Blood test help

[CornishChick]

Hi I wonder if you'd mind raising any problems with my bloods please. I recently saw an endocrinologist for my chronic insomnia, which I believe is caused by my low cotisol/low DHEA. I am always struggling with low ferritin, and even more now I've gone off liver and liver pate. I am trying to eat more pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate and the leafy veg etc per Slowdragon's link, but any other suggestions (no liver/pate!) would be appreciated. I take it there is no tablet for low ferritin when your iron panel is okay? It is usually okay, although I am not sure exactly which blood tests I am looking for to check my iron? Is it just haemoglobin?

I still have a few more blood tests to come.

I take 125mcg of levothyroxine. I was taking some T3 but stopped a month before my endo appointment, as it wasn't making any difference , and I thought it may be better to get a clean slate with her. It looks like it's not cleared yet with my suppressed TSH. Prior to taking T3, my TSH has always been below 1 whilst on levothyroxine.

I also take Vitamin D, C, K2 mk7, Selenium, magnesium and usually take B complex, although have ran out and need to re-start. I am aware that I should fast and avoid my thyroid medication for so long before my blood test, but she tested me at my appointment one afternoon.

I am aware that I need to get my vitamins at optimal levels for my thyroid, and have ordered folic acid within a new B complex.

Many thanks in advance.

FT4 15.5 (9-19)

TSH 0.008 (0.35-4.94)

FT3 5 (2.5-6)

Vitamin D 99

Ferritin 43.6 (10-204)

Folate 6.6 (3.1-20.5)

B12 565 (187-883)

Sodium 140 (133-146)

Potassium 3.9 (3.5-5.3)

Chloride 108 (95-108)

Bicarbonate 25 (22-29)

Anion Gap 7 (8-12)

Enzymatic Creatinine 48 (49-90)

Urea 3.1 (2.5-7.8)

Calcium 2.3 (2.2-2.6)

Adjusted calcium as above

Phosphate 1 (0.8-1.5)

Alkaline Phosphate 71 (30-130)

Total protein 69 (60-80)

Albumin 41 (35-50)

Globulin 28 (20-35)

Haemoglobin Alc (Sebia) 35 (20-41)

Prolactin 263 (109-557)

Oestradiol 333 - various ranges given depending upon phase, but endo never asked me which day of my cycle I was on. Should I be asking for sex hormones on a specific day, or the Dutch test? Someone on here has previously said I should test my

Testosterone 0.7 (0.5-1.9)

DHEA-S 2.4 (1.5-7.7) With previous saliva tests this has been very bottom/below range, although it says DHEA and not DHEA-S.

Cortisol 237 taken in an afternoon, not 9am. This has previously been around 220 at 9am.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

CornishChick

I take it there is no tablet for low ferritin when your iron panel is okay? It is usually okay, although I am not sure exactly which blood tests I am looking for to check my iron? Is it just haemoglobin?

Haemoglobin test is part of the full blood count, low haemoglobin may suggest anaemia.

For iron deficiency you need an iron panel which consists of:

Serum iron

Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)

Transferrin Saturation %

Ferritin

I've never had one done with my GP although once did have a ferritin test and even though it came back at 39 (low) there was no suggestion of further testing or what to do about it.

You can get a private iron panel with Medichecks, it's their "Iron Blood Test" and currently has 20% off at £31.20:

medichecks.com/products/iro...

I am aware that I should fast and avoid my thyroid medication for so long before my blood test, but she tested me at my appointment one afternoon.

That makes it difficult to accurately interpret your thyroid tests. Your TSH will be lower with an afternoon test than a morning test, and if there was less than 24 hours between last dose of Levo and blood draw then your FT4 will be showing higher than your normal circulating amount.

Vitamin D 99

This is good, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health both recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L so you're just about there although could improve if you wish.

Ferritin 43.6 (10-204)

You know this is a problem. List of iron rich foods:

bda.uk.com/resource/iron-ri...

everydayhealth.com/pictures...

Folate 6.6 (3.1-20.5)

have ordered folic acid within a new B complex.

I hope your new B Complex says "bioavailable" or "bioactive" and contains methylfolate (not folic acid) and methylcobalamin (not cyanocobalamin) as these are the converted, bioavailable forms (folic acid/cyanocobalamin has to be converted by our bodies to the active form).

B12 565 (187-883)

Should improve with the B Complex.

Remember to leave off the B Complex for 3-7 days before any blood test as it contains biotin and this can give false results.

Anion Gap 7 (8-12)

I have no experience of this but as it's out of range I've looked it up. Check it out by clicking on the + next to "What does the result mean" here:

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

You may want to discuss with your GP if they haven't already mentioned it.

The other tests are all within range or I have no experience of them so can't comment.

[Jenny583 in reply to SeasideSusie]

"I am aware that I should fast and avoid my thyroid medication for so long before my blood test, but she tested me at my appointment one afternoon."...

..."That makes it difficult to accurately interpret your thyroid tests.

{Your TSH will be higher with an afternoon test than a morning test,}..

Excuse me for butting in - but, I thought the afternoon test resulted in a 'lower' TSH?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jenny583]

Yes Jenny, you are correct. I have toothache and I think it's affecting my brain as well 🙄 I will go and correct it, thank you for pointing this out 😊

This is why when someone asks me to interpret their results in a PM I always ask them to put it on the forum in case I make a mistake and people will point this out on the forum - admirably illustrated here!

[Jenny583 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh poor you! I hope you have some clove oil - & maybe some pliers?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jenny583]

Tried a new dentist yesterday (mine closes down completely in 2 weeks time), he just wanted to sell me some crowns - told him at my age there's no point in spending that sort of money. Didn't offer to replace the filling that has fallen out until I said "What about the filling that's come out" to which he replied "Yes I can replace that". Booked me in for the end of the month, am waiting to see if my own dentist has a slot before they close then I'll avoid this new one like the plague!

[Jenny583 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Good luck & watch out! cowboy dentists destroyed my health as well as my mouth x

[CornishChick in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you very much for your valued advice SeasideSusie, much appreciated.