Results are back from Medichecks: Hi, I now have... - Thyroid UK

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Results are back from Medichecks

jupiterconjunct profile image
11 Replies

Hi,

I now have the blood tests from Medichecks.

And even though my TSH is now elevated to 4.23 ( NHS test gives a reading of 4), Dr won't prescribe Levo; I previously mentioned that I had been taken off Levo twice in the past.

This latest test shows Ferritin at 443; might this be the reason for my hypotension all of a sudden. I suspect I've had BP for quite some time and that Drs ignored it, saying it may be white coat syndrome but only investigating bc I demanded it.

The dilemma I have now is whether to see a private Endo or Hemotoligist for the ferritin.

My ferritin levels have always been out of the range.

Cholesterol is great.

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jupiterconjunct profile image
jupiterconjunct
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11 Replies
Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake

I can't see on past posts whether you have thyroid antibodies or not? If not then there could be other factors preventing effecient thyroid hormone utilisation.

Vitamin D is on the low edside, recommend to be in mid range. I keep mine around 100nmol. Do you take other medication that might interfere with thyroid function?

I can't comment on iron as I don't know much about it and I can't see the reading. It sounds like it's worth a second opinion from what you've said.

jupiterconjunct profile image
jupiterconjunct

Take Trulicity ( dulaglutide), and I have just started on Ramiprill ( BP meds).

The Ferritin reading is. 13-150 R 443 ug/L.

18/11/19

Thyroglobulin <115. 13.1 kiu:L

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies

<34. 11.5 kiu/L.

17/4/2020.

CORTISOL - WAKING

6 - 21 R

19.7

nmol/L

CORTISOL - 12:00

1.5 - 7.6 R

<1.5

nmol/L

CORTISOL - 16:00

0 - 5.5 R

<1.5

nmol/L

CORTISOL - BEFORE BED

0 - 2 R

<1.5

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to jupiterconjunct

jupiterconjunct

Let's put your cortisol results into a much more easily readable form :) Presumably you've done copy and past and this loses the formatting.

17/4/2020.

CORTISOL - WAKING

19.7nmol/L (6 - 21)

CORTISOL - 12:00

<1.5nmol/L (1.5 - 7.6)

CORTISOL - 16:00

<1.5nmol/L (0 - 5.5)

CORTISOL - BEFORE BED

<1.5nmol/L (0 - 2)

Unfortunately, you have chosen to do a cortisol test that isn't much good.

Optimal levels according to rt3-adrenals.org/cortisol_t... are:

• Morning at the top of the range

• Noon approximately 75% of the range

• Evening close to 50% of the range

• Nighttime at the bottom of the range

Graph of how levels change throughout the day:

alpineintegratedmedicineblo...

So if you look at your results, your waking level is good, it's very close to the top of the range.

However, the next 3 samples don't give an actual result, presumably because the machine doesn't actually measure lower than 1.5 which is not a lot of help when you want to know how far through the range your result is.

Your noon sample, which ideally would be 75% through range, is below 1.5, it could be zero, who knows, so you know that result is extremely low considering where it should be.

As for the 4pm and bedtime samples, well it beggars belief that a range would actually start at zero. Ranges are based on healthy people, and if anyone did actually have a level of zero I think you'd find them either in hospital or in the morgue.

With the bedtime one, you want that at the bottom of the range. Your result, being record at <1.5 means that it could be anywere between zero and 1.4.

So combined with the fact that you don't have a result for either of them, plus they don't have a proper range, those two results aren't telling you anything at all.

Your Vit D level is very low, are you supplementing?

Your B12 is quite high in the range, are you supplementing?

jupiterconjunct profile image
jupiterconjunct in reply to SeasideSusie

How Interesting, up until five wks ago, I had been supplementing. With Nutriabsorb D3, K2 ( quite expensive), I bought two small bottles of this, so I was surprised to get this reading of 50.

1/ what would you suggest I do?

2/ Do you think it in my interest to get another cortisol test, and if so, which company would you recommend?

