Confused and getting worse update 2: Full Blood... - Thyroid UK

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Confused and getting worse update 2

12stkeepgoing profile image
13 Replies

Full Blood Count photo 1

I don't think any of my results will be Thyroid specific because the consultant told me he thought I had Lupus due to my low thyroid a strong family history of rheumatoid arthritis and my symptoms were strong markers. The tests were to check for Lupus.

I will post photos of the test results (sorry one by one) just in case anyone can help me understand them.

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12stkeepgoing
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Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator

You can add further images to this post by pressing 'reply' and uploading 1 image for each comment. You may need to write a word or two before it will work. I will lock the other image posts to avoid confusion.

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator

None of the test results that you have posted relate to your thyroid.

Do you have results for TSH, FT4 & FT3?

To see whats going on we need the thyroid results plus results for ferritin, folate, B12 & D3.

Private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost.thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

There is also a new company offering walk in (includes free blood draw) & mail order blood tests in London, Kent, Sussex & Surrey areas. Check to see if there is a blood test company near you. onedaytests.com/products/ul...

Only do private tests on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid postal delays.

We can't really help with other conditions but there may be a different group on HealthUnlocked for Lupus.

12stkeepgoing profile image
12stkeepgoing in reply to Jaydee1507

OK thanks. I just wonder if any of the tests were used for both thyroid and lupus as they are both autoimmune diseases and my consultant linked my low thyroid, arthritis and other symptoms with the possibility of also having lupus. The Letter from my consultant also showed I have a heart rate of 59 and blood pressure 159/85. I do have other tests but have to wait until I see the consultant for the results.

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to 12stkeepgoing

With a heart rate of 59 I suggest you get hold of your latest thyroid results and post them here in a new post. You may well be under replaced which will be having an effect on your symptoms.

Lupus tests are quite different to thyroid tests despite them both being autoimmune conditions.

Suggest you ask GP to test ferritin, folate, B12 & D3 which are often low in hypothyroidism due to low stomach acid.

12stkeepgoing profile image
12stkeepgoing in reply to Jaydee1507

I will probably need a new test as my results will be 5 months old now. I will be seeing my consultant on the 30th Jan for my other screening and test results. If I don't get understandable answers I may have a private test, although my remote island location makes this hard.

Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator in reply to 12stkeepgoing

Do start a new post with your thyroid blood results as soon as you have them.

Essential to also test ferritin, folate, B12 & d3.

12stkeepgoing profile image
12stkeepgoing in reply to Jaydee1507

I will ask my GP to test these. Thanks

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Strongly recommend you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done yourself

How much levothyroxine are you taking

What brand

What vitamin supplements

As you have autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s) are you on strictly gluten free and/or dairy free diet

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also worth including both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies test to see what’s currently going on

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum especially with Hashimoto’s

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

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/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Extremely common for conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) to get worse after menopause and/or with low vitamin levels

With Hashimoto’s conversion is often poor

Essential to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

TiggerMe profile image
TiggerMe

Your sodium is very low which makes you feel terrible and confusion is one of the many symptoms, do you drink a lot of fluid or avoid salt as so many of us have done most of our lives only to realise our adrenals need salt to function along with Vit C and most of us have relied on our adrenals to pick up the slack when our thyroids have failed or being under replaced

12stkeepgoing profile image
12stkeepgoing in reply to TiggerMe

No I eat a lot of salt. My husband is always telling me off. I do drink tea but not inexcess and I drink water because of getting dehydrated causing constipation. constipation.nI also drink water during the night because I get a dry mouth and throat from my cpap machine.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to 12stkeepgoing

If you eat a decent amount of salt (everyone needs salt and it isn't bad for you in sensible quantities) and you drink plenty of fluids there could be something else happening. This might be worth reading, but it could be irrelevant :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabe...

Diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus are not the same condition. The one that most people have heard of is diabetes mellitus.

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I can't comment on all your results, but a few that caught my eye were :

Serum sodium : This is at bottom of range. Are you on a low salt diet?

You might feel better than you do now if you increased your salt intake slightly. If it doesn't help then you should go back to your previous intake. You could add a pinch of salt to any glasses or bottles of water you drink. Sodium is one of the electrolytes - there are quite a few of them, and if they are at poor levels they can affect lots of things.

A link you might find helpful :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elect...

You might want to try an adrenal cocktail - they are good for the adrenal glands, and the adrenal glands need salt in order to work properly. You don't need to buy adrenal cocktails - you can make them at home :

stopthethyroidmadness.com/a...

therootcauseprotocol.com/fa...

Serum potassium : If you raise your serum sodium you may find you feel better raising your potassium a little bit too. But in both cases you should avoid pushing sodium and potassium up high - that would probably make you feel less well.

Your Red Blood Cell Count (RBC) is under range, and your RDW is well over range. This would normally make me think you were iron deficient or anaemic but your haemoglobin is well in range, making it less likely that iron is a problem. However, iron deficiency isn't the only cause of low RBC or high RDW, nor is anaemia always caused by low iron. Low vitamin B12 and/or low folate can cause anaemia too. If you could get an iron panel done and also get B12 and folate tested it might give a reason for your out of range results.

Some useful links :

For info on all sorts of blood tests :

labtestsonline.org.uk/

For info on iron deficiency and anaemia :

irondisorders.org/wp-conten...

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

For info on B12/folate deficiency and anaemia :

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

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to humanbean

One thing I think you should get checked, given your low RBC and high RDW...

Ask your doctor if you can be tested for blood in your poo. If there is blood in your poo it can be easy, difficult, or impossible to see, so testing is essential.

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