Blood test results - help please

[noquitter]

Hi everyone

After years of effort, I got my doctor to do thyroid blood tests. Not all the tests I asked for were done, but here are the results. I would be very grateful for any help to understand them fully.

TSH 2.41miu/L (0.34 - 5.6)

FT4 10.9pmol/L (7.5 - 21.1)

TPO anti/b less than 10iu/ml (0.0 - 10.0)

Folate 2.6ug/L (3.1 - 19.9)

Vit D 37nmol/L (60.0 - 150.0)

GFR 84mL/min (90 -500)

B12 344ng/L (110 - 914) NB after 18 months of supplements

Cortisol 214nmol/L (185 -624)

The rest of tests - full blood count etc - appeared to be fine.

My doctor enclosed a letter telling me to take Vit D (I do), and made no mention of any other result. My TSH here is the lowest it has been for 4 years. And, yes, the test was done before 9am, fasting for 12 hours previously.

Having avidly read many of the posts on this forum I know that many of you guys know so much more than my GP. If someone could give me the benefit of their knowledge, that would be great. I have every possible symptom from the obvious fatigue, through TMJ, Carpal Tunnel, Plantar Fasiitis, breathlessness, missing eyebrows, hair loss, headaches, weight gain .......and all the rest.

I'm thinking private testing and self medication right now. Unless someone points me in another direction.

Best wishes

[Wokenup]

Hi,

Your folate and b12 work together and both are low. It may be that your diet is low in folate (green leaves) and B12 obtained from animal sources. It could also be that your body cannot convert them to the active form due to genetics (quite common). If you supplement with b12, make sure you supplement with folate too. Look for the active form which is methylfolate and not folic acid. Folic acid is the cheaper synthetic version and on some people this can block folate receptors. Also b12 in its active form is called methylcobalmin.

Also include foods that provide choline (such as meat and eggs). When methylation is poor because these pathways are not working correctly, many bodily functions can be effected. A company called cytoplan has been very helpful to me and provide free no obligation nutritional advice from a qualified therapist as part of their charitable work. You need to complete a form on their website. They also have nutrients including multivits with the active forms of vitamins which are more likely to get in to the cells. Hope this helps.

[noquitter in reply to Wokenup]

Hi

Thanks so much for your reply, and for the great info therein. I thought I had a good diet - certainly high in green leaves, thas for sure. The genetic angle could cetainly apply to me. That makes perfect sense. I take B12 spray already, but will add folate.

Thank you. Much appreciated.

[Wokenup in reply to noquitter]

Hi

If you are interested in looking at the genetic angle you may find a book called ‘Dirty Genes’ interesting. Also info online by the author Dr Ben Lynch. If you have ever done the DNA test with Ancestry or 23 and me, raw data can be uploaded to various providers such as Genetic Genie, Stratagene or My DNA Health. I’ve uploaded mine to all 3, so if you need any further info, please let me know.

Hope you get some answers soon.

Best wishes.

[noquitter in reply to Wokenup]

How interesting! I have done a DNA test with Ancestry (my get-away-from-thyroid-go-to, as it happens). Will definately investigate that.

Thanks again. It would be lovely to have some answers. I live in hope.

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Low vitamin D obviously needs improving and GP should prescribe 1600iu everyday for 6 months....but easier to self supplement

Vitamin D

GP will often only prescribe to bring levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

But improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7

It’s trial and error what dose we need

Calculator for working out dose you may need

40ng/ml = 100nmol

grassrootshealth.net/projec...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Also read up on importance of magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Low B12 and deficient folate

supplement a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will improve B12 levels

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of 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

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Suggest you improve these and vitamin D and get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing in 2-3 months

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

You need ferritin tested

BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies too

And Ft3 obviously

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Medichecks - JUST vitamin testing including folate - DIY finger prick test

medichecks.com/products/nut...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays