Latest results from both GP and Medichecks

[pj16]

Hi everyone. So after my disastrous, traumatic experience at A&E I’ve received my blood results from both GP (apart from a follow up lipid profile) and Medichecks. I’d really appreciate any comments and/or advice.

Medichecks

Ferritin 106.00 ug/L (Range 30 - 650)

Folate - sample error

Vitamin B12 - Active 70.3 pmol/L (Range 37.5 - 188)

Vitamin D 128.0 nmol/L (Range 50 - 250)

TSH 3.17 mIU/L (Range 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 4.3 pmol/L (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine 17.8 pmol/L (Range 12 - 22)

Both thyroid antibodies are in range on this occasion but previously I’ve had several results with raised TG antibodies.

GP

Ferritin 49 ug/L (Range 10 - 150)

Serum B12 217 ng/L (Range 145 - 910)

Folate 6.2 ug/L (Range 3.0 - 20.0)

Vitamin D 145 nmol/L (Range 50 - 250)

I’m pleased with my vitamin D results as it’s previously been very low!

I’m still having the same symptoms which prompted me about a month ago to call 111 (which ended up in a very unhelpful visit to A&E) and then a visit to my GP to ask for bloods. The symptoms are extreme fatigue, zero energy, tingling (sometimes painful) in feet/lower legs and hands, nausea, epigastric pain, palpitations etc.

I’ve never had a thyroid (or any other autoimmune) diagnosis as my highest TSH was 4.51 and only my TG antibodies were raised. Since being gluten free my TSH and antibody levels have come down. As an aside, I have hypogammaglobulinemia and have read that doctors should use caution when interpreting antibody results if a patient has this condition. Maybe I should start a new post on that one!

For quite some time up until March of this year I had been supplementing with Vitamin D3/K2, Magnesium and B12. I decided to stop them all as my vitamin D had vastly improved (and summer was approaching) and I had an over range serum B12 result from my GP. I was curious to see if maybe all the other measures I’d taken had ‘fixed’ my B12 too.

I’ve not had much meat and no dairy for the last 6 weeks or so as my cholesterol numbers (overall and LDL) are high so I’m trying to avoid animal products. However I didn’t think B12 levels could drop THAT quickly. I eat LOTS of fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, avocado etc.

Sorry for rambling but I’m wondering has anyone been successful in getting B12 injections from GP with these results and symptoms? If I start B12 supplements again how soon might I feel better if that’s what is causing my symptoms?

[seveneleven]

Hi pj, your TSH might technically be in range, but given your long-term symptoms, you're clearly hypo, and particularly your T3 is fairly low in range compared to T4, showing poor conversion. Are you in a position to pursue a private thyroid diagnosis? It doesn't sound like you're getting anywhere with your GP unfortunately, but might have some luck if you persist and bombard with evidence and information!

You asked about testing DHEA and cortisol previously - have you considered ordering the Regenerus cortisol test and asking GP to test 9am serum cortisol yet? Your symptoms of fatigue, nausea, palpitations, etc. could well be B12, but it's not that low, and they are big red flags for low cortisol, especially if they're so bad that they're sending you to A&E.

Hidden has lots of useful information about cortisol and testing in her bio.

[greygoose]

tingling (sometimes painful) in feet/lower legs and hands

These are probably due to low B12. And, yes, it can fall that quickly if you're not getting any from your diet - which you aren't if you're not eating animal products. There is no B12 in fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, avocado etc.

And, avoiding animal products is not going to reduce your cholesterol, anyway. It has little to do with your diet. Cholesterol is made in the liver and the liver does its best to keep the level stable by balancing what you eat with what it makes. However, low T3 - and yours is low - will cause high cholesterol because the body cannot process it correctly without enough T3, and it builds up in the blood.

[McPammy]

As your TSH is above 2.5 you’ll get hypo symptoms. Your T4 and T3 are a bit low too. Even though you are within the NHS range their ranges are too wide. My brilliant private endocrinologist explained my TSH must be under 2.5 and preferably around 1.00. To achieve that your t4 and t3 levels must be optimal for you. I had a TSH above 3.5 for years on levothyroxine and felt awful now I’m taking t3 liothyronine also and my TSH hovers around 1.00 I feel so so much better.

[Blissful]

I’ve not had much meat and no dairy for the last 6 weeks or so as my cholesterol numbers (overall and LDL) are high so I’m trying to avoid animal products. However I didn’t think B12 levels could drop THAT quickly. I eat LOTS of fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, avocado etc.

B12 synthesis needs co-factors

researchgate.net/publicatio...

Bacteria which synthesize vitamin B12 under aerobic conditions form the 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole moiety of this molecule from riboflavin in an oxygen-dependent reaction

moiety = part, a new word for me!

nutritionadvance.com/foods-...