I posted about a month ago seeking some advice about some blood results but didn't get any responses, hoping someone may be able to advise whether I should be following these results up with my GP.
I am not currently medicated for hypothyroidism but I was during my pregnancy (25mcg Levothyroxine initially increased to 50mcg), which was 12 months ago. I was under the endocrine antenatal clinic during my pregnancy and their aim was to keep my TSH below 2.5. They sent me a letter a few weeks after delivery saying to return to my pre-pregnancy dose after 6 weeks post-partum which in my case was nil. I did have a thyroid check through my GP around 8 weeks but was never advised of the result so I assume it was within "normal" range and I have since moved house and GPs and I'm not sure my new GP have my medical notes yet (9 months later!)
I did the UltraVit tests through Medichecks and my CRP and Vit D came back as outside of range, but I think my other results are sub-optimal too.
Do you think I should have continued on Levothyroxine? I don't have an endo now as this was under the antenatal clinic but I do have family history of thyroid problems as my mum has Graves disease and had her thyroid removed.
CRP HS: 11.36 mg/L (<5)**
Ferratin: 34.2 ug/L (13-150)
Folate: 4.27 ug/L (>3.89)
Vitamin B12 Active: 78.7 pmol/L (>37.5)
Vitamin D: 39.5 nmol/L (50-175)**
TSH: 2.63 mIU/L (0.27-4.2)
FT3: 4.51 pmol/L (3.1-6.8)
FT4: 13.7 pmol/L (12-22)
TgAb: 11.9 kIU/L (<115)
TPOAb: <9 kIU/L (<34)
Written by
ShelboBaggins76
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
You are unlikely to get thyroid meds now. Most GPs go purely by the TSH result - and yours is in range. It would need to be well out of range before they would give you more levo. They would also comment that free T4 is "in range" (although it's very low, at only 17% through rage) as is your free T3 (which is a bit better at 38% through range). So although you would no doubt feel better if both were at least in the top half of the reference range, I'm afraid your GP is unlikely to help you.
But you should get your vit D addressed by the doctor asap - it's much MUCH too low x
I agree with you about struggling to get a GP to medicate as my results are within "normal" range. I battled trying to get started on Levo whilst trying to get pregnant, even a private endo wouldn't prescribe unless my TSH was over 5 (though I think he was more of a diabetes specialist as I guess most are). I only got my GP to prescribe once I was pregnant as it has increased to 5 and I had to highlight the miscarriage risks to him.
I've been looking into self-medicating with Metavive as an alternative and continue to monitor my thyroid levels as I do feel I have hypo symptoms which I mostly put down to being a new mum.
SeasideSusie I've seen previous posts where you've commented on other posters blood results, can you offer advice as I think most of my vitamin results are sub-optimal? The Vitamin D one particularly concerns me especially with its deficiency links with covid-19, I should also point out that I am mixed-Afro Caribbean heritage so I think my levels may naturally be on the lower side (I haven't had it tested before).
This is an inflammation marker but non-specific. It might be worth keeping an eye on this as your ferritin isn't high (that can be raised with inflammation/infection). If you had Medichecks doctor's comments they probably mentioned this raised CRP level.
Ferratin: 34.2 ug/L (13-150)
This is too low and low ferritin can suggest iron deficiency, with or without anaemia. Your GP will say it's within range (that's all they care about) but see if you can get an iron panel (will show iron deficiency) and a full blood count (will show anaemia).
I don't suggest self supplementing with iron because if you already have a good serum iron level then taking iron tablets can take it too high, but you can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet
I have read that the optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is between 90-110 ng/ml but it should be half way through range, so about 82 would be a good level with that range.
Folate: 4.27 ug/L (>3.89)
Medichecks actual range is 3.89-19.45 and it's recommended that folate is at least half way through it's range. A good, bioavailable B Complex such as Thorne Basic B or Igennus Super B will help, as will eating folate rich foodds.
Vitamin B12 Active: 78.7 pmol/L (>37.5)
This result isn't bad although I like mine to be over 100. The B12 contained in either of the B Complex mentioned above will help push your level up.
Vitamin D: 39.5 nmol/L (50-175)**
This is pretty poor and, of course, the darker our skin the more likely we are to have low levels.
The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L.
To reach the recommended level from your current level, based on the Vit D Council's suggestions you could supplement with 5,000iu D3 daily.
Retest after 3 months.
My suggestion would be to keep on that dose until you have reached the recommended level (retesting every 3 months until you do) 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 D3 as tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray.
I like Doctor's Best D3 softgels which contain just two ingredients - D3 and extra virgin olive oil and no excipients. They raised my severe deficiency of 15nmol/L to 202 in 2.5 months and I still use them for my maintenance dose to keep my level as close to 150nmol/L as possible.
For K2-MK7 I like Vegavero or Vitabay.
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.
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.
Thanks for all the info SeasideSusie, really informative. Will start with the vitamin D supplements as that seems the one that needs boosting the most. I was put on iron tablets post-partum for 6 weeks as my levels were quite low but haven't had any further tests since.
Re my CRP levels I didn't request doctor's review this time but they have previously been over 10 and they referred to inflammation/infection and to follow up with GP but I do get stomach inflammation issues sometimes so it might be linked to this.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Blood test results- please help
Blood test results - help please!!
Help with blood test results 
Blood test results help
