So many questions!

[Myalikki]

Hello again!

Thank you so much to everyone who responded to me last week when I asked for feedback on my vitamins. You all helped so much, I took everything on board and also had enough conviction in myself to follow up with my doctors because I'm not a hypochondriac (probably).

Seaside Susie told me my Vitamin D is so bad I need loading doses and also told me that my active B12 (while being in range) was also quite low - I would not have gone to the GP without your counsel, I just assumed I needed supplements. I contacted my doctor and uploaded my private test results and the link to St Thomas' about active B12 under 70 should be referred for MMA test. My surgery issued 50,000 units D3 to be taken once a week for 6 weeks and they also ordered further B12 testing, which I was surprised about being given without any debate at all. I picked up the blood test request (I have to make an appointment elsewhere and take the paper along). It requests "Vitamin B12/Folate profile, Intrinsic Factor Ab, Thyroid Function test".

I'm happy they have ordered tests without any battle, but I am now so very confused what to do and would so appreciate further advice from you lovely people here.

It says "Vitamin B12/Folate profile" and after lots of Googling, I can only assume this will be total B12 and folate rather than looking at active B12 (even though my whole submission to my GP was about my active B12). My total B12 has always been high in range (while my active B12 last week was low in range) and I don't expect this test to show differently. Intrinsic Factor Ab I assume is to see if I have pernicious anemia, and there is no MMA on the form (I asked for it specifically, but I know it's rare on NHS to be tested for it). I know most people aren't diagnosed with PA until 60+ years, and I'm 34 so expect PA test to be negative, but without MMA I guess I can't get an early alert if I am B12 deficient. Finally, thyroid function is also included in the test request. I have a seperate print out for a blood test just for thyroid function (ordered by my GP when he upped my dose in early January).

So, my questions are:

Should I test right away to see if PA is an issue, so that if not, I can start supplementing B12/B complex immediately?

If I test right away, my thyroid results will not be valid as it's only about 3-4 weeks ago I went up to 50mcg levo from 25mcg. What matters more? Knowing my B12 situation asap, or avoiding my GP seeing potentially dodgy thyroid results that might skew my (very new) treatment of hypothyroidism when I'm still only on a starter dose? I don't want him to see TSH dropped to 3.5 and say "you're normal now"... if that makes any sense?! When I started 25mcg levo, I felt a bit better during weeks 2-4 and then worse again, which I understand is due to the delicate balance of a finely tuned feedback system but don't want my treatment hindered by early blood test results.

Finally, when I picked up my vitamin D today, I also got my new levo prescription and the brand has changed again. November - early January I was on 25mcg Wockhardt. Early January I collected more 25mcg tablets which were Mercury Pharma, and then my GP issued 50mcg tablets which I collected today and are Almus Accord. I have 1 week's worth of Mercury Pharma 25mcg left (taking 2 tablets a day). Should I finish what I have and test in a couple of weeks time (this is what my GP is expecting), or switch to Accord immediately, wait another 6 weeks and then have my blood test?

Bonus question (sorry...) - when on a weekly loading dose of Vit D, how much Vit K2 MK7 do I need?! Or do I just take the normal amount until I finish loading and go to maintenance?

Sorry for all the questions, I do read, listen and try to understand all the advice you guys give, these circumstances just feel complicated and full of dilemmas...

Thank you!

Mya

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