How to convert mU/L to mlU/L

[dunestar]

Blue Horizon are driving me slightly nuts by changing their unit of measurement of TSH. At my last test in May my TSH was 4.980 mlU/L with a range of 0.27 - 4.20. I've just tested again and the results have come back as 5.03 mU/L. They say they have also changed the range but it remains at 0.27 - 4.20. I would be grateful if anyone knows how to convert mU/L to mlU/L so I can compare. I've had a look on google but I keep going cross-eyed.

[helvella Administrator]

There is no difference between mIU/L and mU/L.

IU stands for International Unit. (U just stands for Unit!)

But the capital letter "I" could easily be confused with lower-case "l" or even numeric "1". Therefore, it is common (but not universal) practice to drop the letter "I" when it is typed or printed.

It is quite possible that one lab Blue Horizon use reports in mIU/L, while another reports in mU/L. Or that a lab has changed which it uses! Or it depends who typed it into the machine in the first place.

[dunestar in reply to helvella]

Thanks so much. No wonder I couldn't find a converter on google!

[helvella Administrator in reply to dunestar]

In case you didn't know, there is an extensive list of abbreviations in my Vade Mecum. There is no problem in asking on the forum but you might have got the answer sooner!

helvella's Vade Mecum document is available here:

helvella - Vade Mecum for Thyroid

The term vade mecum means:

1. A referential book such as a handbook or manual.

2. A useful object, constantly carried on one’s person.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[dunestar in reply to helvella]

Thanks so much. I've added it to my little library of info on the thyoid.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Sorry your previous post 2 years ago was missed by admins

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

B12 and folate were too low

Aiming for B12 at least over 500

Folate towards top of range

Have you been working on improving these

Can you add other Blue Horizon results….or add image of results in a reply

Have you had cholesterol levels tested

High cholesterol linked to being hypothyroid

AF can be linked to being hypo as well as hyper ….or not linked at all

Are you now on gluten free diet and/or tried dairy free too

Approx how old are you

[dunestar in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon. I tune in to the forum most days so I have benefitted a lot from the information given by everyone. Latest results as of yesterday from Blue Horizon. Sample taken 08.25 am

CRP 4.75 (Range < 5.0) unit mg/L

Ferritin 112 (Range 13 - 150) ug/L

Magnesium 1.06 (Range 0.66 - 0.99) mmol/L

Cortisol 450 (Range 106 - 507) nmol/L

TSH 5.03 (Range 0.27 - 4.20) mU/L

T4 Total 109 (Range 66 - 181) nmol/L

Free T4 15.4 (Range 12 - 22) pmol/L

Free T3 4.07 (Range 3.1 - 6.8) pmol/L

Anti thyroidperoxidase abs 179 ( Range < 34)

Vit D 74 Range optimal 75 - 200) nmol/L

B12 active 91.5 (Range 37.5 - 150) pmol/L

Serum folate 19.90 (Range 8.83 - 60.8) nmol/L

I've been taking 400 mcg of methyl folate which has moved my figures but not by much. Also a low dose of Vit B 12. I've also increased the amount and quality of Vit D from Boots own brand to California Gold liposomal. Cholesterol OK - I take a statin. Not tried gluten free but don't eat much gluten anyway. Not tried no dairy. I am 73 (just).

I'm feeling tired but can be a bit wired at the same time - cortisol seems a bit on the high side. The methylfolate has improved the tiredness a bit (sometimes I was running on completely empty) and also brain fog but far from ideal.

I think I'm getting to the point where I need to see if I can get medicated. I don't fancy a battle with the GP especially as one of them told me my folate level was perfectly adequate and would not explain my fatigue. I've got the list of doctors from Thyroid UK and there's one I could get to in my area. It would be great to know if forum members have been to see him. Advice on how I go about that would be useful.

Many thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to dunestar]

folate

Try 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

As your Active B12 level has reached 70, you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week

B12 drops

natureprovides.com/products...

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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)

Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

Other options

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

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 folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and separate B12

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to dunestar]

Not tried gluten free but don't eat much gluten anyway. Not tried no dairy

Gluten is hidden in numerous foods

To be effective gluten free needs to be absolutely strictly gluten free

Hashimoto's affects the gut Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances.

Most common by far is gluten.

Dairy is second most common.

A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing

Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential

A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and may slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet 

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially) 

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial. Loads of dairy free alternatives these days

Post discussing gluten

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SmallBlueThing]

For future conversion conundrums. one option is: unitslab.com