years ago he was a god send . At the time I was eight and half stone very ill . He put me on vitamin D , increased my levothyroxine from 50mcg to 75 and finally last year to 100mcg . He also introduced t3 as I had never heard of Liothyronine . I take 20mg in total split in half morn and afternoon .
He also told me I needed b12 tablets and to take them permanently plus thiamine and b5 ..
I saw him in October just before I took the flu and he said I was taking a dose I was very run down .
As for the lymph nodes as a singer and teacher which I love it effects my voice. My Gp is not concerned she says it’s result of flu and stress . I can’t mind the name of the spray as I threw it out as it was getting to the stage of possibly closing off my throat . I will find out from the doc the name of it ..
I did get my full blood count it was satisfactory though either my folate b12 or haemoglobin seem to be low . I asked about ferritin doc said it was cause of infection .
I did get antibodies tests in October they were fine I was told .
I don’t know what metabolic panel testing is sorry .
I’m not sure if I have been tested for immunoglobulin .
My symptoms are extreme fatigue , brain fog , migraines , stressed to the max , vertigo , palpitations off and on .
I just want to be well , I am so thankful to all the helpful advice . Thanks so much .
You are entitled to see your results because it is the law. Don't just take your Doctors word for it because they sometimes get it wrong. I am half Irish and I did wonder why I had this disease and then I found this.
Hi Lora7 again , thanks for the article it’s very interesting . I can get my results from doctor I just forgot what vitamin d was . Gp is quite good though doesn’t like me questioning her as I go by what my consultant says .
Hope you are well as cal be with this condition .😊
Yikes. Near as I can tell, my Irish ancestors made it to the colonies back in the 1600 or 1700s. I have red highlights. Three of my grandchildren have red hair. But not freckles.
I have pale skin with some freckles and light green eyes and I used have black hair (dyed blonde now) so typical celtic coloring. Some of the ladies I used to chat to in the US told me that some of them were related to the native american indians and the reason they thought they had thyroid disease was because they went through starvation years ago.
Hi Angie56. You won the lottery of endocrinologists if you found one that knows the importance of T3. I take T4 and T3, too. "He put me on vitamin D". Without knowing the lab range of your Vitamin D, 70 could be low, normal or high. If I understand, he put you on 800iu every day? 800 iu is a low dose. "I saw him in October just before I took the flu and he said I was taking a dose I was very run down .". Can you explain more? He said you were taking a dose of "?" and that was making you very run down?
Your thyroid disease may or may not be contributing to your symptoms. Having chronic infections, chronically enlarged lymph nodes, and iron regulation issues for years without any diagnosis of the cause of these health problems is the biggest concern.
What I am hearing you say in all of your posts is that your doctors are blaming all of your health problems on stress and having infections and they are ignoring your chronically enlarged lymph nodes. They are doing nothing to get to the cause of the infections and they are not eliminating these infections. Is this how patients are supposed to be treated?
Your GP is very wrong not to be concerned about your health. That is her job. Why is she dismissing you, not treating your illness correctly and hurting you by not resolving your health problems? Why has she not referred you to a specialist? Your lymph nodes should not be enlarged for years. They shouldn't even be for many months. You shouldn't have ongoing infections year after year. She is proving that it is way out of her league to be able diagnose or treat whatever is really causing your illnesses, year after year. Having ongoing infections is not helping your thyroid antibodies either, it is helping to keep them elevated and none of this is helping your thyroid.
The only way to get better is to find out exactly what is causing all of your infections and chronically swollen lymph nodes. This is not going to happen with your GP or endocrinologist. Chronically swollen lymph nodes are biopsied to rule out tuberulosis and blood cancer. I am not trying to be an alarmist. Your GP should know that chronically swollen lymph nodes can mean certain types of cancer and are not to be ignored. I am not saying that you have cancer. You probably do not. You have ongoing infections, chronically enlarged lymph nodes, problems regulating iron levels, lots of various symptoms and your doctors are doing nothing to resolve these problems. Is there any chance that you have been exposed to anyone with tubuculosis that you know of? Has your GP tested you for tuberculosis yet? It presents similar to the flu in the beginning and can cause swollen lymph nodes. Have you had any imaging of your chest or abdomen that showed enlarged lymph nodes? Your symptoms could also mean that you have a certain type of anemia that causes swollen lymph nodes, and your other symptoms. This type of anemia is always caused by something else.
Hemotologist are specialists that diagnose and treat causes of low hemoglobin, low ferritin causes and iron malabsorption, and other blood disorders. Immunologists are specialists that diagnose and treat immune system problems, some lymph system disorders, the cause of chronic infections. Your GP is a generalist who knows a little bit of information about a lot of health subjects, but she is not equipped to diagnose and treat serious chronic conditions.
Some of your symptoms could be related to constantly having your iron swing from low to high. Low iron will absolutely cause fatigue, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations, and frequent infections because iron is needed for a healthy immune system. Having high iron can cause the same symptoms. If you are not able to maintain stable iron levels on your own, your body is telling you that something is not quite right.
