I have symptoms of thyroid issues but trying to get hold of a doctors appointment is impossible. Extreme tiredness, migraines, floating lights in eyes, cramp in my feet, pins and needles in arms, irregular periods, brain fog. I had bloods taken so will attach these. Shows slight elevated tsh levels. I was just after some advice
thanks in advance for any advice given
welcome to the forum
You need TSH, Ft4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG antibodies
Plus vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin tested
ALWAYS test thyroid early morning, ideally just before 9am and only drink water between waking and test
Gives highest TSH
My tsh was tested at 8.35 am my doctor surgery won’t test me for fg4 ft3
That’s not an unusual scenario I’m afraid. You may have to do a home fingerprick test.
How do I organise one of those?
I’ll post a couple of links. Back in a mo 😊
GP obligated to prescribe folic acid for your extremely deficient folate
B12 is also too low
Have you started folic acid yet?
If not get some B12 and start this first, for week before adding prescription folic acid
Low B12 symptoms
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement
B12 drops
natureprovides.com/products...
Or
B12 sublingual lozenges
uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...
cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...
B12 range in U.K. is too wide
Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Once you finish prescription folic acid, look at adding a daily vitamin B complex alongside B12
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or 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
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
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....
Igennus B complex popular option too. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose
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 continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
You need to test vitamin D
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via
And ESSENTIAL to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together
Plus thyroid antibodies
List of private testing options and money off codes
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks thyroid including antibodies
medichecks.com/products/thy...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH
Low thyroid levels tend to result in low vitamin levels, because of low stomach acid when hypothyroid
medichecks.com/products/thy...
thriva.co/blood-test-packag...
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Thank you x
Your serum ALT is below range. This link will give you some info on this.
labs.selfdecode.com/blog/lo...
I don't think your low result is a problem.
Your HbA1c indicates that you are NOT diabetic with your in range HbA1c.
Your TSH is above range. This suggests you have what doctors call "subclinical hypothyroidism" or "subclinical underactive thyroid".
Patients would probably just call it "hypothyroidism".
Unfortunately, doctors are unlikely to diagnose hypothyroidism (subclinical or otherwise) until TSH is 10+, which frankly is sadistic.
The rules doctors use are (I hope I got these right, but I wouldn't swear to it) :
Subclinical hypothyroidism = TSH over range but under 10 AND Free T4 is in range.
Overt hypothyroidism = TSH is over range and Free T4 is under range.
CRP (C Reactive Protein) is an inflammation marker and yours is high at 15 (Optimal is under one) suggesting that you may have a virus / bacteria / fungus / parasite problem or high inflammation somewhere, but the CRP gives no clues to where the problem actually is. You would need further investigation. Some people with thyroid disease can have inflammation in the gut e.g. gastritis or coeliac disease, or the lungs e.g. COPD.
Cholesterol I'm not the person to ask about this - I think almost any level of cholesterol is fine and would never take statins. Just for future reference but not needed now :
If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.
Source : nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...
Serum B12 Your level is lower than optimal. See this link for optimal levels :
perniciousanemia.org/b12/le...
For raising levels of B12 a good supplement is methylcobalamin, easily sourced on websites selling supplements.
perniciousanemia.org/b12/fo...
Folate Your folate level is awful. Optimal is upper half of the reference range. Note that for the body to make use of your B12 it must have adequate folate.
To raise levels of folate - avoid folic acid. Good supplements are described here :
You can supplement with folate if your dietary intake is inadequate. Look for products that contain the Metfolin brand, or list “5-methyltetrahydrofolate” or “5-MTHF” on the label. Avoid products that say “folic acid” on the label. Make sure to check your multivitamin because most multis contain folic acid and not folate.
Source : chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...
Another useful link on folate and folic acid :
takecareof.com/articles/ben...
Some people can't tolerate methylfolate to begin with. To deal with this start with a low dose and work your way up.
mthfr.net/methylfolate-side...
dramyneuzil.com/methylfolat...
Your ferritin level is good.
Ferritin result may be falsely high because your CRP (inflammation) test is very high
High CRP falsely raises ferritin
blog.insidetracker.com/how-...
Ferritin is usually a good measure of overall iron status, but in the presence of inflammation, it functions as an immune response, not as a marker of iron status.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....
As you have heavy periods request GP do FULL iron panel test for anaemia
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia
Test early morning and fasting
Medichecks iron panel test
Getting thyroid antibodies tested alongside TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 about 6-8 weeks after starting on improving low vitamin levels
Two blood tests with TSH over 5, plus symptoms, especially if thyroid antibodies are high ….you should get levothyroxine prescribed
Starting levothyroxine - flow chart
Hi Nataliebardell, welcome ... early a.m ~ shamelessly plugging this thyroid research petition ~ (asking the govt to give some of the £84Million CMA fine from the price hike of Liothyronine T3 to thyroid research) .
Please consider signing and SHARING this petition if you haven't already done so .. if you have signed already THANKYOU 
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Direct link to petition ~ petition.parliament.uk/peti...
"Give more funding for thyroid research and patients after price hike"
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