‘Normal’ results but feeling terrible

[ZDA23]

Hi, I have an underactive thyroid (35f) and was diagnosed 5 years ago. I think my Dad (60m) does too, in April 2021 I persuaded him to get a medichecks test done. I have attached a screenshot of those results. I have persuaded him to get another medichecks done to see if his results are different. He is in denial a bit and despite looking and feeling terrible doesn’t think there is anything wrong as his results are ‘normal’. Would love some extra feedback from people who actually understand I can pass onto him.

[Forestgarden]

The first thing that stands out is his very low vitamins and iron. You don't say what his symptoms are, but if extreme fatigue and low mood are a couple of his symptoms, then improving his vits and iron could help tremendously. I'm sure someone knowledgeable will be along soon with details of how to go about this. Apart from that, his free t4 (thyroxine) is low, but as he's within range he might struggle to get levothyroxine prescribed.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to you & your dad.

If your dad’s results are from April 2021 then they need repeating as they are too dated. Did the GP see them/ as a full iron panel should have been issued on the extremely low ferritin reading. What action was taken regarding below range vit D?

I would persuade your dad to retest, then share new results for further advice. Improving key vitamins will help support his thyroid health.

[ZDA23 in reply to Buddy195]

He has ordered another medichecks test, I persuaded him to at least do them again to see if there was any change. Nothing was done off the back of those results, the medichecks review only said to start a Vit D supplement and that all other results were fine. So he didn’t pursue anything further. I will update once the new results are in.

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to ZDA23]

Always post results here. When medics (including those from Medichecks) say ‘normal’ or ‘within range’ this may not be the same as OPTIMAL.

…..Have you checked your own key vitamins recently? (I always check mine x2 year to ensure they are optimal!)

[ZDA23 in reply to Buddy195]

Yes I agree, I was gutted when he had these results in 2021 as I could see they weren’t great but as all were green and in range I knew he wouldn’t see it as an issue.

No I need to do a medichecks test myself, I am 4 month postpartum so been having lots of NHS blood tests for TSH and T4 to figure out the right dose. Will order one for myself!

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to ZDA23]

If possible, I would set up a different profile for yourself & your dad. It’s useful to members if you can add a summary to your profile - telling us more about your thyroid journey/ symptoms/ medication etc.

Medichecks often have 20% off at NewYear, so it may be worth a look.

[mrskiki in reply to ZDA23]

I was sent code EARLY20 for 20% off up to end of Dec. Haven’t tried it yet.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Is he vegetarian or vegan

His Ferritin was extremely low/deficient

How much vitamin D has he been taking since these test results in 2021

Should test twice year when supplementing

Aiming for vitamin D at least over 80nmol minimum

Folate also extremely low

Ideally he should have started daily vitamin B complex after these results

[ZDA23 in reply to SlowDragon]

He isn’t vegetarian or vegan but when these tests were done I think he was eating less meat. His consumption has increased now

[Popscicle]

is he on any medication?

[ZDA23 in reply to Popscicle]

Yes he’s on statins for high blood pressure

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ZDA23]

You mean For high cholesterol

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

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.

[ZDA23 in reply to SlowDragon]

No sorry I didn’t mean statins, his cholesterol was fine on his last test he just suffers from high blood pressure which he’s medicated for

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ZDA23]

So if his cholesterol good, then unlikely to have thyroid issues

Hopefully you should see improvement in his ferritin if he’s increased iron rich foods in his diet

Is he still taking daily vitamin D and how much

[ZDA23 in reply to SlowDragon]

Right I’ve just checked with my mum who is very good at looking after her health! My Dad is on statins (Atorvastatin) and Lisinopril for high blood Pressure. I didn’t realise he was on both, sorry for the back and forth. No he stopped taking the vitamin D so I don’t expect that to be very good on his next set of results.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ZDA23]

As your Dad likes official guidelines

Even U.K. government recommends EVERYONE take vitamin D daily at least Oct to March

Though quite likely need higher dose than recommended

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

[mrskiki in reply to ZDA23]

They stuck my dad on statins with his blood pressure meds, he asked to come off them but the GP said they went together and really needed him to continue. . He changed once, as gave him dreadful aches and lethargy, unable to walk uphill without being out of breath, the replacement ones improved but then he had trouble sleeping. I think some of them impacted his iron too, so had to start supplementing his iron, though he was a regular meat eater.

Edit- On looking up statins and ferritin there seem to be links to both increased or decreased levels 🤷‍♀️, for low number of people taking them, nothing is ever straightforward is it.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

It’s very disappointing /remiss that Medichecks didn’t say anything about rock bottom Ferritin

[ZDA23 in reply to SlowDragon]

I know, he’s unfortunately one of these older generations who unless they are told by a GP there is something wrong won’t do anything about it. All that was recommended was Vit d

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ZDA23]

Unusual for a bloke to have low iron

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

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.

Come back with new post once you’ve got his new results

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to ZDA23]

I've got one of those and I get round it by loading up a compartmentalised pill box for the week and leave him to it... nothing gets said but when it's empty it gets left out for refilling 😅 seems to work as long as we don't discuss it 😏

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to TiggerMe]

😂😂😂😂

[ZDA23]

update: new results January 2024

Thyroid results

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to ZDA23]

Is this you or your Dad? I'm assuming your Dad...

So now Sub-clinical Hypothyroid, still deficient Vit D, folate likely still terrible if not supplemented, same with ferritin

[ZDA23 in reply to TiggerMe]

Yes sorry, these are my Dads new results.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to ZDA23]

Suggest you write a new post as more people will see it

include these results

Add a link to this post too

He needs to work on improving very low vitamin D

Retest again in another 6-8 weeks

Pity folate was a fail

Two tests with TSH over 5.5 means he should/could be prescribed trial on Levothyroxine