NHS referral still pending ("on the waiting list") so am paying to see one of the consultants privately in the mean time.
Latest blood test results from Wednesday last week (all done before 9am, fasting, etc etc).
My TSH has increased from last medichecks blood test in February, while T4 has dropped slightly.
Currently supplementing B vitamins and Vitamin D/K2. Ferritin is also increased slightly after eating pate more regularly.
I'm slightly anxious about my upcoming endo appt in May - I'm so used to being told there's nothing wrong with me (despite writing out my list of symptoms for the endo and feeling mildly overwhelmed...) that I'm still half convinced it's an unnecessary issue 🙈🙈
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dizzyarmadillo
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CRP is still raised which suggests there is inflammation somewhere (CRP being an inflammation marker but it's non-specific so can't tell you what's causing the inflammation).
Ferritin is very poor, even more so because ferritin rises with inflammation and as your CRP indicates inflammation then this isn't a true ferritin level, your normal ferritin level will be lower. I would ask your GP to do a full iron panel to include
serum iron
saturation percentage
total iron binding capacity
ferritin
You may have iron deficiency, the serum iron and saturation levels would show if that's the case, or you might just have low ferritin but normal iron levels.
Folate is lower than before. What B Complex are you taking? How much methylfolate does it contain (hopefully you have one which contains methyfolate rather than folic acid).
Did you remember to leave your B Complex off for 3 days before this test, this is because it contains biotin which gives false results with any blood test.
Active B12 is good, are you taking a separate B12 supplement? if so you no longer need it, the amount of methylcobalamin B12 in your B Complex should be enough to now maintain a good level.
Vit D: 47nmol/L
This is very low. You were asked on 10th February in this post
The Vit D Council, the Vit D Society and Grassroots Health all recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L (40-60ng/ml), with a recent blog post on Grassroots Health mentioning a study which recommends over 125nmol/L (50ng/ml).
You will see that they suggest 4,900iu D3 daily, nearest amount to buy would be 5,000iu.
I see you are taking K2, are you also taking magnesium as this is another important cofactor when taking D3 as it helps the body convert D3 into it's usable form.
There are many types of magnesium so we have to check to see which one is most suitable for our own needs:
Magnesium should be taken 4 hours away from thyroid meds and as it tends to be calming it's best taken in the evening. Vit D should also be taken 4 hours away from thyroid meds. Vit K2-MK7 should be taken 2 hours away from thyroid meds. Don't take D3 and K2 at the same time unless both are oil based supplements, they both are fat soluble vitamins which require their own fat to be absorbed otherwise they will compete for the fat.
Your Hashi's is probably responsible for your poor nutrient levels and your TSH is obviously still too high and should be nearer 1 so this suggests an increase in Levo is needed.
I am aware of the CRP marker - I occasionally get small amounts of swelling of my thyroid (it comes and goes), but also still rotate through gastric extremes, so there's several possibilities for that 🙈
My doctor didn't seem to worry that my ferritin was so low (my NHS test last year was on the base of the range), so I've had no luck with them about iron tests. I'll have to try and sort out an iron panel myself.
I've been taking Thorne b complex, though had to stop it for two weeks before the blood test (because it has b12 in it and I wasn't allowed b12 for two weeks beforehand apparently). I was also taking a separate b12 liquid, but have since stopped that as my levels are now healthy.
I use the Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You with K2, 7000iu per day. I'll need to look into adding magnesium as well, thanks.
Thank you, I'm hoping my new endo will be willing to increase my meds (currently 25mg levo daily) as my GP and the initial hospital I was referred to both declared that it was fine and I didn't need an increase 🤷🏻♀️
I've been taking Thorne b complex, though had to stop it for two weeks before the blood test (because it has b12 in it and I wasn't allowed b12 for two weeks beforehand apparently)
No point in stopping B12 2 weeks beforehand, to get a measure of what you're holding on to you need to be off B12 supplements for 4 months. To know what your B12 supplement is achieving you continue but don't take before the test on the day. If it's just B12 in a B Complex then of course you'd leave the B Complex off for 3-7 days before testing.
I use the Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You with K2, 7000iu per day.
You've haven't had much of a rise in your level considering you're taking such a high dose. I raised my severely deficient level of 15 to 202nmol/L in 2.5 months taking Doctor's Best D3 softgels. I'd consider changing to a different supplement to see if it gives greater results. Don't consider tablets as they're the least absorbable of all D3 supplements, look for an oil based softgel or maybe a capsule. I was checking out some combined D3/K2 for my son yesterday and these two were close contenders
Both contain the all trans form of K2 which is the better form, it is the converted bioavailable form rather like methylfolate is the bioavailable form of folic acid.
Teva is the brand I use at the moment - I was not getting on with the other brands due to the lactose and I find Teva doesn't have any negative effects for me.
I did insist with the February results, which is why I'm now being referred as my doctor told me he wasn't going to increase my dosage for any reason essentially.
Your Thyrogobulin antibodies are raised along with the other thyroid antibodies. Has any Dr explained why this could be. Your T4 and T3 look good levels but your TSH is too high calling for more thyroid hormones to be produced. You mentioned in a reply that you get issues with your neck at times? Have you considered going to see an Ear, Nose and Throat Dr at your local hospital so they can do some biopsies or scans. I’m saying this as my sister was in a similar position to yourself. However, she wasn’t on any thyroid medication as her Dr kept saying she had no issue. She clearly had symptoms. She developed a small lump in her throat and decided to switch Drs from an Endocrinologist to an ENT Dr and also switched hospitals as she was getting very upset by now. The ENT Dr ordered a biopsy of the small lump and found thyroid cancer. She was quickly diagnosed and within 2 weeks had her thyroid removed. She gets her thyrogobulin checked regularly now along with the normal TSH, T4 and T3 checks. I don’t wish to alarm you but I do think you should rule this avenue out at least. Myself I have Hashimoto’s and a very poor converter T4 to T3. I take combined medication levo and liothyronine.
No, my GP only ever tests TSH and isn't interested in anything else - the antibody tests are ones I've done privately. I don't think my GP would know what they mean, as he didn't even seem to know where my thyroid was to feel it 🙄
The GP thought about sending me for an ultrasound, but didn't want to "slow down my referral" to the endocrinologist. I'll have to have a think about ENT as well. The swelling I have comes and go, it isn't consistent so I've always just assumed it was to do with autoimmune reactions. Something to think about 🙈
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New blood test results - help needed before GP appt
Blood Tests prior to Endo’ appointment
Endo appt a bit of a disappointment
Endo asking for calcium and magnesium blood tests
Endo appt. antibodies irrelevant :(
