TEST RESULTS

[Clydeiknowyou69]

From March this year: TSH 5.00 (0.27-4.20) FREE T4 17. 2 (10.0-22.0.) July this year: TSH 5.57 (0.27-4.20) FREE T4 17 (10.0-22.0) August this year: Thyroid perox Abs 96.1 ( <6.0) There is an asterisk preceding the antibody result. Why? Vitamin B12 343 (197-771) Folate 2.2 (3.9-26.8) Flagged as low. Ferritin 40 (13-250. Can anyone help with these results. Only other thing is I apparently have high monocytes, no idea about this. Thank you to anyone who can shed any light for me.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Clydeiknowyou69

Thyroid perox Abs 96.1 ( <6.0) There is an asterisk preceding the antibody result. Why?

Because the range for the TPO Abs is <6.0 which means that if your result is less than 6 it is a negative result, anything over 6.0 is a positive result, so you have a result of 96.1, which is over range (the reason for the asterisk) and it means that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's).

Over range TSH with positive antibodies should give you a diagnosis of autoimmune thyoid disease and a prescription for Levo.

Vitamin B12 343 (197-771)

This is in range but very low.

Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency – check here:

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

b12d.org/submit/document?id=46

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 and if you have B12 deficiency is not detected and treated then this could affect your nervous system. B12 deficiency should be treated before starting folic acid because folic acid can sometimes improve your symptoms so much that is masks B12 deficiency.

If you don't you could supplement with sublingual B12 methylcobalamin, dose 1,000mcg daily. 1 x bottle plus a good quality B Complex to balance all the B vitamins.

Folate 2.2 (3.9-26.8) Flagged as low.

This is folate deficiency and you need to discuss this with your GP, see

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-b12...

Folate level

◦Serum folate of less than 7 nanomol/L (3 micrograms/L) is used as a guide to indicate folate deficiency.

Your GP should prescribe a course of folic acid. Remember that B12 deficiency should be treated before starting folic acid because folic acid can sometimes improve your symptoms so much that is masks B12 deficiency.

Ferritin 40 (13-250)

This is very low in range. Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range although some experts say that the optimal level for thyroid function is 90-110ug/L.

As it is within range it probably wont bother your GP, but it is extremely low so it would be a good idea for your GP to do an iron panel to include

Serum iron

Transferrin saturation percentage

Total Iron Binding Capacity

Ferritin

to see if you have iron deficiency.

Also a full blood count to see if you have anaemia. The iron panel wont tell you if you have anaemia, only iron deficiency, and you can have iron deficiency with or without anaemia.

You can have low ferritin without iron deficiency.

Raised monocytes can be associated with infections, best discussed with your GP.

[Clydeiknowyou69 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your reply. According to my GP's surgery I have subclinical thyroid ism. No treatment. I have been to them several times re symptoms. My energy levels are non-existent for starters and a host of other symptoms. Hitting my head off a brick wall it seems.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Clydeiknowyou69]

Subclinical hypothyroidism is over range TSH with FT4 in range. Subclinical with raised antibodies is autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashi's) and can be treated :

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.5 Managing and monitoring subclinical hypothyroidism

Tests for people with confirmed subclinical hypothyroidism

Adults

1.5.1Consider measuring TPOAbs for adults with TSH levels above the reference range, but do not repeat TPOAbs testing.

Treating subclinical hypothyroidism

1.5.2When discussing whether or not to start treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism, take into account features that might suggest underlying thyroid disease, such as symptoms of hypothyroidism, previous radioactive iodine treatment or thyroid surgery, or raised levels of thyroid autoantibodies.

1.5.4Consider a 6-month trial of levothyroxine for adults under 65 with subclinical hypothyroidism who have:

a TSH above the reference range but lower than 10 mlU/litre on 2 separate occasions 3 months apart, and symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Present the evidence and be prepared to fight if necessary. If possible it might be better to see a different GP.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

TSH 5.00 (0.27-4.20)

FREE T4 17. 2 (10.0-22.0.)

July this year:

TSH 5.57 (0.27-4.20)

FREE T4 17 (10.0-22.0

Your GP is WRONG

With two tests done with TSH 5 or over …..and high thyroid antibodies….and symptoms

You should be started on levothyroxine

Starting levothyroxine - flow chart 

gps.northcentrallondonccg.n...

