Mum's ,bloodtest results: Recieved my Mum's... - Thyroid UK

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Mum's ,bloodtest results

Gazdad profile image
16 Replies

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..

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greygoose profile image
greygoose

Thyroid tests are:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

Tg antibodies

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin

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. :)

Gazdad profile image
Gazdad in reply to greygoose

Thanks, GreyGoose,Top Lady On the case,as i message you carefully scanning, Serum Tsh-2.9mu/l0.27-4.2

Ferritin 233ug/l3.0-150.0, says if persists request fasting tibc/ serum,comments, raised Ferritin ?liver.problem ?

Serum foliate 42u5- 7.2ug/3.0-20.0

Vit b12-374ng/L197.0-771.0

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 ..

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Gazdad

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.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to greygoose

OK, so just read this:

High folate levels can also mean a vitamin B12 deficiency. Body cells need vitamin B12 to use folate.

healthlinkbc.ca/tests-treat....

And her B12 is too low.

Gazdad profile image
Gazdad in reply to greygoose

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..

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Gazdad

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.

Gazdad profile image
Gazdad in reply to greygoose

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..

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Gazdad

Hope you have a great Easter, too. :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Ferritin

Updated reference ranges for top of ferritin range depending upon age

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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.

BumbleyM profile image
BumbleyM in reply to SlowDragon

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.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Extremely common for B12 to be low over 60

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/257....

Liw B12 particularly common when on replacement thyroid hormones

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...

NICE guidelines on B12 and testing

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

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

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...

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...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus B complex popular option. 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...

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

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

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

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

No vitamin D

Test here

NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

No Ft4 or Ft3 or thyroid antibodies

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

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG 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

Just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 test - £32

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

Monitor My Health also now offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

Gazdad profile image
Gazdad in reply to SlowDragon

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

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Gazdad

Best not to mention “ an internet forum “ (red rag to a bull)

You could mention Thyroid U.K. - NHS recommended support group

thyroiduk.org

Just because your mum is elderly doesn’t mean she should be left on too low a dose levothyroxine

Has she had cholesterol levels tested

High cholesterol linked to being on inadequate dose Levo

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.

Similarly poor kidney function linked to inadequate dose Levo

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

Guidelines

Obviously her age makes medics cautious of increasing dose levothyroxine

pathlabs.rlbuht.nhs.uk/tft_...

Guiding Treatment with Thyroxine:

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

gponline.com/endocrinology-...

Graph showing median TSH in healthy population is 1-1.5

web.archive.org/web/2004060...

Comprehensive list of references for needing LOW TSH on levothyroxine

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

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).

Gazdad profile image
Gazdad in reply to SlowDragon

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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