Final bloods done before my 1st Endo Appt

[Kiki_76]

So! In Oct was suddenly sweating profusely and out of breath. Presumed it was the ever increasing weight I was putting on so asked gp about these new wegovy type diabetes drugs now available. He said no but go for bloods. My thyroid was abnormal. (I’ll put all bloods below). Was referred to endo but told could be waiting a year maybe more. So I got on the waiting list and went private in the meantime. He put me on Carbimazole (was on that around Dec Jan for reference to bloods) but I came out in the worst rash all over my body so he said stop immediately. I’ve finally got my appointment with endocrinology on 15th May. So I’ve just had my latest bloods and won’t be having any more prior to the apt so thought I’d get feedback here as to what you knowledgeable ppl think is going on and crucially, is there anything I should ask at the apt? I’m so worried I’m going to be fobbed off in some way. I’m now 48. When I was 30 I suddenly started experiencing anxiety out of the blue. I had bloods done and gp said your thyroid is borderline but we’ll leave it. Then few years later i was still struggling so insisted on further tests. I had scans etc they said the thyroid was a bit lumpy and bumpy but we’ll leave it alone. It’s worth mentioning I went thru premature menopause in my 30s too so I think that got more attention. By the time I was 39 I’d had my last period. So now I’m feeling particularly anxious and think surely to god I’m post meno now so it must be thyroid related??? Also, is there T3 bloods I should’ve had? Out of all these results the only normal ones are T4 after Oct. I’m pretty clueless with all this but just know I feel like crap most of the time. Sorry for the essay!

Se Thyroid Peroxidase Ab Con

Normal range <34

Nov 119 KIU/L

April 84

THYR REC AB

Normal range <1.8

Nov 2.8 u/L

April 2.2

Thyroid Function Test

Free T4 Level

Normal range 12-22

Oct 34.8 pmol/L

Jan 12.7

Feb 14.7

March 16.9

April 18.7

TSH Level

Normal range 0.27-4.20

10 Oct 0.01 mu/L

Jan 0.04

Feb 0.22

March 0.15

April 0.17

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Free T4 Level

Normal range 12-22

Oct 34.8 pmol/L

Jan 12.7

Feb 14.7

March 16.9

April 18.7

when did you start Carbimazole. When did you stop it

You need TSI or Trab antibodies tested to rule in or out Graves’ disease

you need GP/or endo to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

High TPO antibodies and weight gain suggests autoimmune hypothyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

Hashimoto’s frequently has transient high thyroid levels as thyroid cells breakdown.

[Kiki_76 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for replying I don’t know the exact dates but Carbimazole was around Dec/Jan.

So should I ask my gp for different bloods before seeing endo at the hospital? I had full bloods done recently….

iron was normal except for

% transfer.saturation was 43% normal is 16-40.

Ferritin was abnormal 222 ug/L normal is 13-150.

B12 was normal.

Folate was just about normal 4.1ug/L when normal range is 3.9-26.8

Can’tsee vitamin D in my bloods unless it’s called something else but I do take a supplement

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kiki_76]

High ferritin is typical of Graves’ disease

Endo should test TSI and/or Trab antibodies to confirm Graves

B12 was normal.

Folate was just about normal 4.1ug/L when normal range is 3.9-26.8

What’s actual B12 result

Folate is low

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

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 you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg)

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

[Kiki_76 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks again B12 was 300 with normal range being 197-771

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kiki_76]

So B12 low as well

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 B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

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

NICE guidelines on B12 and testing

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

[Kiki_76 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks just ordered b12 arriving tomorrow, the b12 deficiency symptoms are so similar to overactive thyroid!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kiki_76]

Test twice yearly when supplementing

Can test via NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

[Kiki_76 in reply to SlowDragon]

What’s your thoughts on b12 injections? I see people getting these everywhere

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kiki_76]

Try daily B12 and daily vitamin B complex

For most people this works well

Test again in 6-8 weeks

What was vitamin D result

[Kiki_76 in reply to SlowDragon]

not had vit d tested think my gp just thinks everyone is too low

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Kiki_76]

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required

ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...

GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.

Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol

leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...

GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)

mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...

But with thyroid issues, improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...

vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Test twice yearly when supplementing

Can test via NHS private testing service

vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.

There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.

One spray = 1000iu

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...

It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average

Vitamin D and thyroid disease

grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...

Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease

newscientist.com/article/23...

Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7

Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

livescience.com/61866-magne...

sciencedaily.com/releases/2...

Recipe ideas

bbc.co.uk/food/articles/mag...

Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium

drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...

Vitamin K2 mk7

betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...

healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When I was 30 I suddenly started experiencing anxiety out of the blue. I had bloods done and gp said your thyroid is borderline but we’ll leave it. Then few years later i was still struggling so insisted on further tests. I had scans etc they said the thyroid was a bit lumpy and bumpy but we’ll leave it alone. It’s worth mentioning I went thru premature menopause in my 30s

So periods stopping highly likely linked to thyroid

Anxiety is extremely common thyroid symptom

[Kiki_76 in reply to SlowDragon]

My mum’s stopped around same age and she’s never had thyroid issues so who knows. Can handle everything it throws at me but the anxiety is the hardest