I Really Don't Understand My GP

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

Well colour me stupid. I had my blood tests back today as I stated in my earlier post. The thyroid results got flagged through as satisfactory no action required. Even though my TSH was below range it wasn't suppressed anymore. Which I was surprised and pleased about, no meddling with my Levo I thought.

However my serum calcium is below range and my ferritin slightly elevated. They said these needed retesting. So I contacted the surgery and was told yes make an appointment for bloods, we'll put them on the system. I live halfway between the surgery and my hospital and find going to the hospital more convenient as they have more availability and earlier times.

A bit later I wanted to check my record online to make sure the right tests were put on the system and to my disbelief they are testing B12, folate, ferritin, electrolytes, TSH, FT4 and FT3 this time, as well as kidney function and liver profile again.

Surely this is a mistake, why retest all of those again when they all came back as normal except for the calcium and ferritin? I did email them in case they'd made a mistake and I'll take it up with them on Friday when I have my B12 jab.

I also want them to check vitamin D as Slow Dragon said low calcium can mean low vitamin D. I was previously treated by NHS for deficiency.

Does this seem odd to anyone else? It's annoying as if they're retesting the thyroid I need to get an early morning slot which means a 3 week wait. If it was just the two abnormal results I could get in sooner.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ridiculous isn’t it

Primary reason for low calcium is low vitamin D

On replacement thyroid hormones we need vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol-125nmol may be better

labs.selfdecode.com/blog/ca...

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Are you currently taking any vitamin D, magnesium or vitamin k2

How low was vitamin D in past

If been deficient in past you should have been advised to supplement continuously to maintain optimal vitamin D levels

Trial and error what maintenance dose is required

May need higher dose in winter than summer

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing

vitamindtest.org.uk

If taking vitamin D supplements, should also be supplementing magnesium

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...

Great article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi

I was diagnosed with deficiency a good few years ago and used to get a monthly mega dose of 25,000 iu every 28 days, then the NHS stopped treating it and advised me to buy my own, which I do. I take 4,000 iu a day with K2. Sorry can't remember how low it was was. Below the reference range though.

I take magnesium for fibro and for migraine prevention, I take a powder form which has several different types of magnesium in, like theronate and malate around 500mg per day.

I seem to be going backwards as my folate is lower now than in October and I've been faithfully taking 400mg of methylfolate each day in my B complex. My FT4 is much lower than it was in December. No wonder I'm feeling so crap.

[nellie237]

Yes it is ridiculous.

So, they're aiming to do all that re-testing to avoid testing Vit D, because the powers that be jumped on the report that stated the NHS could save £38m a year by not testing............ even though you fit the new criteria:-

"Lead researcher Dr Veena Patel, Consultant Rheumatologist from Leicester’s Hospitals, added: “National and international guidelines recommend vitamin D testing be performed only in those patients who present with symptoms such as bone pain, muscle weakness, symptoms suggestive of rickets, or those patients who have low serum calcium levels."

arc-em.nihr.ac.uk/news-even...

It beggars the question. Does your GP now need two under range calcium results before being able to request Vit D? Or, is just because the test request isn't immediately visible any more?...

"This study shows the impact of implementing a simple pragmatic redesign of the electronic request screens led to a substantial reduction in vitamin D requests by more than one-third.

“It reduced expenditure by more than half a million pounds in Leicestershire alone"

The only comment I can think of is WTF, because I am truly lost for words.

I do hope that you get some answers soon SS, because you've been trying to get well for quite some time now. Take care.

[jade_s]

If you don't care about getting an accurate thyroid reading (since you just gone one), I'd just skip my meds and get the afternoon appointment, and not worry about it, then take meds after.

But it IS ridiculous and you shouldn't be put in this position. Plus it's a waste of resources, which i thought was oh so important.

[jade_s in reply to jade_s]

Nevermind I see FT3 wasn't included last time. Sorry, I can only sympathize with you!

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to jade_s]

Hi

It really is I can't believe they're testing again, there's got to be a mistake. What's the point of testing thyroid, B12, folate and liver 3 weeks after normal results. It's not going to have suddenly changed. Yet they're not testing vitamin D despite the correlation with low calcium and my previous history of low vitamin D.

[jade_s in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Yes maybe it was a miscommunication or some other mix up. It absolutely makes no sense, unless they thought the entire sample was compromised, eg hemolysis. I hope you can get it sorted out before going in for a useless test.

[serenfach]

You are under the mistaken belief that they engage brain. They saw you have a thyroid problem and so add the tests. Oh, she needs a blood test, lets stick down the normal...

You cannot get Vit D tested in Wales unless you have been previously found to have osteoporosis. How do they find out if you have it now? They dont.

[buddy99]

From my experience doctors usually fly on autopilot. As the saying goes, "You can lead a doctor to knowledge but you can not make them think". And so as mindless as this retesting seems to us...well, it really is mind-less. Routine. Routine. Routine.