Newbie here but need help : Hi all, I am new here... - Thyroid UK

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Newbie here but need help

GLDMJP14 profile image
11 Replies

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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GLDMJP14 profile image
GLDMJP14

this is a list of what’s been requested from the doctors.

Blood test request form.
JumpJiving profile image
JumpJiving

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)

GLDMJP14 profile image
GLDMJP14 in reply toJumpJiving

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. :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

welcome to the forum

What time of day was test done

TSH is certainly indicative of a possible problem

see what vitamin tests show

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if any autoimmune issue

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

Graph showing median TSH in healthy population is 1-1.5

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

GLDMJP14 profile image
GLDMJP14 in reply toSlowDragon

Oh wow thank you for the reply. That’s a lot of information in one post. I’ll have to have a good read through everything you have posted.

I took the test at 8.10am. I wasn’t told to fast etc so I didn’t fast the night before. And I had a coffee in the morning before I left for the test.

I am hoping to have the other results back in the morning or by Friday so I’ll post the rest of the results as soon as I have them.

Thank you :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toGLDMJP14

Work on improving all four vitamins

Retest thyroid and vitamin levels 6-8 weeks after adding last supplement

Low vitamin levels will lower TSH hiding how hypothyroid you might be

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results.

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

GLDMJP14 profile image
GLDMJP14

Hi, here’s the list of bloods I have back so far. I don’t have a clue what any of them mean.

Some of them say I’m low but no further action required.

Some might be relevant some might now. I just know I need to start feeling better soon. 😔

I think I’m still waiting on a couple more results to come through.

HbA1c levl - IFCC standardised:

35 mmol/mol

Normal range:

HbA1c of 48 mmol/mol and above is diagnostic of DM (WHO 2011)

42-47 mmol/mol indicates high risk of DM (NICE Guidance PH38 2012)

)

MONITORING OF DIABETES MELLITUS (Adults):

Type 2 target values: 48 mmol/mol - 57 mmol/mol (NICE Guideline NG28)

Type 1 target values: 48 mmol/mol or lower (NICE Guideline NG17)

Serum C reactive protein level:

12 mg/L Normal range: Below 10

Liver function test

Serum total protein:

61 g/L.

Normal range: 60 to 80

Serum albumin:

39 g/L.

Normal range: 35 to 50

Serum total bilirubin level:

4 umol/L.

Normal range: Below 21

Total alkaline phosphatase:

85 u/L.

Normal range: 30 to 130

Serum ALT level:

19 u/L.

Normal range: 10 to 49

Bone profile

Results out of range but accepted for this patient.

Serum calcium:

2.15 mmol/L.

Normal range: 2.17 to 2.56

ADJUSTED CALCIUM:

2.17 mmol/L.

Normal range: 2.17 to 2.56

Serum albumin:

39 g/L

Normal range: 35 to 50

Total alkaline phosphatase:

85 u/L

Normal range: 30 to 130

Urea and electrolytes

Serum sodium:

142 mmol/L

Normal range: 133 to 146

Serum potassium:

4.3 mmol/L

Normal range: 3.5 to 5.3

Serum urea level:

5.4 mmol/L

Normal range: 2.5 to 7.8

Serum creatinine:

58 umol/L

Normal range: 45 to 84

Serum TSH level

Serum TSH level:

4.70 mIU/L

Normal range: 0.55 to 4.78

Serum total 25-OH vit D level:

36 nmol/L

Normal range: Above 49

ESTIMATED GFR

Laboratory comment

Normal kidney if no proteinuria, haematuria, or abnormal kidneys on US

S.

