Hi All,
Just wondering if anyone knows why my folate repeatedly drops low (2)?
I get a blood test after complaining of symptoms, folate low (sometimes with a slightly high rbc)..I’m given 3 months prescription folate. Test again after about 8+ weeks and ok ish.
Then months later my symptoms restart and off Ingo again with above. Clearly my folate isn’t holding long term.
Anyone have any experience or knowledge of this. Neither my Endo or GP look at the long term or history.
X
Looking at previous posts.....you only have half a thyroid
But not on any levothyroxine?
Being hypothyroid causes low vitamin levels, because hypothyroidism causes low stomach acid and this causes poor absorption of nutrients.....results in low vitamin levels
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
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)
Is this how you do your tests?
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 antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Thriva also offer just vitamin testing
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 down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH
Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org/signs-symptom...
Thank you for your reply. I do have only half a thyroid , not by surgery. Still no consideration for this even with my ongoing medical issues, by either Endo or Gp’s ....head in sand on that lol.I’ve had recent full thyroid bloods and only the folate was reported as very low. It just keeps happening and would hope this was realised.
Personally I feel my half thyroid splutters for want of a better word. Like me , up and down like a yo-yo with my symptoms.
Very frustrating.
You wouldn't have thought it was too difficult to recognise that only half a thyroid might be a problem... I wonder what they think the other half was supposed to do. Honestly , is common sense not a requirement in endocrinology....,
Hi there,Lol...that’s exactly what I think....crazy. Oh for some common sense eh.
They say they believe my half thyroid is coping! So if that’s the case why am I having all these medical problems grrr...umm I guess cos it’s not coping 🤔
Personally I think it’s being ignored because they don’t have experience or expertise as not a common situ.
X
lol They'd probably say you were coping if you'd only been born with one lung.... but they'd at least have the decency to admit it might be a bit difficult.
Exactly. They say they can’t see any reason for my symptoms...er hello dr’s, how about the half thyroid (no surgery) found on scan🤔. The tell tale signs started a long time ago looking back, would be a list as long as my arm. Weirdly many Dr’s are all very curious, ask how can that be without surgery etc.I rest my case, curious but not knowledgeable or interested enough to find out about or help me with.
Thank you for being like minded to me x
Folate isn't stored in your body. You need to eat some folate rich foods every day. Is that what you do? If so, then perhaps you have trouble absorbing folate?
Hi and thanks for replying. I have gastro issues so on a good, balances, fresh , healthy diet including folate rich foods. Is low folate anaemia or is that different?
I do wonder if not absorbing . Kidney issue too now so I will also check if that’s could be effecting my folate. Oh for a life without Consultants !
Confused01
There is Folate Deficiency Anaemia. This link may be helpful
medlineplus.gov/ency/articl...
Thank you.
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Many hypothyroid patients need to supplement continuously to maintain optimal vitamin levels
What are most recent thyroid and vitamin results and ranges
What kidney issues......low GFR linked to being hypothyroid
Obviously gut issues are extremely common too
Have you had ultrasound scan of thyroid
Email Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists.........NHS and Private
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid
nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...
If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.
Sweats often linked to low B12
As per my reply to previous post ...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Strongly recommend getting full thyroid and vitamin testing
Medichecks have got 25% off their Advanced well woman test right joe - would give you a I plate picture. Suggest book test first thing and take no meds etc beforehand.
It’s easy to be confused if you’re limping along in a hypothyroid state with chronic low folate! You definitely need to pursue getting the tests. If everyone is conducting visits by telephone instead of in person, why can’t you call out of your local area to a practice with competent people, once you have test results in hand?
I live in the land of crazy revolutionaries who attack the center of government with violent, gun-carrying mobs, so I don’t know how your health system works. (It sounds like the ways it doesn’t work are identical to here)
Here are a few clinical research studies to light a fire under your pursuit of proper treatment.
n.neurology.org/content/94/...
sciencedirect.com/science/a...
The MTHFR polymorphism described is fairly common in the population where you live. I inherited it from my British ancestors. I require a special form of folate and a large dose of B12 every day. This is my best attempt at avoiding hardening of the arteries and stroke.
You haven’t indicated what decade of life you’re in, but if you want to avoid total calamity, you should treat your thyroid and folate problems as though your home is on fire.
Oh my, your last sentence is worrying!I suffer extreme fatigue and lots more but have been going around in circles for years with our nhs on this. I’ve been down many Consultant routes but got nowhere. Here they don’t go on obvious symptoms, even severe, unless blood tests etc show something obvious.
Of course I thank goodness we have the NHS right now tho.
Stay well and safe.
Besides the hyper mobility of joints, connective tissue disorders, bone density decline, and brain fog (making one prone to accidents), there are some pretty dire consequences on the heart and circulatory system when hypothyroidism goes untreated for years or even decades: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
They can always try to treat high cholesterol, osteoporosis, hypertension and heart failure with drugs, but it’s a lot better for the patient if they catch the hypothyroidism before the body plunges over a cliff into numerous co-morbidities.
Totally agree. I’ve signs of many of those things (drs aware of) yet still no recognition or further multi consideration, but there’s nothing I can do as each Dr only looks at their own side of things, nothing more. Unfortunately nhs does not look at future prevention, only current. Something not it seems learnt in general, even on cost side of things. I’ve been at it with dr’s for more than 8 years..swimming around in circles. Obviously with no health improvements. If my bloods or scans do not show enough then nothing is looked at overall.
.
Low B12, ferritin and folate 
Low folate
Update 3 private result and gp - low folate question
Why is my TSH so low? 
Folate deficient and low B12
