My nhs blood test results are coming in dribs and drabs - vit D is missing, T3 and free T4 missing. Hoping call from GP tomorrow will clarify but so far, would anyone mind commenting on my folate and ferritin readings please?
Ferritin - 200ug/L (30.0 - 260.0)
Folate - 5.9 ug/L (> 3.9).
B12 is 328 ng/L (197-771).
Usual TSH is 0.60 mu/L (0.27 - 4.2).
Many thanks.
Obviously just TSH is useless
Do you do 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)
B12 and folate low
What vitamin supplements do you take
Yes, I do all that.
I was asking about the folate and ferritin results which I gave with ranges?
I’m hoping t3 and t free come in tomorrow. And D.
Folate - 5.9 ug/L (> 3.9).
B12 is 328 ng/L (197-771).
Both too low
Low B12 symptoms
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement
A week later add a separate vitamin B Complex
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
Highly effective B12 drops
natureprovides.com/products...
Or
B12 sublingual lozenges
uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...
cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...
B12 range in U.K. is too wide
Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Low folate
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Difference between folate and folic acid
healthline.com/nutrition/fo...
Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
B vitamins best taken after breakfast
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)
Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
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
Post discussing different B complex
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
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
endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...
endocrinenews.endocrine.org...
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 up over 500
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
Ferritin looks fine
Presumably you are not taking any iron supplements
Perhaps get full iron panel test every 4-5 years, especially if CRP (inflammation test) is high
Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test
Medichecks iron panel test
vitamin D
How much vitamin D are you taking
Test twice yearly when supplementing
NHS private testing service
Thanks for those replies. I will get on the B12 and order the drops for starters. I found with B complex oral spray that I was off like a rocket. It was amazingly great til about teatime when I realised it wasn’t going to stop and indeed I was awake all night - minimum dose..
I still have a Medichecks pending as GP wrote me up for many blood tests because, I don’t expect you to remember, but I received a text from the surgery before Christmas telling me I had chronic kidney disease and to pop along and get a script for statins. No thanks, not without further evidence! Test for kidney function came in - been stable for years apparently , cholesterol fine.
What a good job you are a forum member and knew better than just to meekly accept the statins without further testing. So many people would have ended up just taking the darn things and wondering why they felt poo 🤒. I wouldn't take them either.
Exactly. It’s based on an algorithm really. When I asked if losing weight and reducing blood pressure ( which is always said to be ‘ok’), I was told that would still not bring me down to this mythical 10%. Though she said I was ‘mild to moderate’. So given kidneys are ok, cholesterol ok, we are left with AGE being the determining factor for prescribing statins?
I received a text from the surgery before Christmas telling me I had chronic kidney disease
Poor kidney function directly linked to being hypothyroid
Many GP’s have no idea of the connection
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
The GFR is reversibly reduced (by about 40%) in more than 55% of adults with hypothyroidism[40] due to several reasons.
Hypothyroidism results in a reversible elevation in serum creatinine due to the reduction in GFR as well as possible myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. There is a reduction in serum cystatin C levels in hypothyroidism due to reduced production, consequent to reduced cellular metabolism.[30] Both these changes are reversible with treatment of hypothyroidism.
I found with B complex oral spray that I was off like a rocket. It was amazingly great til about teatime when I realised it wasn’t going to stop and indeed I was awake all night - minimum dose..
Yes initially adding B complex can make you feel wired for a day or two
Start with separate B12
Then after 10 days
You could try adding slowly…..eg Igennus B complex ….full dose is two tablets per day. Start with just 1/4 of tablet AFTER breakfast
See how that is
If you still have an issue…..try just a separate methyl folate
OK. Thanks, I appreciate that. Interesting too about kidney function! Do they know anything???
Updated results TSH, fT3 & fT4, ferritin and folate
ferritin and folate levels
B12, Folate and Ferritin
Ferritin folate vitamin D and vitamin B12
