Recieved my Mum's, blood test results today, 7 sheets of, a4 printout , totally out of my league, on a investigation /normality /result format..In normality only ones picked out are serum ferritin level(xe24r)- above range, commented..
Serum creatinelevel(xe2q5)-above range.
Monocyte count ,observation(42N)above range
Being a "civilian " I have NO idea how to read this report
,Can not find any thing with a t3- t4 comment, but lots of blood info etc , could you please advise me what actual figures to beam in on you,s A- Team please, Gaz-dad..Thanks..
However when testing ferritin, CRP (C Reactive Protein) should also be tested because if that is high, so will the ferritin be high. Did you see a CRP result?
You should be aware that all these tests can go by different names - too numerous to list them all but could be:
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone or Thyrotrophin.
Free T4 or Free Thyroxine
Free T3 or Free triodothyronine
Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies
Anti-Thyroglobulin antibodies
Difficult to tell you what numbers to beam in on because it all depends on the ranges, and they vary from lab to lab. And, it's not just about being in-range. It's about where within the range the results fall.
Can not see any. crp result or any mention of -ft4/ ft3 or tpo antibodies or tg anti bodies.. Wow, growing a beard here scanning details..Nb I asked on behalf of my Ma in writing , if her, Levo could be upped from 75 to a 100 , this was not answered in this mailing ..
Well, she certainly needs an increase in dose! Her TSH is too high, even if they didn't test T4/T3. Should come down to 1 or under. And, if they come back with that old excuse about older people having higher TSH, tell them that's to do with people not on thyroid hormone replacement. Your mum is on thyroid hormone replacement so it doesn't apply to her!
Ferritin is high so they should be testing her CRP, request that they do so before going down the liver route.
Her folate is high, and I don't know why that would be. Does she eat a lot of leafy greens? But her B12 is too low. Should be at least over 550 mcg, so that needs sorting.
Dearest Greygoose thanks for that amazing information, can I ask for a t4 t3 test, via phone which Is my contact with her surgery, or is there enough information already supplied, I am super polite to the (on) phone staff, but can i Demand a increase on ,Mums behalf..?? Re the blood test results, is it preferable that "OUR" gang's thinkings(H.U) are not mentioned in any ,gp, communications..?? lastly on beaming in on (dr,s) tomo, have you any definite Questions I should fire at them , trying to keep them on Mum's side ,awkward eh..? So grateful GG, for keeping me inspired..
You can always ask, but highly unlikely you'll get an FT3 test - although one would be highly desirable, along with an FT4. But even if the doctor requests them, you lab will probably refuse to do them. I'm afraid that in the UK, the lab rules!
But as I said, on the basis of that high TSH she obviously needs an increase in dose.
You can mention TUK - not HU - because TUK is recommended by the NHS. But I'm not sure you can demand an increase, just strongly suggest that given her high TSH and her symptoms, she would greatly benefit from an increase in dose.
And, as I said before, ask that the CRP be tested to clarify her high ferritin:
Inflammation can cause ferritin (specifically) to be high - that is, higher than it would be in the same person but with no inflammation.
Whether measured by ESR or CRP.
One explanation is that when there is inflammation, the body tries to ensure that iron is not available for bacteria (etc.) to use and increase infection/inflammation. And binding iron in ferritin achieves this.
This is a quote from someone, but I can't remember who! But it is something that GPs are unlikely to know.
Great information GreyGoose.. thanks for massive assistance in comprehension of blood tests, my Mum sends highest regards for all your & others kindness,N.b , I'm a Arborist,(tree worker),any of you,s have a query regards a Tree mattter , beam in any time for advice.. have a Great Easter..
Thank you for your incredible patience while you have been awaiting the outcome of our ferritin reference range review. We conducted this with Inuvi lab, which has now changed the reference ranges to the following:
Females 18 ≤ age < 40. 30 to 180
Females 40 ≤ age < 50. 30 to 207
Females 50 ≤ age < 60. 30 to 264l
Females Age ≥ 60. 30 to 332
Males 18 ≤ age < 40 30 to 442
Males Age ≥ 40 30 to 518
The lower limits of 30 are by the NICE threshold of <30 for iron deficiency. Our review of Medichecks data has determined the upper limits. This retrospective study used a large dataset of blood test results from 25,425 healthy participants aged 18 to 97 over seven years. This is the most extensive study on ferritin reference ranges, and we hope to achieve journal publication so that these ranges can be applied more widely.
Thank you so much for publishing these figures - makes sense of issues my sister and mother have had in the past - it's needs to get to a wider audience asap.
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 her serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), she 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
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 can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
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
In week before blood test, when she stops vitamin B complex, might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
Either push GP to increase dose Levo based on TSH being over 2 and symptomatic
Or get FULL thyroid test privately
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
Hiya ,SlowDragon & GreyGoose today.. thanks for the links..keep Gaz Dad,aka. Gareth.. be busy with it tonight,so appreciate the great imput from the team, mum is 81 olde school attitude, steamed greens , meat eggs fish low carbs, parly my guidance..vit d 3000iu, suprised her b12 so low..been on,75.levo since 2009, cold hands , constipation, varying low basal temp.. weight gain ,tummy..!,(Ltd, exercise,) NO ciggies or booze ever,.. see the difference even with the age factor.. glad I found all the team on here..contact Ma,s surgery tomo, try for a bit more concern for her.. is it against our gangs rules to mention(H.U) whence info was obtained..? Thanks again S.D
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.
Similarly poor kidney function linked to inadequate dose Levo
In the majority of patients 50-100 μg thyroxine can be used as the starting dose. Alterations in dose are achieved by using 25-50 μg increments and adequacy of the new dose can be confirmed by repeat measurement of TSH after 2-3 months.
The majority of patients will be clinically euthyroid with a ‘normal’ TSH and having thyroxine replacement in the range 75-150 μg/day (1.6ug/Kg on average).
The recommended approach is to titrate thyroxine therapy against the TSH concentration whilst assessing clinical well-being. The target is a serum TSH within the reference range.
……The primary target of thyroxine replacement therapy is to make the patient feel well and to achieve a serum TSH that is within the reference range. The corresponding FT4 will be within or slightly above its reference range.
The minimum period to achieve stable concentrations after a change in dose of thyroxine is two months and thyroid function tests should not normally be requested before this period has elapsed.
TSH should be under 2 as an absolute maximum when on levothyroxine
If symptoms of hypothyroidism persist despite normalisation of TSH, the dose of levothyroxine can be titrated further to place the TSH in the lower part of the reference range or even slightly below (i.e., TSH: 0.1–2.0 mU/L), but avoiding TSH < 0.1 mU/L. Use of alternate day dosing of different levothyroxine strengths may be needed to achieve this (e.g., 100 mcg for 4 days; 125 mcg for 3 days weekly).
Sorted ,Slow Dragon will ONLY give name rank and serial number tomo.. ! just thinking possibly a Non day medically , Good Friday.. ! Have Happy Easter ,S,D. & also to all other members of the A-Team..
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Finally got some blood test results . Need explaining please.
Latest test results
Newbie's Full Blood Test Results
Results say borderline hypothyroid
Levothyroxine overmedicated?
