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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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!
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.
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. 😱
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 🙈
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