Blood Tests (And a process of elimination)

[Angie8712]

Hi everyone,

I was recently diagnosed with Low Ferritin (13) and have been supplementing Iron. I've had various symptoms, the main ones being:

Restless Legs Syndrome

Muscle Weakness

Acid Reflux

Nerve Pain in Right Foot (or at least I think its nerve pain)

Post Nasal Drip

Fatigue

Facial Rash

I was on the Lupus Board due to concerns this might be behind my symptoms, however one of the members suggested I post my Thyroid Blood Test results here. They haven't been flagged by my GP so I assume all is ok.

Serum Free T4 Level - 13.0 (Range: 8.0 - 19.1 U)

Serum TSH Level - 1.53 mU/L (Range 0.35 - 4.94 U)

Also, my B12 is 267 ng/l and my Vitamin D is 50 nmol/L

Thank you!

Angela

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You B12 is so low GP should be testing for Pernicious Anaemia

Have you had folate levels tested?

B12 and folate work together

If one is low the other one often is low too

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

Pre or post menopause

Terrible ferritin level

GP has presumably done full iron panel test for anaemia

Exactly what iron supplements are you currently taking

[Angie8712 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi there, thank you so much for your very comprehensive reply.

I’ll reply to each message individually.

My folate is sitting at 11 which is the middle of the lab range, so I guess that’s fine?

I’m neither vegetarian or vegan.

I’m in my 30s and pre menopausal.

Yes, the iron tests were done, I’m not anaemic but do have low ferritin which I’m taking Ferrous Fumarate for. 3x a day.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

vitamin D is too low

Do you normally take vitamin D supplement in winter

(as recommended by government)

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on 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...

Another member recommended this one recently

Vitamin D with k2

amazon.co.uk/Strength-Subli...

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...

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...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[Angie8712 in reply to SlowDragon]

I thought perhaps my Vit D seemed to be borderline. Doctor didn’t flag this

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH, in effect hiding how hypothyroid you may be

Suggest you work on improving vitamin levels for 6-8 weeks

Then get FULL THYROID test including thyroid antibodies

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

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Symptoms of lupus or Hashimoto’s are often similar

Rash on face can be either

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies 

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis. 

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis 

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism 

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

[Angie8712 in reply to SlowDragon]

A lot to take in here but I have more blood tests tomorrow so will hopefully get a better idea of which direction I’m heading with regards to my ferritin and if my vitamin levels are continuing to drop.

I just don’t feel myself at all at the moment and feel co

Portent disregarded by my GP surgery.

Thank you for your help!

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Angie8712]

yeah GPS just aren’t interested in vitamin levels, but from personal experience having this advice from @slowdragon it has really helped me. Feel so much better than before after 12 weeks of supplements. Definitely recommend the private testing and self supplementing based on the advice here. Should have my results back in a few days. Am interested to see how much I’ve improved them. 🦋💚🦋