Thriva Blood test results- some help please :)

[Smv95]

I was advised on my last post to get my bloods done again and go from there- so that's what I've done! Thriva were one of the cheaper options, but with an advanced Thyroid profile, I can highly recommend! So easy to test at home and send off, got my results back in 2 days on their app!

Background: I have had a thyroidectomy 8 years ago, have since been on thyroxine. Varied mcgs, but have never felt quite right, low energy etc. I am also borderline aneamic, with the doctors giving me supplements when they feel like it basically! I also take sertraline 50mg, the progesterone only pill and 200mg of ferrous fumarate, and currently on 150mcg of Levothyroxine. Any advice on my results is welcome!

My results are below, I shall include what the ranges should be also.

Active B12 (range 37.5 - 188pmol/L)

Result: 53pmol/L

Ferritin (iron) (range 13 - 150ug/L)

Result: 28ug/L

Folate Serum (range 8.83 -60.8nmol/L)

Result: 12.2nmol/L

Thyroid advanced Profile

TSH (range 0.270 - 4.2mIU/L)

Result: 0.06mIU/L

Free thyroxine (FT4) (range 12 - 22pmol/L)

Result: 21.5pmol/L

Triiodothyronine (FT3) (range 3.1 - 6.8pmol/L)

Result: 5.4pmol/L

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) (range 0 - 34kIU/L)

Result: 13.8kIU/L

Total Thyroxine (T4) (range 59 - 154nmol/L)

Result: 146nmol/L

Thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAB) (range 0 - 115kU/L)

Result: 13.7kU/L

Vitamin D (range 75 - 175nmol/L)

Result: 54nmol/L

Thank you in advance!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So your vitamin levels need significant improvements

What vitamin supplements are you currently apart from Ferrous fumerate

Vitamin D is far too low

Aiming to improve to at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Folate and B12 too low

Aiming for Active B12 at least over 70

Serum B12 over 500

Folate and ferritin at least half way through range

Ferritin is very low

Thyroid levels

Was test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test?

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

[Smv95 in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm not on any other supplements at the moment, just ferrous fumarate 200mg. I think I need to take more than 1 a day but struggle remembering medications during the day. My diet isn't great so I know I can improve this for definite.My thyroid test, I stopped eating at 10pm the previous night, and did the test at 6.30am. Did not take my meds, only water. I would normally take my thyroxine at half 6, so yes 24 hours previous. I don't always have the same brand no, but I generally do and have had for a while. I don't have my meds to hand currently but they are in an orange and white box I think.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Smv95]

Vitamin D

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol. Some CCG areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise you to be 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. One spray = 1000iu

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

It’s trial and error what dose we need,

Vitamin D and thyroid disease

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease

newscientist.com/article/23...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

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

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...

[Smv95 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have ordered myself Vitamin D and magnesium on your recommendation, and I shall look at Vitamin B complex in a month or so. When would you recommend to take my supplements during the day? I take my thyroxine first thing in the morning, and then my other meds at night before I sleep. I know I can't take anything else with my thyroxine, so when is best for Vitamin D and magnesium? Also, I take my iron supplements before I sleep along with my other meds, is this the best time? With my results above I have been taking 1 210mg pill a day, so clearly I need more, when's best to take it? Thank you for all of your help and links to articles!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Smv95]

Vitamin D mouth spray can be after breakfast (as it’s absorbed in mouth, not gut)

Alternatively take after lunch or dinner

Magnesium best taken at bedtime as relaxing (or late afternoon if taking levothyroxine at bedtime ) ….must be four hours away from levothyroxine

B vitamins, when you start them, best taken immediately after breakfast. B vitamins are energising and best taken in morning

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What was reason for thyroidectomy?

Are you male or female and approx age?

(Helpful to add this on profile page too)

Only add one supplement at a time and wait at least 10-14 days to assess any changes before considering adding another

Low Folate and low B12

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 or Jarrow B Right are recommended options that contains folate, but both are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)

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...

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...

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Smv95

Thriva have a very confusing way of showing test results.

Can you please edit your post, remove the "optimal" and "normal" ranges and put the complete range that shows in the green bar (light and dark green) that is shown. This way members can see the proper reference ranges rather than the nonsensical "optimal" and "normal" that Thriva insist on using. For example, the proper reference range for FT4 is 12-22, there is absolutely no way that 12-17 is optimal, that goes from zero percent to 50 percent through the range which is not optimal for anyone.

You can find your results with their normal ranges as a pdf using the link in the help page

intercom.help/thrivahelpcen...

Your results will then look like this:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

rather than this:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Smv95 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hiya, your link didn't work but I found what you were referring to and managed to see my results as a PDF. It makes much more sense now and seems simpler! It will also come in handy when I talk to my doctor as i can send this on so thank you :)I have changed the ranges on my post, hopefully a bit easier to understand now?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Retest thyroid and vitamin levels 2-4 months after adding last vitamin supplement