I've recently had 2 blood tests - one was a private finger prick test through monitormyhealth.com.
The reason I took the tests was because I've not felt 'right' for quite some months. Insomnia (but then falling asleep at my desk during the day), constant aches and pains, headaches, unable to lose weight although I have a PT and go to gym 3 times a week, constant dry eyes etc.
The private test showed a TSH of 4.47, so I went to the GP for further investigation.
They ordered a suite of tests, which I've popped below. (It was a fasting blood test, taken at 9:45am). However on the NHS app they all state 'no further action needed'. I must admit I feel a bit despondent. I actually wanted the tests to show something so that I could take steps to feeling better.
I wondered if someone could cast their eye over the results, to see whether I need to push for anything further thyroid related, or whether it's time to move on and try find another reason for my poor state at the moment.
Hey I'm sure an admin will be along to give you some guidance soon but I would say that you need more than TSH checked. For thyroid you also need T4 and T3 and anti bodies (GP probably won't do these) get your main vitamins checked B12, Ferritin, vitamin D.
You can get these done via Medichecks or similar. This will give you a better picture of what's going on x
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
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.
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.
Other vitamin levels
No B12, folate or vitamin D test results
Testing these essential as next step
Get these tested by GP or privately
Your low calcium level is strongly indicative of vitamin D deficiency
With chronic and/or severe vitamin D deficiency, a decline in calcium and phosphorus absorption by your intestines leads to hypocalcemia (low calcium levels in your blood). This leads to secondary hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid glands attempting to keep blood calcium levels normal).
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.
First step is to get all four vitamins tested and improve to OPTIMAL levels
thyroid can’t work well with low vitamin levels
Vitamin D at least over 80nmol
Serum B12 over 500
Active B12 over 70
Folate top of range
Ferritin at over 70
Retest thyroid again 2-3 months after working on getting all four vitamins optimal
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