Blood test results

[CornishChick]

I wondered if anyone has any comments on my bloods please? I have posted about my low ferritin and suppressed TSH but wondered if anything else popped out?

Many thanks

[CornishChick]

just viewed post and the photo has been made blurred. Any tips on how to upload please? Might’ve been better as two pages but seems you can only upload one?

Thank you

[helvella Administrator in reply to CornishChick]

Yes.

Don't think you have to put them all into one single image.

Make sure the results are as large as possible on the device you are using. That is, move the lens as close as possible to the results while it is still in focus and including what you want. Don't take a big picture then crop it down. (Of course, it is fine to crop edges and unwanted information. Just minimise the need for cropping.)

Instead of adding to the original post, add to replies. When an image is on a reply, members get the option to zoom in.

And I don't know why you have started a new post when you were discussing results on another thread?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

add as separate images within this post

One image per reply

[CornishChick in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slowdragon. I will try to attach here for you.

Bloods

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

TSH is low probably not recovered from taking T3, your fT4 is only at 77% so you are certainly not over replaced but no fT3 result?

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

Yes that’s right. I didn’t have my FT3 tested this time, the lab doesn’t always play ball with the GP. I’ve previously also paid for private FT3 bloods and it’s always towards the top of range- was just over at times whilst trialling T3. So fairly sure it will still be okay and not really in a position to shell out on private bloods at present.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

Why did they trial you on T3 if your levels were previously good??

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

I trialled myself as just something else to tick off my list but I am fairly sure I don’t actually need T3 to sort my insomnia, tiredness, fatigue.

I also wanted to try CT3M as I have very low cortisol. However on setting the alarm I couldn’t get back to sleep, so I couldn’t face trialling it for months to see if it worked. I have young children, getting older now, but trying to cope on 3 hours sleep when you know you need 8 is no joke.

[CornishChick in reply to SlowDragon]

Bloods page 1

Bloods

[helvella Administrator in reply to CornishChick]

Much, much more readable!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

Your iron levels are high and I think the best way to lower them is to donate blood, has your GP not picked up on this and looking to investigate?

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

I am retired as a blood doner due to autoimmune thyroiditis. Had a letter saying they didn’t want me. To be honest though with such poor ferritin I didn’t think it would be a good idea?

Also I have passed out several times giving blood, I am not underweight but assume it’s my low blood pressure so unfortunately I wouldn’t feel well enough to donate even if they let me.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

What has your GP suggested you do to lower your Iron levels?

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

ps GP made no comment on raised iron, she just rattled on about reducing my levo due to my suppressed TSH which I managed to talk her out of until next time.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

Well done... just keep refusing, they can't force you to drop 🤗

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

I think you need to ask her why she is ignoring your iron levels

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

I was kind of avoiding her as she’s on my back about my TSH. I am sure it’s because I’ve been trialling iron tablets 14mg which has really helped my ferritin, it has never been over range before so I was going to just stop taking iron, but sadly I’m sure my ferritin will drop.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to CornishChick]

no B12, folate or vitamin D results

What B vitamins are you taking

How much vitamin D and presumably also taking Vitamin K2 and magnesium

[CornishChick in reply to SlowDragon]

They weren’t done this time. My B12 has always been fine, my D was low 5 years ago at 22 but I now maintain it at 100. I take a b complex and 2k D3 a day.

Yes I also take magnesium and K, plus selenium and C.

Thank you for your help.

[sparkly]

Your oestradiol is very low. Are you peri or post menopause? On hrt? not on hrt? If you are on hrt, oestrogen and progesterone and your oestradiol levels were above 300 you might benefit also form testosterone therapy...that's if you can get it prescribed 🤦‍♀️Lot of cross over symptoms between thyroid and peri/menopause and difficult to distinguish what causes what

[CornishChick in reply to sparkly]

Yes thank you. I am perimenopause with blood results but no symptoms as such. Was put on HRT to increase my below range testosterone which did then increase. However it has now dropped right down to bottom of range.

I totally agree I need testosterone but the GP claimed she can’t prescribe it and it has to come from an endo. I know this isn’t true as my friend is a GP.

Do you have any experience of obtaining it from a GP?

Re my bloods, she said she just goes on symptoms and I’ve been telling them for 20 years I have insomnia which definitely isn’t menopause related and I don’t have hot flushes. The only think I can subsequently relate to it is headaches which cleared up with Lenzetto.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

The key to getting testosterone prescribed is to say it is for libido 🙄 ridiculous but that's their guidance... so a conversation needed about that and your iron should get her off the TSH 🤗

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you. Yes my GP friend said just say you’ve lost your libido but my GP specifically said they don’t prescribe in primary care, which I know is wrong. I just wanted to get shot of her after her attempt to ‘deal with my TSH’, so didn’t push testosterone, but I will have another word when I’ve worked up some more energy to deal with her.

Thank you.

[CornishChick in reply to sparkly]

just re read your reply. Would you push for testosterone alongside my HRT based on my results or instead of please?

[sparkly in reply to CornishChick]

Getting testosterone prescribed mainly boils down to were you live, if you're ICB allow it to be prescribed to start with, then whether they allow specialist to prescribe only, specialist first then GP allowed to take over, or GP allowed from the start.Then it also depends if your GP is happy to prescribe as with it not being licensed for women any issues arising falls on the GP.

Also they say shouldn't take testosterone if oestradiol is below 300 and doubt any specialist would prescribe with your low levels. These need to be addressed first.

I take utrogestan as my progesterone and I couldn't live without it. It has a welcomed side effect for some ladies that it can be a really good sedative. I didn't sleep till 2,3 am every night before starting utrogestan. It knocks me out cold every night and now get 7,8,9 hours sleep every night.

