Should I get further thyroid testing?

[MCkit]

Hello everyone,

I am hoping that your expertise may be able to help me. I have a B12 deficiency (though tested negative for Pernacious Anaemia) and currently have injections every 12 weeks. I know a lot of the symptoms cross over with thyroid issues and over the years I have been tested for thyroid but always told it is fine. I have been experiencing serious hair loss over the past lot of months and brain fog, tiredness, stomach problems but not sure if my thyroid needs further investigation or if all related to B12 (I have asked for more injections but have been told no). My gp ran some tests and I got the results back and folate was low so I am now on 5mg of folic acid for 2 months and then to be retested. My question is if the thyroid TSH is normal is it still worth further testing to rule out thyroid issues and if so which tests would you recommend? I have pasted my test results below and would really appreciate your thoughts and advice.

Iron Profile

Will be filed as: 42d2.00 Plasma iron level

Iron profile Ref Int refers to a fasting state and not on Fe supplements

"serum ferritin" 58 ug/L (13-150)

"serum iron level" 19.7 umol/L (10-30)

"Percentage iron saturation" 31.0% (30-40)

Vitamin B12 and Folate

Will be filled as: 44LE.00 Plasma vitamin B12 level

"Serum vitamin B12" > 2000 ng/L (197 - 771) "High"

"Serum folate" 2.1 ug/L (3.9 - 26.8) "Low"

Observations - various bloods which I don't understand but the following below were highlighted

"Basophil count" 0.01 10^9/L (0.02 - 0.1) "Low"

"Red blood cell (RBC) count" 4.85 e12/1 (3.8 -4.8) "High"

Thyroid Function test - I assume only testing for TSH is standard?

Will be filled as: 442..13 Thyroid function tests

"Serum free T4 level" __ __

"Serum TSH Level" 0.79 mU/L (0.27 - 4.2)

"Serum free T3 Level" __ __

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Recommend getting FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

Low B12 often linked to thyroid issues

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Suggest you test vitamin D now

vitamindtest.org.uk

Work on improving low folate (and Low vitamin D if necessary)

Then get FULL testing in 6-8 weeks

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

List of private testing options

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

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

[MCkit in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon that is great advice. I have just today requested a private vitamin D test and will be getting my folate retested by GP in 8 weeks so I will then get some private testing for thyroid at that time.