So after my first post about feeling terrible on Levothyroxine (gradually get worse symptoms over the last year) I’ve gone back to square one and had a test with Thriva completed (following the testing advice etc).
I’m ignoring the thyroid function side of things as since my last NHS TFT back on the 12th Nov, I was taking off levo for 7 days, started back on the same dose for 4 days and then reduced to 100mg (which I’ve now been on for 2 weeks) - which probably explains why my TSH has now jumped up. Had my T4 been able to be measured in the Thriva test, I suspect it still would have been well up in the 20’s (I still feel jittery etc).
So taking the advice from here, I’ll have to wait another 4 weeks for an accurate result from the levo change.
Just for comparison (and I appreciate the accuracy will be out), my NHS TFT on the 12th Nov was:
TSH 2.25. T4 29.9
The Thriva results below are from a test on the 7th Dec.
So my next question is around the vitamin side of things. I take a vit D tablet daily, and I’ve just bought b12 and folate supplements.
What’s a good level to be aiming for?
Written by
Thyroidsam
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Before taking them you might want to consider discussing these two results with your GP to see if you have B12 deficiency or Pernicious Anaemia and Folate deficiency, in which case GP should prescribe and monitor.
Active B12: 63
Ideally Active B12 would be over 100.
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.
If you don't have any symptoms then you could take your B12 supplement. Out of interest, which one have you bought?
Folate: 8.1nmol/L (8.83-60.8)
Folate is recommended to be at least half way through range.
This level can be indicative of folate deficiency according to NICE:
◦Serum folate of less than 7 nanomol/L (3 micrograms/L) is used as a guide to indicate folate deficiency.
◦However, there is an indeterminate zone with folate levels of 7–10 nanomol/L (3–4.5 micrograms/L), so low folate should be interpreted as suggestive of deficiency and not diagnostic.
Vit D: 100nmol/L
I take a vit D tablet daily
Tablets are the least absorbable of all Vit D supplements. What exactly are you taking and the dose?
The Vit D Society and Grassroots Health recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L, with a recent blog post on Grassroots Health mentioning a study which recommends over 125nmol/L. You're not far off this level so your dose might need adjusting.
Do you also take D3's important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7?
I’ve been taking Revitalise Healthcare 25ug vitamin D.
That is just 1,000iu D3 which may just about be a maintenance dose for someone with a decent level already.
Although I’ve just purchased a D3000 & K2 oral spray.
amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007DI...
Be aware that you need 3 x sprays to give you 3,000iu, so each 1 x spray is 1,000iu.
If you want to raise your level a bit I'd take 2,000iu daily during the winter, but if you want to take 3,000iu daily it's up to you but you need to retest in 3 months to check your level. You also need magnesium and Vit K2-MK7.
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and Vit K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc. Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form, and large doses of D3 can induce depletion of magnesium. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.
As for B12 and folalte, as I said above, you may be better discussing your B12 level with your GP and testing for B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia before doing anything.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Private Thyroid Blood Test
Private blood test results
Thyroid Private Blood Test Results
Private blood test help needed
Latest Private Blood Test Results
