Question about thyroid function results etc

[Lizadeb]

Hello - I'm new here and have zero knowledge. I've just had the advanced thyroid function blood test done and a relative suggested I question on here the results.

To put in context, I am an extremely fat (28 (ish) stone) 61 year old woman (very longstanding obesity with associated issues i.e. difficulty in walking and little movement. Quite low of energy most of the time, have breathing issues and lymphoedema). We were wondering if the low t3/thyroid may be a longstanding factor?

Here are the results:

CRP - 4.9

Ferritin - 57

Vitamin B12 - 55, Vitamin D - 50

TSH - 2.3

T3 - 3.4

Thyroxin - 16.6

Thyroglobulin antibodies - 16.9

Thyroid Peroxdase antibodies - 18.8

Thank you for giving this consideration and look forward to hearing from anyone

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Is this a Medichecks test with Active B12 tested?

Active B12 below 70 is considered low

Your vitamin D levels are low too

Low vitamin D is extremely common when over weight

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking, if any

[Lizadeb in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you so much for such a quick response.It was the Medichecks test - The Advanced Thyroid Function test.

Right now I'm not taking any supplements at all? Do you think I should be taking Vitamin D and B12 supplements then?

Did you have any thoughts about the low T3?

Thank you - really appreciate your reply.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lizadeb]

Likely to benefit from improving low vitamin levels generally

Only add one supplement or change one thing at time or you can’t see what’s helping

What’s your diet like, are you vegetarian or vegan. Ferritin is quite low

Vitamin D

Look at improving vitamin D to at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function. There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, being overweight you likely need higher dose than average

Calculator for working out dose you may need to bring level to 40ng/ml = 100nmol

grassrootshealth.net/projec...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Taking too much vitamin D is not a good idea

chriskresser.com/vitamin-d-...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

2 good videos on magnesium

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Vitamin D and Covid

Notice how much vitamin D many of these medics are taking

vitamind4all.org/letter.pdf

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lizadeb]

Active B12 below 70 needs investigation

Ideally request GP test B12 and folate levels before starting on any B vitamin supplements

Low B12 is more common as we get older

But if it’s very low need to rule out Pernicious Anaemia before starting any supplements

But if vegetarian, then if not supplementing B12 is inevitably going to be low

Come back with new post once you get Serum B12 and folate results from GP

If GP won’t test

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B is an option that contain folate, but is large capsule. You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule

Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Do you have any Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a B12 supplement as well as a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months, then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

B12 sublingual lozenges

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[janeroar]

Hi Lizadeb welcome! if you have the ranges best to put in so can see the results in context 🤗

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Thyroid results

No thyroid antibodies

But 20% of Hashimoto’s patients never have high thyroid antibodies

Is there any history of autoimmune disease in your family

You might consider getting ultrasound scan of thyroid- £150

TSH is slightly higher than average

Ft3 is obviously low

But Ft4 is typically average

Getting all four vitamins optimal by improving diet and supplementing is probably your first step

Slowly increasing your activity levels if you can.

Retest thyroid and vitamin levels in say 6 months

Always test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water

[PurpleNails Administrator]

How long has the low t3/thyroid been an issue? Have you got historical results?

Do you take a replacement dose (levo)?

We ask for ranges for each test as they vary between labs.

Medichecks advance test includes folate, was this tested?