Heart arrythmia and other issues

[Mrss25]

I have not been diagnosed with thyroid problems but my T3 was slightly raised apparently last year but my GP said it was not enough to cause a problem. Since then I have had arrythmia that put me in A&E twice and beta blockers have made things worse so I had to come off them..I have hand tremors sometimes, sweats, itchy dry skin, hives, blurred vision, dry eyes, dry fingernails with thickening nails with a slight yellow colour, weight loss which has happened over the last couple of months. I do not have access to my last blood test results and my GP has said Im fine, but can I kindly ask if I should push for more thyroid tests, as my symptoms seem to point to thyroid, many thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I do not have access to my last blood test results and my GP has said Im fine

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

Link re access

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

Post from a year ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Shows vitamin D deficient, folate and B12 far too low

Suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

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...

Or

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

What’s your diet like

Are you vegetarian or vegan

Gluten intolerant or dairy intolerant

[Mrss25 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, vitamin D is 42, B12 320, no known allergies apart from nickel

Can I ask if T3 test is important/necessary as my GP seems to not be bothered by it, or deem it necessary

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrss25]

So your vitamin D is 42nmol if tested in U.K.

Vitamin D is far too low

Government recommends everyone supplements vitamin D daily October to April

But on levothyroxine likely to need to supplement every day all year

Low vitamin D

GP should prescribe 1600iu everyday for 6 months

But you are likely better to self supplement at higher rate initially- eg 2000iu or more likely 3000iu daily

Then retest in 3-4 months

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

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, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

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...

Great article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium 

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mrss25]

Only add one supplement at a time

Then wait at least 2 weeks before starting another

Suggest starting with Vitamin D

Meanwhile Folate should have been tested at same time as B12

If not been tested, request it is

What’s the range on B12 result

B12 and folate work together

They both need each other

Low B12 symptoms 

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...

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...

Ideally find out what folate level is before starting on daily vitamin B complex

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.

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) 

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid 

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

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

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

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

[SlowDragon Administrator]

you need ferritin tested

Ferritin is storage form of iron

Ideally you should have full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin

[Wynnewood]

Perhaps my story is relevant to your situation. I had a thyroidectory for Graves Disease in 2017 and have been on 112 mcg T4. This summer I experienced hives covering both arms and starting to appear on my abdomen. Two weeks later, after a colonoscopy, I had a highly symptomatic AFib episode and was admitted to hospital where they found that I was hyperthyroid with TSH of .03. Five days after discharge, I had another severe AFib episode (palpatations, angina, dizziness) and was admitted again, T4 adjusted to 88 mcg. The PAF was dealt by catheter ablation. No recurrence of hives or Afib.