Hi all, I am new here but could really use some help. For months now I’ve been having a lot of symptoms, tired, achy bones and muscles, hair loss, terrible headaches and migraines every day. The list goes on.
I finally went to the GP which ordered bloods. A long list of different bloods. One of which was TSH. I don’t think I happy with the results and I need further investigation but how do I get the GP to do a follow up?
I would usually just except that the GPs are correct and I am with in normal range but because of my symptoms and being on the cusp I believe I should push further. I googled symptoms of underactive thyroid, I seem to have every single one. Plus my dad has hashi, his sister has overactive I believe and her 4 daughters have problems with their thyroid. My grandma on my mother’s side also has thyroid problems. So it’s runs in the family.
I get that all labs have a different normal range but I am literally right on the edge of normal. How can they investigate further with the list of symptoms I’ve given them?
I’m still waiting for vitamins and minerals results to come back.
If I’ve done it correctly I’ve attached a picture of the bloods they have asked for and the results from TSH.
Thank you for reading and I appreciate any advice that can be offered.
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GLDMJP14
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Can you post all of the results, including ranges, please.
TBH, that's a far more impressive list of tests than most doctors would request, but missing thyroid-related antibodies, FT4 and FT3 (normally you have to pay to get FT3 done in the UK)
I haven’t got the full results back yet. Or they haven’t been shown on the NHS app. Not sure why. The doctors was closed today so I’m hoping tomorrow I’ll have more answers. As soon as I have them I will post them.
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.
It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
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.
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 folic acid prescribed by GP …..or 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
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 you stop vitamin B complex, you 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
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