I've learned such a lot in the last few weeks since I joined this forum, the biggest point being that my GP tests were done at the wrong time and after my levo and vitamin supplements!
The original GP I saw said that she could increase my levo from 25mcg if I wasn't feeling well but I would have to be careful as I have osteopenia and if I went hyper it could affect my bones. I didn't take note of the original manufacturer of levo but after two months it changed to Wockhardt and I started to feel very tired, gaining weight, dry skin, hair falling out etc. A different GP picked up my e-consult and flatly refused to increase my levo without blood test to iron out anything else being the cause. That was 24.01.22 and I'm still waiting for a response! So I decided to have a private test taken at the right time, before levo or vitamins and looking at everything.
I listed the two sets of results below The only certain thing is I don't have anything auto-immune! After the GP test I thought my ferritin was a bit low but it isn't on the private one. On the GP test my folate was flagged abnormally high but on the private one it isn't. My B12 was flagged as high on the private test although the Drs notes said that it wasn't an issue because B12 is transient. I would appreciate any opinions.
The original GP I saw said that she could increase my levo from 25mcg if I wasn't feeling well but I would have to be careful as I have osteopenia and if I went hyper it could affect my bones.
Increasing your dose of levo isn't going to make you 'hyper', that is an impossibility because you are hypo, and the thyroid cannot suddenly start making too much hormone, when it's been making too little until now.
What she probably meant was 'over-medicated' - doctors are very bad about using the right vocabulary! But, her deffinition of 'over-medicated' is bound to be very different to ours. She probably believes that a suppressed TSH (her difinition of 'over-medicated') has a negative effect on bones. But it doesn't. It would be long-term very high fT3 that would affect bones. But, as your FT3 is rock bottom (too low and causing symptoms) that is not even a remote possibility.
A different GP picked up my e-consult and flatly refused to increase my levo without blood test to iron out anything else being the cause.
That figures, because they hate increasing doses of levo. And hate admitting that low thyroid could be the source of all our ills. They always want to find 'something else'.
The only certain thing is I don't have anything auto-immune!
Not true, I'm afraid. There's nothing certain about it. Antibodies fluctuate all the time. Is this the first time they've been tested?
Also, 20% of Hashi's people never have raised antibodies. They are diagnosed by an ultrasound.
On the GP test my folate was flagged abnormally high but on the private one it isn't. My B12 was flagged as high on the private test although the Drs notes said that it wasn't an issue because B12 is transient.
Folate and B12 are water soluble, so excess is excreted. Nothing to worry about. Although I don't know what that doctor meant by 'transient'. Do you supplement either of them?
Thanks for that greygoose . I learned something new again!
I do supplement my Vitamin D with 4000iu daily oral spray because I was deficient a few years ago and probably had been for years as a fair skinned person who kept out of the sun to avoid burning and more recently I'm covered in SPF50 all summer. I started supplementing B12 because it helped me sleep better.
There was no need to stop it. And, if you're taking B12 in any form, you need to take a B complex because the Bs all work together so need to be kept balanced.
I use Pharma Nord B complex. I also have selinium 200mcg, Bio-Quinone 100mg, chromium 200ug. I eat nuts to maintain my magnesium levels but occasionally supplement with Better You body lotion for transdermal absorption.
Hmmm well, I can't find the ingreients for Pharma Nord B complex - which always makes me suspicious. Does it contain just B vits and nothing but B vits? Does it contain methylcobalamin and methylfolate or cyanocobalamin and folic acid?
It's multivitamins and minerals. It was recommended by a pharmacist who recommends a lot of alternative medicines. It's folic acid, not sure about the cobalamin. I get a good amount of folate from my diet anyway.
You shouldn't be taking a multivitamin for all sorts of reasons.
* If your multi contains iron, it will block the absorption of all the vitamins - you won't absorb a single one! Iron should be taken at least two hours away from any other supplement except vit C, which is necessary to aid absorption of iron, and protect the stomach.
* If your multi also contains calcium, the iron and calcium will bind together and you won't be able to absorb either of them.
* Multi's often contain things you shouldn't take or don't need : calcium, iodine, etc. These things should be tested before supplementing.
* Copper and zinc need to be kept balanced, but hypos are often high in one and low in the other - often low in zinc. So, both should be tested before supplementing. Taking either of them when you already high in it, will reduce the other and make you feel worse.
* Multi's often contain the cheapest, least absorbable form of the supplement : magnesium oxide, instead of magnesium citrate or one of the other good forms; cyanocobalamin instead of methylcobalamin; folic acid instead of methylfolate; etc. etc. etc. This is especially true of supermarket multis.
* Multi's do not contain enough of anything to help a true deficiency, even if you could absorb them.
* When taking several supplements, you should start them individually at two weekly intervals, not all at once as you would with a multi. Because, if you start them all at once, and something doesn't agree with you, you won't know which one it is and you'll be back to square one.
* Most supplements should be taken at least two hours away from thyroid hormone, but some - iron, vit D, magnesium and calcium (should you really need to take it) should be taken at least four hours away from thyroid hormone.
*Vit C should be taken 2 hours away from B12 because it affects how the body uses B12.
*Never take magnesium/zinc/calcium at the same time as they affect the absorption of each other.
*Take zinc and copper separately as zinc affects the absorption of copper, if you need to take both.
*Vits A/D/E/K are all fat soluble vitamins, and if taken together can compete for the source of fat. They are best taken away from each other.
* The magnesium you take - and just about everybody needs to take it - should be chosen according to what you want it to do:
Magnesium citrate: mild laxative, best for constipation.
Magnesium taurate: best for cardiovascular health.
Magnesium malate: best for fatigue – helps make ATP energy.
Magnesium glycinate: most bioavailable and absorbable form, non-laxative.
Magnesium chloride: for detoxing the cells and tissues, aids kidney function and can boost a sluggish metabolism.
Magnesium carbonate: good for people suffering with indigestion and acid reflux as it contains antacid properties.
Worst forms of magnesium: oxide, sulphate, glutamate and aspartate.
With a multivitamin, you are just throwing your money down the drain, at best, and doing actual harm at worst. Far better to get tested for vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin, and build up your supplementation program based on the results. A vitamin or a mineral is only going to help you if you need it, anyway. More of something you don’t need is not better, it's either pointless or even dangerous, as with iodine, calcium, iron or vit D.
Oh wow! That's a lot to get my head round. I'll print this out as a future guide. I've stopped taking anything but Vit D and K2 by oral spray. I know I need this because I don't get the sunlight required and I was very deficient. The GP prescribed me tablets but after a week I had pain in my gut so switched to the oral spray which is fine.
I'm seeing how I get on without iron and B12 but I would only take these by oral spray anyway because it's the best way for me to absorb them.
If you're taking vit D, you also need to take magnesium, because the two work together. Taking vit D without magnesium will deplete your magnesium stores, and they're probably already pretty low - most people's are.
Yes, well, I'm afraid that blood test isn't worth the paper it's written on. Blood tests for magnesium are unreliable because of the way the body handles magnesium.
Thank you. I'll send my results in an e-consult (saves hanging on the phone only to be told there's no appointments left, try again tomorrow) and see what happens.
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Test results - GP vs Blue Horizon with ranges
Any advice on what to do now, please, following my latest test results? 
Help with test results
HELP PLEASE: NEW BLOOD TEST RESULTS 
Advice re inconsistent and above range FT4 please.