UK CKD guidelines are available at renal.org/CKDguide/ckd.html

EGFR calculated using parameters for white female. (If black multiply

result by 1.21)

GFR calculated abbreviatd MDRD:

> 90 mL/min/1.73m2

Normal range: No range

Serum creatinine:

58 umol/L

Normal range: 45 to 84

Full blood count - FBC

Total white cell count:

4.55 10*9/L

Normal range: 4.00 to 11.00

Red blood cell (RBC) count:

4.20 10*12/L

Normal range: 4.10 to 5.10

Haemoglobin estimation:

130 g/L

Normal range: 120 to 150

Haematocrit:

0.408 L/L

Normal range: 0.360 to 0.460

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV):

97.3 fL

Normal range: 82.0 to 105.0

Mean corpusc. haemoglobin(MCH):

31.0 pg

Normal range: 27.0 to 32.0

Mean corpusc. Hb. conc. (MCHC):

318 g/L

Normal range: 315 to 345

Platelet count:

242 10*9/L

Normal range: 140 to 400

Neutrophil count:

2.43 10*9/L

Normal range: 2.00 to 7.00

Lymphocyte count:

0.60 10*9/L

Normal range: 1.00 to 3.00

Monocyte count:

0.83 10*9/L

Normal range: 0.20 to 1.00

Eosinophil count:

0.32 10*9/L

Normal range: 0.02 to 0.50

Basophil count:

0.04 10*9/L

Normal range: 0.01 to 0.10

HYPOCHROMASIA:

4.00 % Normal range: No range

Serum ferritin:

21 ug/L

Normal range:10 to 291

Serum vitamin B12:

375 ng/L

Normal range: 211 to 911

Serum folate:

4.7 ug/L

Normal range: Above 5.4

Laboratory comment

HDL values <1.0 mmol/L are associated with an increased risk

of coronary heart disease. This is also the case if the total

cholesterol to HDL ratio is >5.0.

Serum total cholesterol level:

5.2 mmol/L

Normal range: No range

Serum HDL cholesterol level:

1.5 mmol/L

Normal range: Above 1.2

Serum triglycerides:

1.0 mmol/L

Normal range: Below 1.7

Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio:

3.5

Normal range: No range

Calculated LDL cholesterol lev:

3.2 mmol/L

Normal range: No range

NON-HDL CHOLESTEROL:

3.7 mmol/L

Normal range: No range

Rheumatoid factor IgM level:

9 kiu/L

Normal range: Below 14

NUCLEAR ANTIBODIES (CTD ELIA):

Normal range: No range

Laboratory comment:

Negative

Tissu transglutaminase IgA lev:

< 1.0 ku/L

Normal range: Below 5.0

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toGLDMJP14

Serum ferritin 21 ug/L

Ferritin is deficient

No iron result

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

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

Stop iron supplements 5-7 days before testing

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

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

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

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.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing Three Arrows as very effective supplement

Great replies from FallingInReverse

re ferritin and Three arrows

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Great reply by @fallinginreverse

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron patches

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Good iron but low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Shellfish and Mussels are excellent source of iron

healthline.com/nutrition/he...

Iron deficiency without anaemia

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Great research article discussing similar…..ferritin over 100 often necessary

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

Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidism

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Really interesting talk on YouTube, link in reply by Humanbean discussing both iron deficiency and towards end how inflammation can also be an issue

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Inflammation affecting ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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.

GLDMJP14 profile image
GLDMJP14

just for cortisol level back.

946nmol/l

Normal range - 145 - 619

So yeah that’s a little high 🤦🏻‍♀️

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

you need to click reply of other poster is not alerted

High cortisol extremely common when hypothyroid as adrenals try to compensate for lack of thyroid hormones

Serum total 25-OH vit D level: 36 nmol/L

Vitamin D is insufficient

GP should prescribe 1600iu everyday for 6 months

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 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 profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Low vitamin levels directly linked to being hypothyroid, as this leads to low stomach acid and then poor nutrient absorption

Only add one vitamin supplement at a time then wait 10-14 days to assess any issues before adding another

Starting with vitamin D, followed by B12 then either folic acid prescribed by GP, or vitamin B complex

Serum vitamin B12: 375 ng/L range: 211 to 911

Serum folate:4.7 ug/L Normal range: Above 5.4

Folate is deficient

B12 inadequate

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 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

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

Once you finish GP prescribed folic acid

Consider ongoing 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 supplements

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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) and continue separate B12

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

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