Hi after my GP picked up that my B12 level was low (112) in a routine blood test she requested more bloods to be tested for Se thyroid peroxidase Ab conc the result is 989.0 KU/L• Abnormal, apparently the normal range is 0-8
Can anyone give me an explanation of what this might mean as I haven’t been able to see or speak to the GP yet.
Hi and Welcome !
Your high level of anti-bodies confirms Hashimotos - auto-immune thyroid. This can be the cause of many issues including poor absorption of nutrients resulting in low B12.
A B12 that low should be investigated further. Folate - Ferritin - VitD MUST be tested too - I suspect they too will be low. As Hashimotos is auto-immune Pernicious Anaemia needs to be ruled out.
Other thyroid testing needed too - TSH - FT4 - FT3. What is your doctor prescribing ?
I see you have been posting on the Heart Forum with your problems. I would be demanding your test results with ranges for thyroid from that time - 4 years ago. You are legally entitled to all your results and you can ask Reception for a print out.
Sadly thyroid hormones have a big impact on the heart - especially if the T3 is low in range.
Please keep asking questions ....
Hashimotos is the most common thyroid condition resulting in an under-active thyroid. There is much we can do to help ourselves - won't overwhelm you at the moment ! One step at a time ....
Are you taking any supplements ?
I’d strongly advise you to read up on B12 deficiency treatment and NiCE treatment guidelines. There’s also a forum on Health Unlocked you can join. Low B12 can affect nerves so important that you are given the correct treatment soon. There are many reports of GPs not treating it correctly or following guidelines. As you have a deficiency following further tests for Pernicious Anaemia autoimmune antibodies also Mean Cell Volume and folate you should be given B12 loading injections.
Thanks Marz and Hoxo for the help, I’ve managed to get a phone consultation with my GP for this afternoon so will jot down your points and ask. Many thanks 😘
How did it go ?
Waste of time to be blunt GP has had my results for over a week, she says the results are very puzzling and doesn’t want to prescribe/decide anything until she is sure of cause so is going to send the results to a molecular biologist (? Very poor phone line) and should hear back in a week or so. ☹️
Did you manage to get a word in ?
Hardly when I did mention some of the things you guys mentioned she said we will have to wait until the expert gets back to her before we jump to any conclusions 🤞
Considering autoimmune thyroid disease is extremely common (over 2 million people in U.K. on levothyroxine) and low B12 and extremely common result of being hypothyroid….suggest you make an appointment with different doctor
As others have said it’s important to test to see if low B12 is merely due to having autoimmune thyroid disease or if low B12 is second autoimmune thyroid disease…..pernicious anaemia
You need full testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting B12 injections or supplements
If you have PA treatment is loading dose injections and then B12 injections every 2-3 months
If it’s low because of being hypothyroid, then daily supplements might be adequate…..but likely to need B12 injections initially
Low B12 symptoms
Come back with new post once you get Full thyroid and vitamin test results
High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Low vitamin levels common as we get older too
But BEFORE starting any B12 GP should test for Pernicious Anaemia
Low B12 is common with autoimmune thyroid disease
But having one autoimmune disease makes others more likely ….so you need testing for PA
With such low B12 likely to need B12 injections rather than B12 supplements. Starting with LOADING B12 injections (several B12 injections over few weeks) ….before then getting B12 injections every 2-3 months
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)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
This may be helpful :
b12deficiency.info/what-to-...
perniciousanemia.org/diagno...
And you really need to join the Pernicious Anaemia Forum on HU :
They will give you loads of info on what you should do to get tested, to get diagnosed if appropriate, and to get proper treatment, whether you have PA or not. Because one thing is for sure, you are very deficient and that needs treating urgently whether you have PA or not.
I’ve found some more recent results that my GP says don’t make sense with the thyroid anti bodies being 989.
Serum Folate 5.4 ug/L
Serum TSH 3.1 my/L
Tissu transglutaminase LGA 0.5 u/ml
Serum vit B12 117ng/L
Serum Ferritin 114 ug/L
Red blood cell count 4.16 10* 12/l
Please add ranges on these results
Folate looks low
Ferritin ok
No vitamin D result
Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH …..obviously B12 is extremely low
Getting all four vitamins optimal is essential
That’s vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin D is extremely common with autoimmune thyroid disease
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Low vitamin levels common as we get older too
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)
Just testing TSH is completely inadequate
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
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
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