Update (3): Finally have my blood test results... - Thyroid UK

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Update (3)

ShelWhitt profile image
10 Replies

Finally have my blood test results:

CRP HS 1.65. (<0-5)

Ferratin 97.4 ugl (13 - 150)R

Folate serum 2.19 ugl/L (>3.89)R * Low

Vit. B12 Active 53.2 pmol/L (>37.5)R * ?? low

Vit. D 50.7.nmol/L (50 -175)R * Borderline

Thyroid TSH 5.58 m/U/L (0.27 - 4.2)R * High

Free T3 2.93 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)R * Low

Free Thyroxine 16.5 pmol/L (12 - 22)R

Thyroglubulin Antibodies 14.2 kU/L (<115)R

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 57.1 kU/L (<34)R * HIgh

I would appreciate it, please, if you could assess these results and let me know what you think? I have marked the obvious abnormalities! Thanks in advance , to Marz and anyone else who would like to have an input!

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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

ShelWitt

CRP HS 1.65. (<0-5) - this is a good result, CRP is an inflammation marker and is quite low in range.

*

Ferratin 97.4 ugl (13 - 150)R - this is a good result, ferritin should be 55-70% through range (higher end for men) according to web.archive.org/web/2018083... and yours is 61.61%.

*

Folate serum 2.19 ugl/L (>3.89)R * Low - this is way too low see:

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-b12...

Folate level

◦Serum folate of less than 7 nanomol/L (3 micrograms/L) is used as a guide to indicate folate deficiency.

◦However, there is an indeterminate zone with folate levels of 7–10 nanomol/L (3–4.5 micrograms/L), so low folate should be interpreted as suggestive of deficiency and not diagnostic

Your level is too low for the indeterminate zone and is firmly in the zone (less than 3ug/L) which is used as a guide to indicate folate deficiency. See your GP as he needs to address this.

*

Vit. B12 Active 53.2 pmol/L (>37.5)R * ?? low - this is too low. Active B12 below 70 suggests testing for B12 deficiency according to Viapath at St Thomas' Hospital:

viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...

Reference range:>70. *Between 25-70 referred for MMA

Your GP may not accept this as technically your level is "within range", so check for signs of B12 deficiency here:

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

If you have any then list them to discuss with your GP and ask for testing for B12 deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia. Do not take any B12 supplements or folic acid/folate/B Complex supplements before further testing of B12 as this will mask signs of B12 deficiency and skew results.

Your GP may prescribe folic acid for your folate deficiency, this must not be started before further testing of your B12 and the commencement of B12 injections/supplements.

*

Vit. D 50.7.nmol/L (50 -175)R * Borderline - this is too low. The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L. Your GP wont prescribe anything for this level but you'll be better off self supplementing anyway.

To reach the recommended level from your current level, based on the Vit D Council's suggestions you could supplement with 4,000-5,000iu D3 daily

Retest after 3 months.

Once 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:

vitamindtest.org.uk/

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 D3 as 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 magnesium as tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

drjockers.com/best-magnesiu...

afibbers.org/magnesium.html

*

Thyroid TSH 5.58 m/U/L (0.27 - 4.2)R * High

Free T3 2.93 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8)R * Low

Free Thyroxine 16.5 pmol/L (12 - 22)R

These results are showing that you are currently undermedicated. The aim of a treated hypo patient, geneally, is for TSH to be 1 or below with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of their reference ranges, if that is where you feel well.

Your TSH is over range, your FT3 is below range and your FT4 is 45% through it's range.

You need an increase in your Levo, 25mcg now, retest in 6-8 weeks, repeat testing/increasing every 6-8 weeks until levels are where they need to be for you to feel well.

*

Thyroglubulin Antibodies 14.2 kU/L (<115)R

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 57.1 kU/L (<34)R * HIgh

Your raised TPO antibodies confirm autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's, I don't know if you already knew that (I haven't read through all your past posts).

Fluctuations in symptoms and test results are common with Hashi's.

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

Some members have found that adopting a strict gluten free diet can help, although there is no guarantee.

Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks.

You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily is said to help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies and this could be the reason for your low Vit D, B12 and folate deficiency.

*

** As you have Hashi's, for better absorption you might want to use an oral Vit D spray (eg BetteryYou) as this is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the oral cavity so bypasses the stomach. Some Hashi's members have also done well on an oil based softgel such as Doctor's Best.

*

Don't start all supplements at once. Start with one, give it a week or two and if no adverse reaction then add the next one. Again, wait a week or two and if no adverse reaction add the next one. Continue like this. If you do have any adverse reaction then you will know what caused it.

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to SeasideSusie

Fab !

ShelWhitt profile image
ShelWhitt in reply to SeasideSusie

Thanks a lot. Will have a re read later, and hopefully take it all in!

Marz profile image
Marz

Just done a LONG reply and lost it ! Your results are very much as I suspected they would be !

Ferritin - is fine.

Folate - indicates you are Folate deficient - causing symptoms.

Active B12 - better around 70 - so work to be done there.

VitD - VERY Low - and needs to be around 100 plus - common with Fibro and Hashimotos

TSH - over range so you are still VERY Hypo - on treatment the TSH is better around 1 or below. You need a dose increase.

FT3 is below range and will be the cause of so many of your symptoms - especially heart - mood - fibro and so on.

FT4 - result is reasonable - did you stop your dose 24 hours before testing ?

TPO Anti-bodies confirm Hashimotos which I think you knew.

A Treatment Plan can be suggested for you but I will await your Reply. I think you may now understand what I was saying about the T3 and the importance of testing. I wonder how many more on the other Forum have a Low/Below range T3 and be the cause of so many symptoms.

Also SeasideSusie is so good with Vitamins and Minerals and maybe along later. Saturdays can be quiet.

Congratulations on getting this far !

ShelWhitt profile image
ShelWhitt in reply to Marz

Thanks Marz. Yes I did stop Levothyroixine, actually 28 hours before test. Will now mull over all the results and both yours and Seaside susie's comments, and have a long think about what to do next. I am tempted to go back to GP, just to gauge her reaction; plus the visit to endocrinologist is still on hold and am now wondering whether to shelve that. If it might be a complete waste of time! (That wouldn't please my GP, I don't suppose). Would it be a waste of money, or, might he take note of the results and go down the same road as you are advocating. If so, I think I would feel better staying under the umbrella of the NHS , than going it alone. Bear with me. I know several brave soldiers on here have already successfully gone down the self medicating route, but, some of you will already know that, at the moment, I am not the most confident person, suffering very badly with stress and anxiety. Questions? How would you get the medication if doc. won't prescribe it; where and how could you verify and validate the source; how would you know what/when dosages to take, and would you need to be constantly re-taking blood tests to monitor it all. Plus, also, what would be the cost? OK., I can see that all this might be necessary to get well, but it is a double edged sword. If no longer under the umbrella of my GP, I wonder whether it would complicate things regarding my other medical problems, or even my husband's, Yes, I know it shouldn't, but it is all unknown territory to me , and in the extreme would they even want to retain me on their books. Sorry to sound a pessimist, but after the last horrendous two years, I do seem to be looking at everything through a glass half empty instead of half full; and after the altercation over accessing my medical/blood records/results the last thing I need is any more problems with my Health Centre. Oh, on a brighter note, they did contact me yesterday, to say that the requested paper copies of my medical records are ready to collect. Maybe things are looking up after all!I

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to ShelWhitt

You and thousands of others have been kept unwell due to ignorance and neglect.

Your anxiety could be due to low T3.

Think of your heart tests and cost to the NHS when it could be your Low T3.

You need much more Levo and with improved B12 - Folate and VitD it is possible your Levo/T4 will convert into T3 more efficiently. This is not something your GP will know. We have to sort ourselves I'm afraid ..

So many of us self-medicate and you can only receive details by PM. Many of us rarely test on a regular basis.

What price health ?

What wonderful support and information from SeasideSusie Many hundreds have followed her advice and found wellness.

This forum is unique - we are allowed to share our knowledge without penalty - knowledge that would cost hundreds if you went to a Functional Doctor. So make the most of it.

I would not bother to visit the Endo - unless he is Thyroid friendly - is s/he from the Thyroid UK list ?

I appreciate how hard it is for you having had so many things attributed to Fibro over many years - when it was a decent dose of thyroid hormone you needed to raise your T3. You are not alone 😥

ShelWhitt profile image
ShelWhitt in reply to Marz

Before i get any further into this what is a Treatment Plan and who devises it. I presume PM means private mail? I don't know what that is. I also presume if we do go down this path that we are solely responsible for our own actions? It is starting to be a bit scary, when I don't really know what I am doing and relying of word of mouth of other sufferers to guide me. Don't get me wrong. It is not a matter of trust. It is being scared of the unknown, I think. I fully understand that nothing is more important than your health, I can see the logic of it all, and I believe everything I have been told, together with all the back up references, I think I just have to think about it a little while longer. til I get a lightbulb moment!

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to ShelWhitt

SeasideSusie has carefully detailed your results and suggestions for improvement - which in itself is a treatment plan.

By all means share your results with your GP - but be prepared for negative comments. Some Docs are open minded others are not.

A PM is a Private Message which is used on this Forum. You can click onto a username and go to their page where you will see -Message - in a box - click - and then you can send a message. If you receive one then you will see a 1 next to the 9 dots in a square at the top of this page. I am not able to send you a message as you are a Fibro member and as you know I am restricted - hey ho !

Having a BELOW range T3 can be the cause of so many symptoms as it is needed in every cell of the body and as yours is so low you do not have enough to go around. Like driving from London to Bristol on a gallon of petrol - not possible. T3 is fuel for the body !

I appreciate you are feeling unwell - but then so are most when they first join this forum and many of us still are coping everyday with complicated health issues. In my case many have been resolved by following advice and experiences of others !

It's a lot to read so take it slowly .. 😎

ShelWhitt profile image
ShelWhitt in reply to Marz

Thank you, yet again Marz.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

High TSH shows you are on too, low a dose of levothyroxine

Your GP should increase your levothyroxine by 25mcg

Also as Folate is BELOW range GP will prescribe folic acid

GP won’t prescribe for vitamin D. NHS only obligated to treat vitamin D if result is under 50nmol. GP should advise you self supplement vitamin D to improve to at least 80nmol

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