After being diagnosed some 10 years ago with an underactive thyroid, I decided to get a private blood test this week to find out if there was anything else to help with my diagnosis. The results have come back this week with the following needing attention, can anyone advise please?
Folate - Serum 1.69 ug/L (Range >3.89)
Vitamin B12 - Active 31.6 pool/L (Range >37.5)
TSH <0.0005 mlU/L (Range 0.27 - 4.2)
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Jaybee3489
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This is very likely B12 deficiency and again you need to speak to your GP. Active B12 below 70 suggests testing for B12 deficiency according to Viapath at St Thomas' Hospital:
If you do then list them to discuss with your GP and ask for testing for B12 deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia. Do not take any B12 supplements or folic acid/folate/B Complex supplements before further testing of B12 as this will mask signs of B12 deficiency and skew results.
Folate - Serum 1.69 ug/L (Range >3.89)
I don't think
there's much doubt that this is folate deficiency and you need to speak
◦Serum folate of less than 7 nanomol/L (3 micrograms/L) is used as a guide to indicate folate deficiency.
Your GP will possibly prescribe folic acid, as mentioned above this should not be taken until further testing of B12 has been carried out and B12 injections or supplementation started.
TSH <0.0005 mlU/L (Range 0.27 - 4.2)
This is suppressed but we have no clues as to why. We need to know the following:
* Results, including reference ranges, for FT4 and FT3 done at the same time as TSH.
* What thyroid medication you are taking and the dose.
* When you took your last dose of thyroid meds before the test (as in number of hours) so that we can interpret your FT4 and FT3 properly. Last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, last dose of T3 or NDT should be 8-12 hours before blood draw, adjusting time and splitting dose if necessary the day before the test.
If you had any further tests with this test bundle, ferritin, Vit D, thyroid antibodies, etc, please also post those with their reference ranges.
Thank you for your prompt reply Seaside Suzie and recommending seeing my GP regarding the B12 and Serum folate.
I must admit I forgot that my blood draw should be 24 hours after Levo and T3, so I don't think there is any point sending you FT4 & FT3 results. The other results are as follows:-
Maybe Ferritin level is so good if you eat a lot of meat, liver especially.
If you want to raise your Vit D level to the recommended level then you'd need possibly 2,500iu D3 daily, along with D3's important cofactors magnesium and Vit K2-mk7. You'd need to retest in 3 months to check your level. Once you've reached the recommended level you'd then need a maintenance dose to keep it there which may be 2,000iu daily, maybe more maybe less, it's trial and error, and it's then important to test twice a year to check level.
How on earth are you getting such good ferritin levels without supplementation? Your Vit D is also brilliant without supps. Do you spend a lot of time outdoors? Would still suggest supplementing Vit D esp as less sun as we head into winter. 120s is where you want your blood level to be.
Must be a great diet, I know people who can’t even get their ferritin anywhere near yours despite supplementing!
If you don’t eat meat and liver then I’m surprised you are getting such high ferritin levels. You should keep an eye on it in case it goes higher and causes you problems.
i've never seem levels that low in all three... first thing, show these to your GP and get them redone by him..immediately or as early as possible? If much the same you need a B12 injection and 5mg folate tablets ..but your GP will put you on them and advise.. first off repeat that test? that thyroid result just has to be incorrect or you are on way too much.. but firstly get a new test done by your GP..I don't trust those blood test results..maybe they got it mixed up with some water! Check first, but show your GP. I do not think they can be correct.
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