Mum’s results (81years old)

[Minky70]

I was just wondering if people could cast their wise eyes over my mum’s results. I can see that they haven’t tested T3 and I think her Folate and Ferritin levels are low. She says her hair is falling out too. ( her father had thyroid problems and I am overactive) Thank you for your time.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

No thyroid results visible

No vitamin D, B12 or thyroid antibodies either

[Minky70 in reply to SlowDragon]

I added second photo in replies 😃

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Minky70]

Can you re add…..reply not showing

[Minky70 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve added again

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Minky70]

still nothing

Click on reply button

Opens new reply box

Add some info

Then click on rectangle with mountain in it to add image

Then click blue reply to post

[Minky70 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi there- I’ve done that twice. Doesn’t seem to want to upload 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Minky70 in reply to SlowDragon]

I do everything correctly and the reply button stays grey

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Minky70]

Looking at 2nd sheet (added by TiggerMe )

Vitamin D is deficient at 23nmol

GP should prescribe LOADING dose vitamin D

That’s 300,000iu in total over 6-8 weeks

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...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium 

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

Presumably she has not been taking daily vitamin D?

Government recommends everyone supplement vitamin D at very least between October to April and ideally every day

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

[Minky70 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you 😊

[Minky70 in reply to SlowDragon]

She was given the usual fob off D3 1000mcg which isn’t high enough I presume?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Minky70]

no it’s not

300,000iu over 6-8 weeks

That’s 5000iu per day for 8 weeks

Or

7000iu per day for 6 weeks

Retest at end and she will need ongoing daily vitamin D. That’s trial and error to work out how much. Perhaps try 1000iu per day and retest 2-3 months later. Might need more in winter than summer

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Second sheet 😉

[Minky70 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you 😃

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest she works on improving lowish ferritin by increasing iron rich foods in diet

Retest thyroid levels including Ft3 and BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies after she finishes loading dose vitamin D

She needs to retest vitamin D at end of loading dose and retest twice year going forward

Thyroid always test early morning, ideally just before 9am

This gives highest TSH

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 BOTH antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to retest vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 and includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies -£29 

randoxhealth.com/at-home/Th...

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. 

[humanbean]

The vitamin D level of 23 is deficient. Various sources suggest that an optimal level of vitamin D is around 100 - 150 nmol/L, with another suggestion being 125 nmol/L.

[Personal anecdote - I keep my own vitamin D around 100, and get no benefit from higher levels.]

The NHS suggests a level of > 50 is "adequate". It may be okay for some but people with thyroid disease should probably aim for optimal rather than just "adequate".

If you go to websites that sell supplements you can find vitamin D supplements available in quite high doses and no prescription is required. (Doctors will often severely under-dose.)

There are a few people who can't tolerate vitamin D very well. (I don't think it is terribly common.) One suggestion for this (although I am not aware that it has been proven) is that vitamin D will remineralise the bones (i.e. make them stronger), and for some people this can be painful in the beginning. Those who persist may find this pain wearing off - eventually.

Please be aware that units of measurement used in the UK are usually nmol/L and in the US the units used are ng/mL.

Optimal in the UK is 100 - 150 nmol/L which is equivalent to 40 - 60 ng/mL. There is a converter here :

grassrootshealth.net/?post_...

Your mother's vitamin D of 23 nmol/L is equivalent to 9.2 ng/mL.

For further information on dosing, see this link from  SeasideSusie :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Make sure that any supplements are Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), NOT vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).

And pay attention to the co-factors required when supplementing vitamin D - mentioned in Susie's post.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to humanbean]

One suggestion for this (although I am not aware that it has been proven) is that vitamin D will remineralise the bones (i.e. make them stronger), and for some people this can be painful in the beginning. Those who persist may find this pain wearing off - eventually.

I had this issue. Had been extremely deficient a long time and left untreated. Taking vitamin D initially caused terrible pain. It took 4-6 months for pain to slowly subside

[humanbean in reply to SlowDragon]

I knew I'd read about it from someone.

I think I've read it elsewhere too, but never kept a link.

[Minky70]

I told mum this and she said it was sore at the start. I’ll tell her to persevere. Have also noted down what to say to the doctor. Thank you 🤗