After 16 years with the same GP Practice, I think it’s time to change as I never get the tests I request. My latest results are:
TSH. 0.59 (0.27 - 4.2) No further action
T3 & T4 not tested even though I asked.
B12 352. (197 - 771)
Folate 7.7 (3.0 - 20)
Ferritin 197 (13 - 150) Raised ferritin? Liver problem? Outside normal range. Result Borderline, No further action.
Haemoglobin A1c level IFCC standardised 39 mol/mol. Providing none of the exclusion criteria are met, HbA1c of 48mmol/mol or greater do not exclude diabetes. Result Normal.
iron level 16umol,L (11.0 -25.0)
Unsaturated iron binding capacity 60unmol (44.0 -71.0)
Transferrin saturation index 27% (20.0 -50.0) No further action.
Your comments would be appreciated.
Thank you.
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Madebyme
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I discussed the private test with my doctor who the reduced my tabs to 75mg and told me to retest after 2 months. Have been taking Vitamin D but that didn’t get tested this time. Blood draw was before 9 am with no Levo taken for 24 hours prior to test.
Sometimes laboratories ignore GP requests to test FT3 and FT4 if TSH is within range, even if requested by a GP. This has happened to me several times and the reason why I test levels privately. Unfortunately, if you move GP surgeries, there is no guarantee that they will test everything you request either. It’s a bit of a lottery.
How are you feeling on the reduced dose? If you are still having adverse symptoms, could you increase to 87.5mcg? (I find a pill cutter invaluable for making small dosage increases)
I have successfully improved my folate and B12 using a good B Complex (I use Thorne Basic B).
I’m taking 1000iu of Vit D, 500mg of Bit C and I take Actimel everyday.
I’ve stopped taking Proton inhibitors as they didn’t help with indigestion/ heartburn/reflux symptoms. The symptoms I present and have presented for the last 3 years is discomfort in my chest and neck. Have had ECG and chest X-ray which are normal.
I don’t take iron supplements, so am concerned about high Ferritin, I am 70 years old, so well passed menopause. The previous private test threw up a marker of inflammation and now the recent test is showing a high reading questioning liver. I really would like to know why this is high and higher than the last test test, but they don’t do anything about it.
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement and continue separate 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.
I’ve just bought Magnesium Citrate 650 mg, but they are such big capsules I will have a difficulty swallowing them, is it ok to break open and take the powder? I will definitely but some Thorne Basic B. You have given me a lot to read here, will stop taking Bit C. Thank you.
I really wouldn't break open capsules and take the powder. I knew an elderly lady who did that and ended up with cancer of the throat.
I wonder if it might be safer to dissolve the powder in water and swallow it. Someone else might know. Next time see if you can buy something different.
I think your B12 is on the low side and would request GP to double-check it to exclude you don't have pernicious anaemia and, if you did, you'd have to have frequent B12 injections.
I also have P.A. and if we have one autoimmune condition we can develop others. I have a monthly B12 injection as my GP stated I could have as many as I feel 'I need'. The usual replacement is quarterly.
Pernicious anaemia (PA) is nothing to do with iron. PA is an autoimmune condition whereby you can't absorb B12, so it is one cause of B12 deficiency. Shaws said she thinks your B12 is on the low side and suggested you ask your GP to do further testing to see if you had B12 deficiency and to rule out PA. You can check signs/symptoms of B12 deficiency here and if you have any list them to discuss with your GP to support your request for further testing:
Because your iron panel shows no sign of high serum iron or saturation, your raised ferritin is more likely to be caused by inflammation. What was the result of the inflammation marker test?
The doctor hasn’t commented on the inflammation marker, but when I look back on previous tests it has got higher each time. Time for a further chat to him I think.
It's not the fault of the GP. The hospitals decide what tests to run and overrule the GPs, so another GP will have the same problem. In most cases the assay machine has automated algorithms that run fT3 if TSH is very low and fT4 if TSH is high. The operator has to manually override the machine to test TSH, fT3, fT4.
You need to complain to the hospital that runs the assay. They can then come to an arrangement with the GP to run all three tests as a special request.
Ok, thanks for that, I suppose if you are not getting the results you ask for it’s quick to blame the GP, I assumed the hospital tested for the tests they are asked to test.
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Blood test readings sent 
Changed TSH level prior to NDT
change in medication 
Can anyone help? How to get my ferritin levels up? Reposted because no replies last time
Low TSH Blood Test Results following changing to Armour Thyroid
