Hi everyone, well barely a few months into addressing my fatigue as hypothyroidism (on the advice of a nutritionist, admittedly), I am being tested this week for leukemia.😔 I looked up a few other posts on the forum that suggest high leukocytes can be associated with hypothyroidism, is that correct? I ask because my doctor has gone down the "your TSH is within range" path 😢 and I feel like I'm in for a battle to get a comprehensive diagnosis. (Even if I have leukemia, can't I also be subclinically hypothyroid!)
I don't really know what question to ask, feeling overwhelmed, what complex creatures we are and modern medicine seems to only treat one condition at a time instead of seeing the links. Any and all related feedback welcome, thanks.
Platelets, RBC, creatinine and liver function are all normal. [Edited from WBC] Lymphocytes are ten times the upper normal count.
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Thanks so much, SlowDragon. I confirm tests were first thing in the morning on empty stomach.
My latest TSH result was 2.3 (0.55 - 4.78). Unfortunately FT3 and FT4 were not tested at this time. Re leukemia most blood counts nice and high (hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets), but abnormally high leucocytes (44,170 with a range of 4,000-11,020). Also just noticed 0 esinophils and basophils, which doc didn't mention and for which I have no clue what they mean. Ferritin 29.8 (10-291).
Results from one year ago, ordered by a nutritionist more knowledgeable about thyroid: Ferritin 59 (range 60 250). D3 68 (30-80). FT3 3 (2-4.4). FT4 10.7 (9.3-17.1). RT3 149 (90-215). TSH 3.59 (range 0.27-4.2). Selenium 1.29 ( 1.34-2.84). I do not see B12 or folate. NB these were definitely not first thing in the morning on an empty stomach because I had travelled to see that nutritionist and did the tests same day.
(In the last year I have lost 7 kg and gone dairy-free, could that account for lower TSH?)
Thanks, SlowDragon. Neither vegetarian nor vegan, in fact I treated myself to local farm beef this autumn and have been eating beef almost daily. My thyroid antibodies were non-existent last time. I really must find a new GP then because I can't even fathom starting a leukemia journey with a compromised thyroid. Thanks so much.
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
We have received further information the lab about ferritin reference ranges. They confirm that they are sex dependent up to the age of 60, then beyond the age of 60 the reference range is the same for both sexes:Â
Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L
Female's: 16-60: 30-150
Both >60: 30-650Â
The lower limit of 30 ug/L is in accordance with the updated NICE guidance and the upper limits are in accordance with guidance from the Association of Clinical Biochemists. ‘
Platelets, RBC, creatinine and liver function are all normal. WBC are ten times the upper normal count.
I hope the testing doesn't come back with anything frightening.
WBC stands for White Blood Cell Count. There are five different kinds of white blood cell. WBC is a total, and the other five things tell you what that total is made up of. Sometimes the five different types of WBC are given as quantities, sometimes as percentages of the total, or both.
The five different kinds of WBC are listed separately on a Full Blood Count (FBC), and are :
Neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.
Some useful links - click on the + signs for more useful info :
Thank you very much. Specifically lymphocytes are high, in my case (doc wrote "CLL" with a question mark on my sick leave and CAT scan referral). Just trying to take one day at a time, but it's frustrating when basically I hoped this blood test would kick off further thyroid testing and it's so much more than that... But it is better to know sooner rather than later.
If you do have leukaemia, which is a blood cancer, I would ask an appropriate doctor whether taking iron is a good idea, even though your levels are low. Iron can encourage the growth of cancers and pathogens, but whether this is true of leukaemia or not, I haven't a clue.
UPDATE: the CLL diagnosis is confirmed, thankfully a slow form in an early stage, so I'm on watch and wait. The hematologist said that in my case, leukemia didn't fully explain my fatigue because my hemoglobin is high. He did not dismiss my suggestion of subclinical hypothyroidism.
Still working on my ferritin, it was up to 33 at my last blood test a week ago (unprescribed, out-of-pocket). Eating lots of liver along with ascorbic acid.
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