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH levels

Folate is deficient

B12 is insufficient

Ferritin is too low

No vitamin D result

Improving low vitamin levels can help get diagnosed

Also ALWAYS Test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am to get highest TSH

[Clydeiknowyou69 in reply to SlowDragon]

They didn't test my vitamin D. The high monocytes is puzzling. The one thing that pertains to that is I had glandular fever many years ago. Surely wouldn't cause the high monocytes after all this time. Back to do battle with the GP surgery again. With hypo symptoms and low folate probs why I feel like rubbish.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clydeiknowyou69]

Glandular fever (Ebstien Barr virus) often causes Hashimoto’s

EBV 

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drhedberg.com/epstein-barr-...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

drchristianson.com/epstein-...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

see GP

They must prescribe folic acid for deficient folate

Ideally a test for pernicious anaemia for low B12 BEFORE you start any B12 supplements

Request/insist on full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

And coeliac blood test as well as you have autoimmune thyroid disease

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...

1.1 Recognition of coeliac disease 

1.1.1 Offer serological testing for coeliac disease to:people with any of the following: 

persistent unexplained abdominal or gastrointestinal symptoms 

faltering growth

prolonged fatigue 

unexpected weight loss

severe or persistent mouth ulcers

unexplained iron, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency

type 1 diabetes, at diagnosis

autoimmune thyroid disease, at diagnosis

irritable bowel syndrome (in adults)

first‑degree relatives of people with coeliac disease

[Clydeiknowyou69]

I didn't even know my folate was low, got a print-out of test results, that's when I saw it. Never even mentioned by the GP's. Or the high monocytes, maybe they don't mention these things in hope they'll go away. Not them that are ill and having symptoms though. This site, and the people on it have been a great help to me. Thank you all.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

having autoimmune disease and/or coeliac disease both increase risk of high monocytes

healthline.com/health/monoc...

[Clydeiknowyou69 in reply to SlowDragon]

On my print out of tests my last blood pressure reading was 142/78. Is this high? Always had low blood pressure previously. Again no mention to me of this.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clydeiknowyou69]

check against your previous blood pressure results

[Clydeiknowyou69 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hoping for help. Spoke to a GP today. I have calcium deposits in my (R) knee joint. I have to have a blood test for uric acid. They are doing my thyroid bloods again, if over 5 again I've to get levothyroxcine. Been given a prescription for low folate for now. Are these calcium deposits related to my thyroid in any way.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clydeiknowyou69]

You need vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid levels tested together

What’s GP doing about low B12 levels

Are you having testing for pernicious anaemia before starting on B12 supplements

Low B12 symptoms 

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Once you finish folic acid prescription consider starting on daily vitamin B complex

low B12

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.

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 drops 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

B12 sublingual lozenges 

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

B12 range in U.K. is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Meanwhile working on improving low ferritin by increasing iron rich foods in your diet

Aiming for ferritin at least over 70

[Clydeiknowyou69 in reply to SlowDragon]

No mention of B12, will ask for Vitamin D and calcium to be tested. Bit worried about the calcium deposits. Seems to be linked to parathyroid issues. Maybe shouldn't have googled that.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clydeiknowyou69]

more likely to be due to being hypothyroid

But easy to rule parathyroid issues in or out by testing calcium, vitamin D and parathyroid levels together

Download this app and put results in here

calciumpro.com/

app made by Norman Centre Florida

parathyroid.com/

[Clydeiknowyou69 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you again for your invaluable help SlowDragon, hopefully it is all down to my "Struggling thyroid" as the last GP said. At least the GP today acknowledged about the positive TPO antibodies. The ones I was told were normal when I phoned regarding the results. My print outs told a different story though.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Clydeiknowyou69]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease is characterized by the deposition of pyrophosphate crystals in various joint structures. Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease can be linked to underlying metabolic disorders such as hemochromatosis, hyperparathyroidism, hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesaemia, and hypothyroidism, all of which increase the risk of calcium pyrophosphate deposition. 

Most likely linked to being hypothyroid

Low vitamin D and low magnesium often linked together and low vitamin D is extremely common with hypothyroidism

Full iron panel test for hemochromatosis

Calcium, vitamin D and parathyroid levels tested together for hyperparathyroid

[Clydeiknowyou69 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon. I get the feeling they'll be testing for a lot of what you have said. I will defo be asking the nurse when the bloods are being done. Although they may not be forthcoming about it.