Update: I have had a telephone consultation with... - Thyroid UK

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Update

SpringerMom profile image
9 Replies

I have had a telephone consultation with a GP today and drew her attention to the Medicheck thyroid test I’d had done recently. She was quite dismissive of this and said that I needed an NHS one (thyroid function test) which will be done on Friday. I can sort of understand this as there will be traceablity for comparison of previous tests done at the same lab. When I pointed out the low thyroid and vitamin levels and their connection the comment was ‘well they are all within range’. 5mg of folate has been prescribed for 3 months with retest after 5. I asked for a trial increase of Levothyroxine from 75 to 100 and, although she was in agreement but wants to wait for the BT results. There was no mention of B12 supplement but I will ask about pernicious anaemia next week.

Please can I ask if I should start with a B12 supplement or B complex now or wait. Below is a link to my previous post and also my Medicheck results.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thank you so much for your help.

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SpringerMom profile image
SpringerMom
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shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

If you are diagnosed with Pernicious Anaemia it means that you need regular B12 injections- as our stomach has changed - it cannot absorb B12 from stomach.

My mother had Pernicous Anaemia but her GP - after several years - told her she needed no more B12 injections, but that decision caused my mother to develop stomach cancer and she died after a some months.

I also have had P.A. for several years now but my GP said I can get as many B12 injections as I think I need . I now get B12 injection monthly.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Do NOT start any B vitamins or folic acid or folate before GP test on Friday

GP on NHS never sees an active B12 test so won’t realise just how low B12 result is

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

If not, you need testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting any B12 or vitamin B complex

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

Once you have finished your prescription folic acid start a daily vitamin B complex alongside separate 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

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...

Low folate

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 until over 500

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

Post discussing start B12 injections

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How other member saw how effective improving low B vitamins has been

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

SpringerMom profile image
SpringerMom in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you SlowDragon. No, I’m not vegan/vegetarian so will ask about PA when I have my F2F with GP next week. GP yesterday indicated that they may refer for an ultrasound on thyroid as I’m also feeling a bit of discomfort and symptoms I’m feeling atm are very similar to how I felt before my lobectomy. I got the feeling then that I was thought of as almost hypochondriac until a 3cm nodule was found! Not going to let that happen again.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toSpringerMom

Not surprising thyroid is painful as you’re not on high enough dose levothyroxine

FT4: 15.2 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 32.00% through range

FT3: 4.4 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 similar at 35.14% through range

Retest after 2-3 months on 100mcg

May need further increase

Zephyrbear profile image
Zephyrbear

I had a Medichecks Well Woman (the full works) blood test done in April followed by an NHS full works test a week later and on checking the ranges used on both tests, they were identical on most of the results and differed only very slightly (not enough to make any difference) on some of the others in terms of percentage through range so I don’t know why GPs should get so sniffy about them… I think they just want to establish their own relevance!

SpringerMom profile image
SpringerMom in reply toZephyrbear

I think it’s also that they are unable to upload the results of the Medicheck for direct comparison, only as a PDF. I’m glad I had the Medicheck done though as it made me and the GP address the issue.

Charlie-Farley profile image
Charlie-Farley in reply toZephyrbear

From conversations I have had with GPs, I believe it is down to no knowledge on analysis and stats - they literally read off the sheet and if it says ‘in range’ job done. Symptoms are an unwelcome complication for many.

I had to explain the stats and the acceptability of percentages within range as a valid method for comparing results from different labs to a more receptive GP the others just filled the script to get me off their backs.

How do they think meta studies are carried out? 😂. Do they think samples are jetted from all over the world for one or two poor lab techs to push through on one instrument in one lab? 🤣

That said it would be good if many of the meta studies I have come across on thyroid research actually tested thyroid hormones and not just TSH. 😱

Doris11 profile image
Doris11

Doctors being dismissive 🙈😂 my Drs don’t do “active” B12 although apparently it is a better as it actually tells you how much you’ve got in your body 🙈

serenfach profile image
serenfach

You could point out that nearly all blood testing in hospitals has now been privatised...

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