I am not taking any medication, but due to my hypothyroidism symptoms and it running in my family, I take yearly blood tests. This was on the advice of my GP, but because he wouldn’t do FT3 or full vitamin tests I have started doing them privately.
My last blood test was slightly more than a year ago, as after hip replacement surgery I was given a blood transfusion, and it was recommended I wait for things to settle before testing blood again.
After posting here last year I took the recommendations of #SeasideSusie and started to take Vitamin D plus K2, Magnesium, Vitamin B12 and a Complex B supplement. Unfortunately due my hip op and then going into lockdown, I have not kept the regime up for the last 6 months.
This is my first Active B12 test, so unsure how it compares to my Serum B12 test of last year? Also the Folate test is in different measurements, so again unable to compare? Also the Ferritin range is now different?
I am surprised that my Vitamin D is not higher, as I have been out a lot in the sun lately with all the good weather we have been experiencing!
All my normal hypothyroid symptoms are still there, but in particular I am now losing even more hair and the fatigue is even more debilitating. An extra symptom now is occasional flashes in my eyesight, and I now have more floaters in my eyes than before. My memory is causing me concern too, but this could just be related to age?
Anyway, after 9 years of yearly blood tests it still looks like I am euthyroid! So could something else be going on? Any advice appreciated. Many thanks.
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AuntieJules
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A normal healthy person would have a TSH no higher than 2, often around 1, with FT4 around mid-range-ish. Your TSH is a little high and your FT4 is just 25% through range.
Antibodies low so don't suggest autoimmune thyroid disease.
This is my first Active B12 test, so unsure how it compares to my Serum B12 test of last year
Active B12 - 51 pmol/L (37.5 - 188)
Last year was B12 - 293 ng/L (211 - 911). This was a Total B12 test which measures the total amount of B12 including the amount of active B12 which is what is available for the cells to use. The Active B12 test is more useful.
Last year I suggested that you check for signs of B12 deficiency as many people with a total B12 level in the 300s have been found to need B12 injections. You didn't come back to me.
Active B12 below 70 suggests testing for B12 deficiency according to Viapath at St Thomas' Hospital:
Reference range:>70. *Between 25-70 referred for MMA
So again I'd suggest you check for signs of B12 deficiency and if you have any then discuss with your GP and get further testing for B12 deficiency and Pernicious anaemia.
Folate should be at least half way through range so that would be 35+ with that range.
Vitamin D - 46 nmol/L (50 - 175)
As mentioned last time the recommended level is 100-150nmol/L. Advice is the same as before regarding what dose of D3 you should be taking, along with important cofactors magnesium and Vit K2-MK7.
We don't all make Vit D from the sun.
Ferritin - 53 ug/L (13 - 150)
Ferritin should be half way through it's range, so about 82 with that range. I've no idea why the ferritin range differs, mine is 13-150 with the private labs but 15-300 with my GP. I have heard that a good level for a female is 100-150.
All the suggestions made in reply to your previous post are applicable again so I wont repeat myself.
Thank you for your reply Susie. It is very unfortunate that when I had surgery that I was required to come off all my supplements that you had recommended for me last year. I had my Vitamin D checked after 3 months as you suggested and the result was 53.8 nmol/L. So it had gone up, but has of course dropped again now. Also, as you suggested, I spoke with my GP about B12 deficiency and PA, but he didn’t consider my symptoms were bad enough to warrant further investigation. Now I am fully recovered from my hip operation, maybe now is the time to raise it again with a different GP in my practice? Then hopefully I can get back onto my supplements, which should then further down the line, give a clearer picture of what my thyroid is doing? Thanks again for your invaluable advice.
Despite the doctor stating that your symptoms for a B12 blood test didn't warrant further investigation. How did he come to this conclusion without a blood test that you don't have pernicious anaemia. That is yet another autoimmune condition that creeps upon you and once we have one we usually have more than one. I have four at present.
I'd also query this with the P.A. site support group.
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