In the UK? Very much doubt it. But, he does need to supplement.
Are those his first ever thyroid tests? They are saying he is technically hypo. You're hypo when your TSH gets to 3 - although you'd never get a UK doctor to admit that. What's more, his TSH is low compared to his FT4, which is only 14.36% through the range. One would expect a higher TSH with that result. His folate is rather low, too. I think he needs full thyroid testing.
I agree with you @Greygoose, but I doubt if he will ever get a full thyroid panel.
I was wondering if he took the Jarrows B12 supplements and added some folate if that would help?
No it isn't his first thyroid blood test, he has been showing low for sometime. I have got him on Metavive x 1 and a thyroid support supplement, which he stopped before the blood test.
Those words strike terror through my veins: Thyroid Support! What sort of thyroid support? What are the ingredients? They usually contain iodine, which will probably make him worse, not better.
So, those results are on Metavive? Well, that's never going to get him a diagnosis. I doubt your GP ever will give him full testing, but couldn't he get a private blood test?
For the B12, I would suggest 5000 mcg sublingual methylcobalamin daily (Jarrows, yes) plus a daily B complex, such as Igennus. Just taking folate is not enough, he needs the whole range of B vits, because they all work together.
Oh dear I think I have blown it again greygoose , yes containing iodine. Higher Nature Thyroid Support Formula, bought 4 pots because they were on offer....Yes the results are on Metavive I x 1 daily although he stopped 24 hours before the blood test. I am taking Thorne Basic B complex which contains folate, would they be as good as Igennus?
Yes I think a private test may be the way forward. Thank you
I don't know how they've got the nerve to call it 'thyroid support'! It's just a common or garden multi-vit. And, as with all multi-vits, it's pretty useless, not to say dangerous for hypos.
A tiddly little dose of vit C, that's won't do much good for anyone.
Folic acid, when methylfolate would be better.
It doesn't say what sort of B12, so it's probably the cheaper, less absorbable, cyanocobalamin - and so little of it it wouldn't help anyway.
And, then it's got iron, which is going to block all the vitamins, so not much point in them being there! Plus, you should get iron/ferritin tested before taking any.
A rediculous dose of magnesium - but which magnesium? Probably the cheapest, least absorbable magnesium oxide.
Zinc and copper should both be tested before supplementing to make sure you need it - but hypos are usually high in copper and low in zinc, so you don't want to add more copper, because apart from making you ill, it would lower the zinc even further.
Iodine? I thought we all knew that hypos should not be taking iodine, it can make the situation far worse. He will already be getting iodine from the Metavive, and from his diet, so could be in excess, and that's bad.
So, being on offer wouldn't make me buy this rubbish - you couldn't give it to me. I think it should be returned to the pharmacy to be disposed of humainly.
Stopping Metavive 24 hours before the blood draw will not affect what he's already absorbed in the time he's been taking it. It will have lowered his TSH and raised his Frees - FT4 only slightly, perhaps, but certainly his FT3. And that will make a diagnosis unlikely.
Oh dear I can't believe I have been so stupid having read so many comments by you and others about multi vitamins. What can I say? Will try harder next time. I am actually going to print these replies off and will refer to them as I go along noting all the things to take. Thank you again.
I know it sounds tempting when you read 'Thyroid support' on a bottle of pills. But, as I always say, if it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is. You can't 'support' your thyroid. And, by the time you get results like those above, it would be too late, anyway. And, for 'support', read 'stimulate', because that's what they do. And stimulating a sick gland is never a good idea.
Well, it's not hypo - you're hypo when it gets to 3. But, it's not 'normal', either. A euthyroid TSH would never be over 2. What it means is that your thyroid is beginning to struggle.
When a doctor says 'normal', all he means is 'in-range'. He doesn't care where within the range, and doesn't understand about optimal positions within that range. It's all or nothing with a doctor. And, just testing TSH is totally inadequate. It doesn't tell them everything, as they like to think! You also need the FT4, FT3 and antibodies tested.
I really think it would be better if you started a new post, giving all the details - such as whether you are on thyroid hormone replacement or not - so that more people can see and advise, rather than tagging on to this very old post belonging to someone else.
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
Thank you SlowDragon , The D wasn't tested but Serum Ferritin:- 139 ng/mL (15.0 - 300)
Higher Nature Thyroid Support Formula with iodine. I now know wasn't a good idea, and he won't take them now.
Thank you have noted 6 - 8 weeks and will go for a private test. Can you please remind me of some of the names that do private testing as I have never gone down that route before.
I don't know if this has any relevance at all, but John has an 'Above high reference limit' Derived Fibrinogen level 5.75g/L (2.0 - 5.3) (never ever heard of Fibrinogen)
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
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 as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.
Other suggestions re low folates and B12 are found in non alcoholic fatty liver disease. Alcohol may affect levels of vitamins B12 and B9. If the ferritin levels are low this might be a sign of celiac disease which often goes with thyroid problems. Other causes may be pernicious anaemia with low B12 and B9.
Article might be of interest.
Low folate and B12 linked to severity of fatty liver disease
Who knows? A friend drank whisky neat more than a bottle a week but ate snacks and food . His liver was fine. It is just the very low folates with the B12 which might indicate a problem. Cutting present alcahols levels down using white wine cutting out spirits and supplementing B12 and B9 may help. Methylfolate was recommended by a thyroid contributor rather than B9 as being better absorbed than folic acid. You have to eat loads of of dark leaved vegetables but lambs liver is high in folates and B12. Myfooddata.com website using nutrient ranking tool to find foods over the recommended daily values of nutrients is great. I used global healing drops for B12 under the tongue and my vitamin levels were good after a year of taking it. You have to take B12 as well as B9 according to a member of T.U. NHS and online now has tests for vitamin d and thyroid lab tests at 25 pounds. Worth looking under food intolerance and vitamin tests NHS online.
Thank you Hidden for your help. I think John drank a lot more than a bottle of whisky a week, I think it was a large bottle of Jack Daniels, starting with breakfast and anything else he could get hold of for four years. But that was 20 years ago. During this lock down we have both had a glass of red wine in the evening every night, when we only normally drink wine or anything else at weekends. We just find that one glass takes the edge off the worries and fears of the day. His diet is very good we eat a lot of fresh vegetables, but thank you for reminding me about the lambs liver, and the B12 drops.
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