A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) tests electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, CO2), kidney values (creatinine and BUN), liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, bilirubin), proteins, calcium and glucose.
I had stopped taking my vitamin D for several months so when I saw consultant in October he prescribed 800Iu which was before result of 70 as he said it was possibly low . Apologies he meant I was taking a dose as in a virus which ended up being the flu .
I have no idea if anyone had TB I teach kids and adults and I am in community centre and primary schools so I have no idea .
I am not sure if my Gp will test all those things you have mentioned . I did say to my Gp could I have lymphatic cancer and she said no the scan showed there was no sign of this . I haven’t had any other scans or xrays no .
I have upped my vitamin D over this last month to 800iu and also the better be spray plus in the last few days I have increased vitamin c to 5000mg as my kinesiologist told me to increase it .
I did get my CRP tested and white cells which were fine .
Gosh it’s so complicated and confusing this condition . I really do appreciate all your helpful advice thank you .
Thanks for your reply I really appreciate it . Apologies dose in Ireland can mean both in terms of medication and catching an illness like the flu which was mine . 😊
Thank you so much I have just read the article though I am not pregnant thoug from what I take from this you should take folic acid whether pregnant or not.
If those were my results on combination of Levo plus T3 they would be about right for me so I wouldn't have to change anything with my thyroid meds.
Folate 20. Range 3.9/ 26.8
B12. 1207. Range 197/771
These are fine.
Your B12 is over range so as our B12 store is good for at least 2 years there's no need for a separate B12 supplement currently.
Your folate level has improved with taking the folic acid. Is the prescription going to continue? You may be fine with a B complex now, choose one with a low level of B12.
Ferritin 137. Range 13-150
Iron profile 11.5 range 10/30
Iron saturation 25.2. Range 30/40 per cent .
Ferritin has reduced since last test which would seem to be good.
Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range. It can be raised due to inflammation or infection.
Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men, so yours is very low.
Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men, so yours is a bit low.
Iron is complicated and looking at other posts in this thread it seems as though your iron has been a problem. This is something I can't help with so can only suggest further discussion with your GP.
I can't help with your reproductive test results, they're not something I have experience of.
I saw my doctor on Tuesday and she said that there is a bug going round which takes months to get over.
I don't know how this would affect any of your results, your GP should explain that if it's likely to.
Thanks so much for your reply Seaside Susie , I appreciate it so much . I might try lamberts bcomplex as can’t afford online at present as I’m not back to work yet .
I do take Thiamine and pyridixine separate should I stop them now if I get B complex ?
Folate is finnished now had a months supply of it - should I now buy some ?
I have increased my vitamin c to 5000mg now I hope this didn’t mess up results . I take double of my vitamin D now also to see if it will help .
I am not sure when I am seeing my consultant though hopefully in the Summer . I have never taken zinc and can’t tolerate selenium .
I do take Thiamine and pyridixine separate should I stop them now if I get B complex ?
Is there a reason you are taking them separately?
What doses are you taking?
I might try lamberts bcomplex as can’t afford online at present as I’m not back to work yet .
Lamberts isn't necessarily cheaper, and buying online isn't necessarily more expensive.
Looking at Lamberts they do B100 and B50. These are not balanced, they have put the same amount (or similar) of each ingredient. They both include 50mcg of B6 (pyridoxine) and that is too much to take on a regular basis. The recommended regular daily level for B6 is 10mcg.
If you want to buy Lamberts then buy Natures Best instead, it's the same people, same tablets, but they are cheaper.
Lamberts do Methyl B Complex which is better than their B100 and B50.
A decent B Complex will say "bioavailable" or "bioactive" forms of ingredients.
I take 100mg of Thiamine I think pyrodoxine is 5mg though have none left of them as just finished box last week . The consultant put me on them due to my vertigo and migraines, and at that time I couldn’t tolerate BComplex , it made me feel more dizzy and pins and needles.
I’m not sure what to do regarding iron as if I take ferrous fumurate it will raise ferritin . I didn’t get haemoglobin tested though it must be ok it folate is good .
Gosh sorry to hear that hopefully they will feel better soon also . I haven’t heard of anyone over here getting it yet . Docs just say it’s virus from the flu four months of it . 😊
I didn't even see a doctor. Not much point. They're ok at the moment, but like me, it keeps coming back - not as bad as at first, but too bad for comfort.
You are having all symptoms of overmedication. I would cut out the T3. Just stick to the T4. You may even only need 88mcg once daily and nothing else. I get severe flu-like symptoms when my TSH gets below2.50. I have to keep mine between like 2.50-4.00. No matter what my t3or t4 levels say. When I tried t3 I was almost bedridden. It maid me so fatigued. And severe migraines because thyroid levels control the rate at which nerves communicate and fire. When you take too much it overstimulates the nerves and that’s what causes the migraine . That’s why hyperthyroidism whether it’s by Graves’ disease or just simply ingesting to high a dose it cane provoke seizures.