I only sporadically supplement with B12

3/ Do you think it still in my interest to see a private Endo? Seen as though my Dr is leaving the TSH level at 4.

It will be interesting to see if this number creeps up because six weeks ago, it was at 3.9 hospital reading.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to jupiterconjunct

jupiterconjunct

With Nutriabsorb D3, K2 ( quite expensive), I bought two small bottles of this, so I was surprised to get this reading of 50.

How much have you been taking? If it's the combined D3/K2 one then 6 drops give 1,000iu D3 and 75mcg K2.

If only taking this dose then I'm not surprised your Vit D level is low. 1,000iu D3 is a maintenance dose for those who have a decent level already, it's not really enough to raise a low level. For a level of 55nmol/L you'd be looking at supplementing with 4,000iu D3 daily to achieve the Vit D Society's recommended level of 100-150nmol/L, thenyou'd go onto a maintenance dose. For K2-MK7 then 90-100mcg is enough for up to 10,000iu D3.

From your Medichecks cortisol test we can see that your waking cortisol level is good but appears to plummet by noon. It might be worth doing the Regenerus adrenal test which has proper ranges and also includes DHEA which is important as it helps determine level of adrenal fatigue if present.

Here is the link for information about the Regenerus test:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

this one doesn't do a waking sample, you do it 30 minutes after waking and they emphasise that timing is important.

I only sporadically supplement with B12

I wouldn't bother. Our B12 store is said to be good for 2 years and you currently have a good level

Your folate level is 9.5 (2.9-14.5) which is pretty good (folate is recommended to be at least half way through range) so it might be worth getting a decent quality B Complex and supplementing a few days a week which should maintain both folate and B12 levels, maybe 3-4 days a week.

Do you think it still in my interest to see a private Endo? Seen as though my Dr is leaving the TSH level at 4.

I think I'd wait until I had the new cortisol results. Even a private endo might refuse treatment with FT4 and FT3 within range and your TSH only just slightly elevated.

elkewilliams profile image
elkewilliams

My Ferritin is also high but mostly around the upper end of the reference range. Was tested some time ago and it was confirmed that I have hemochromatosis, a condition where the body stores too much iron. This was done through DNA testing, so I always keep an eye on it, e.g. don’t take any supplements with added iron in it. It might be worthwhile considering that possibility.

jupiterconjunct profile image
jupiterconjunct in reply to elkewilliams

How interesting; I believe that I have hemochromatosis.

I don't take anything, as far as I'm aware, Iron related.

Bio ult, 5HTP. That's it

My ferritin readings in the past were

18/11/19.

13.150R

330 ug/L.

9/3/20

13.150R

286 ug/L

I take. Acerola powder ( Vit C)

The ferritin tests with my surgery are also always outside the reference range!

But they say it's ok. I am starting to wonder if the is the reason for my HBP.

I don't smoke or drink.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to jupiterconjunct

Vitamin c increases iron absorption

You might want to stop vitamin c

jupiterconjunct profile image
jupiterconjunct in reply to SlowDragon

I will stop that supplementing then; it is now and again, though.

hackman profile image
hackman

My ferritin is also always high - around the 400 mark - I don't have haemochromotosis (have been checked) but do carry the gene. My mother's is also high and has been all her life so I am guessing it is genetic. My GP cannot find a cause.

radd profile image
radd in reply to hackman

hackman,

It is usual to have elevated ferritin with haemochromotosis but other markers such transferrin saturation can be used as well.

Doctors use ferritin in haemochromotosis as erroneously as they use TSH in thyroid issues as neither are always true markers. Some haemochromotosis sufferers have ferritin in the thousands where as mine has never been higher than several hundred but my transferrin saturation has remained at 100% for long periods in between venesections.

Many doctors consider the diagnosis of haemochromatosis results from a genetic variation to the HFE gene on chromosome 6 involving the C282Y and H63D alleles but there are others and more that have yet to be discovered.

Have you had an iron panel evaluated?

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