I would definitively get oestradiol levels up then look to get testosterone if you can.

Testosterone was the final piece for me, gave me my life back and couldn't live without that either.

I was so lucky my gp agreed to do bloods and referred me back to my menopause specialist at my local hospital. She said yes straightaway before even checking my blood results.

Your level is fine to be started on testosterone, they do blood just to check they are not already high. Mine testosterone was 0.5 so only 1 point less than yours.

Here's a link to a list for which areas prescribe testosterone from Menopause support

menopausesupport.co.uk/?pag...

[CornishChick in reply to sparkly]

Thank you for the useful link.

Sorry I’m confused you say your level is fine to start testosterone. But above that you say you’d doubt they’d prescribe it with my low levels. Sorry I must be getting confused?

How do I get my oestradial levels up please? I’ve been on 3 sprays of Lenzetto since May 23 and I’ve been told that’s the maximum dose.

Thanks for your help.

[sparkly in reply to CornishChick]

Sorry, meant with your oestradiol level being so low. Usually testosterone prescribe once oestradiol over 300. I read all the time that if oestradiol is low then the testosterone converts into oestrogen and do not get get any benefits from the testosterone. Also raising your oestradiol level could be all you need to feel better and raise testosterone

[CornishChick in reply to sparkly]

Ok thanks. How do I do that if I’m on the max dose Lenzetto please?

[sparkly in reply to CornishChick]

How many sprays are you on? I think 3 sprays is equivalent to 2 pumps of oestrogel or 50 patch. You can be prescribed 4 pumps of gel or 100mcg patches within NHS licence but some GP's will prescribe higher.If only on 3 sprays and gp won't increase then I'd look at changing to gel or patch to see if you absorb better.

Do you have mirena coil fitted or are you taking utrogestan?

[CornishChick in reply to sparkly]

I’m on 3 sprays which GP looked up is max. I tried swooping to gel but got my headaches back. I haven’t tried a patch.

Yes I take Utrogestan. Thank you.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

I often use more squirts if I need it of Lenzetto, the 3 spray thing is a bit ridiculous, it's more important how much you absorb rather than how much you apply and you obviously don't absorb well looking at your bloods

[sparkly in reply to CornishChick]

In perimenopause your oestradiol fluctuates daily, can be 200 one week and 800 the next this is why bloods aren't reliable but if wanting to pursue testosterone in the future then I think you will need to increase your levels as 92 is low for a dip.

Yes 3 sprays is max licenced dose for lanzetto some ladies are on higher but your gp is going by the rule book. I would look at changing. I'm on 6 pumps of oestrogel when max licensed dose is 4 but my GP is happy to prescribe this to eliveate symptoms.

Just a thought with your utrogestan. Have you tried taking it 2 or 3 hours before you go to bed? It can take a few hours to start kicking in with sedative effect. When I first started on it I took as I got in bed which would be gone 12 usually and would be wide awake till 2,3 am.Then after about 2 years if doing this I took it about 8pm one evening and within a couple of hours I felt so sleepy and had to go bed. I fell asleep straight away. I then realised after that that it made me sleepy and have taken this way ever since. I go to bed once effect kicks and now fall asleep within 10 minutes. I know it doesn't work for everyone but worth giving it a try. Also if taken with food that increases absorption so increases sedative effect.

Sleep is so important and having suffered for years myself I thought I'd just share just in case

[CornishChick in reply to sparkly]

Thank you, I’m fairly sure my insomnia is nothing to do with the menopause as I’ve had it for 20 years and just turned 50. Was still as regular as clockwork with periods and no menopause symptoms other than with hindsight my headaches probably were.

My pattern is that I am asleep within minutes at 10pm but wake at 1-2am often not getting back off, so thank you for the tip but I don’t think it would work adjusting the Utrogestan timing as my insomnia isn’t menopause related.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

Did you ever take Pregnenolone? Waking in the early hours is linked to adrenal fatigue and lack of cortisol so you get a shot of adrenalin instead 😕

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

Yes I think that is exactly my problem, although the GO acknowledges it but says it’s not recognised in mainstream medicine.

I did try pregnenalone and DHEA but didn’t feel any different. I would like to try the pregnenalone again but the GO said to stop it when I started HRT so effects could be seen more easily. Do you know if it’s ok to take alongside HRT please?

If I could find someone to help raise my cortisol I feel sure my sleep would improve. But the endo won’t give me cortisol unless I’ve got Addisons, which I haven’t. I have a response on the short synacthen test, although the figures aren’t great compared to a healthy person- cortisol is just so low.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

I don't know much about pregnenolone as I opted to take low dose DHEA and hydrocortisone for the last 6 months and I'm about to retest to see where I am, I take it alongside lenzetto, utrogestan and testosterone... I'm feeling like I have more resilience and I've certainly upped my activity levels so my crash zone ceiling has raised.... I can now comfortably walk 10 miles a day (not necessarily in one go!) or go for an hours rowing

I found my new crash zone when I agreed to walk with a friend and it turned into a 3 hour route march!! It took 3-4 weeks to recover 😕

I've just swopped the HC for glandular with no major slump 🤞

I think with all these things it's a long slow haul back up

[CornishChick in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you. Why did you swap HC for glandular out of interest? I know we’ve chatted previously so will send a PM to save boring people with our conversation!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to CornishChick]

We have had some really interesting chats... I had to look back too...  radd too

I was hoping 6 months might have given my adrenals a bit of a rest and glandular being the weaker option would be enough going forward for maybe the next 6 months 🤷‍♀️

My adrenals did react to the SST but they say they give you enough they'd be pretty well shot to not react!... cortisol is low