Thank you so much for your kind reply . I hope you are feeling better now .
If I stop taking t3 then the gp will stop prescribing them and I may need it in the future . I just feel awful shaky migraines , depression, brain fog ,weak and shaky .
The docs just say it’s virus from flu and that was four months ago . My head feels like there is pressure on it all the time . If I do stop t3 how long will it take to see an improvement ?
Hi JaclynB, your knowledge of migraine cause was interesting to me, I’ve had migraines for too long now and I’m always searching stuff for possible remedies. Thank you for a new lead!
Thank you so much for your reply . I am on 100 mg levothyroxine and t3 20 mg sometimes I don’t take 20 mg just 10. I would be scared to cut down on t4 as that’s the reason t3 was added as I was so ill though guess I feel that way now , brain fog vertigo depressed migraines so weak n fatigued . I wish I knew what the right process was to take .
Hi Angie56, sorry you are feeling rubbish, just had a thought, have you looked at ‘adrenal fatigue’ ? It’s somewhat controversial with regard to its existence, but it can give symptoms of hypothyroidism, even though tests show otherwise. Also, treatment of hypothyroidism can make adrenal fatigue worse if not also addressed. Hope things improve soon, happy reading!
You’ve been taking B12 supplements and your B12 shows that it is well in range. This doesn’t mean that you haven’t still got a B12 deficiency. Do you have a B12 result before you started supplementing? Vertigo and fatigue (once the thyroid is treated) just sounds very much like a B12 deficiency thing.
If you have got a deficiency, then you need B12 injections. Any amount of supplements wont help you.
Thank you so much for your reply I appreciate it . My levels were never less than 500mcg before starting b12 and my comsultant said it needs to be 700 at least .
I will get it tested next week though it means I will have to stop B12 for a week .
My gp just says it’s result of the flu the vertigo and sinus infection .
In Japan, any b12 serum result at 500 or below will be treated with injections. It’s sort of the grey area where deficiency needs to be investigated.
If you are not vegan / vegetarian, you will need injections not supplements, as there will be an absorption problem. An MMA test could be useful here to rule it out.
If you have an autoimmune thyroid disease, it is likely you might have another. If you have P.A., then it’s well known to interfere with the B12 serum test and make it look normal. Here’s a paper on this ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/262...
I am not sure what they test though it’s not active b12 I know that . I don’t have auto immune as my antibodies were ok back in October . I was in good form apart from ear infections and sore throats I was ok before the dreaded flu .
It’s hard to know what to do it’s so complicated . Thanks
This is a useful article to understand about testing for B12 deficiency. The article is by a Dutch centre dedicated to treating B12 deficiency so they’ve seen and treated many patients.
The B12 active or normal serum should be combined with MMA to properly determine if someone is deficient. The active / serum results on their own cannot, and some patients are missed.
They say “Many patients are missed by using only the serum B12 test. Because a B12 deficiency could lead to permanent neurological damage, diagnosis should not only be based on the serum B12 level (unless obviously too low), but MMA should also be tested if a deficiency is suspected. This applies in particular if neurological and/or neuropsychiatric symptoms are present. Experts in medical literature are calling for combining serum B12 (or Active B12) and MMA tests in the event of a suspected B12 deficiency.”
It sounds like maybe the flu has caused your vertigo? If you continue to suffer from vertigo then B12 deficiency is something to investigate.
Thank you Suztango my mum has pernicious anaemia she has so many ups and downs with it I pray I don’t have that as thyroidism is enough . Thank you so much for all your advice it means a lot .
I have hypothyroidism too. And still fiddling with my meds. And I've recently realised I have B12 deficiency. I reacted positively to a B12 injection. And now fighting to get the injections more frequently. So I understand where you're coming from. Hope you feel better soon.
Your thyroid levels look fine, but I assume those are Total numbers (not free) so whether your frees are fine, we don't know. Also I am confused by the "mg" on those ranges. I would expect to see those in pg/ml, ng/dl, nmol, or similar.
Assuming your thyroid is ok, your nutrient levels, other hormones, and food intolerances/allergies are going to have an effect on your immune function. Do you know if you have any autoimmunities, esp. Hashimoto's? If your protein levels are low, your body could be having difficulty making immunoglobulins. How are your albumin, globulins, and Total Blood Protein levels?
Apologies I just wrote the numbers of my t4 , t3, TSH results I forgot to put mcg or the other s.
I don’t have Hashimotos as my antibodies were tested though I have never been tested for protein . I don’t know if I have any allergies though I know I can’t take almonds or peanut butter which makes me so sick , other than that I have no idea .
Many thanks hope you are well yourself as u can be .
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And a "dose" always refers to medication, not an illness.
blood results low platelets?
Help with blood test results please...
Blood test results
Confused by new blood results
