Latest Medicheck results

[SpringerMom]

I would really welcome any advice and comments on my latest Medicheck results as I am continuing to experience fatigue on a daily basis and generally feeling poo. I followed the guidelines of when to take Levothyroxine but continued to take B12 as I feel too unwell without it. TIA.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Free T4 (fT4) 19.5 pmol/L (12 - 22) 75.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 5.6 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 67.6%

Your results are not unreasonable but I see that you're also querying B12 deficiency and fatigue can certainly accompany that.

How are your other vitamins looking?

Have you been tested for coeliac?

Are you still taking folic acid?

What was your last ferritin result?

[SpringerMom in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you for your help Jaydee. I have been tested for coeliac and it was negative. I only took folic acid for 3 months and finished in March before I became aware that I shouldn’t have had it without checking for B12. My previous ferritin results are:

18/01/23 - 99 (30-200)

01/11/23 - 114 (30-150)

10/11/23 - 112 (30-150)

19/03/24 - 119 (30-200)

11/06/24 - 122 (30-264)

Thought I’d also added this🙄👩

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to SpringerMom]

Ferritin looks good.

So having finished the folic acid prescription you will need a B complex to continue to maintain your level now.

B complex suggestions: Slightly cheaper options with inactive B6:

amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

Contains B6 as P5P an active form:

bigvits.co.uk/thorne-resear...

healf.com/products/basic-b-...

Explanation about the different forms of B6:

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

B complex comparison spreadsheet:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

How long have you been supplementing B12?

[SpringerMom in reply to Jaydee1507]

I have been supplementing Iggenus B12 Complex 1000mcg (333 methyl, 333 hydroxo, 333 adeno) and Solgar 1000mcg cyano along with Iggenus B Complex and magnesium since November.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to SpringerMom]

Cyano B12 isn't as good as Hydroxy or methyl as the body needs to convert it to the active form and some peoples bodies just aren't good at that. When you finish the cyano form then try one of these: cytoplan.co.uk/vitamin-b12-...

amazon.co.uk/Better-You-Boo...

Have you retested your B12 level since you began supplementing? I'd suggest doing that but some people only seem to benefit from injections.

[SpringerMom in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you so much for your help. In November 23 serum B12 was 349 and in March 24 while supplementing it was 472 (ranges 190-883). After trying to get a GP appointment since March I finally have one tomorrow but with an ANP and don’t want to mess it up. If I don’t get any joy I will also run this past the PA/B12D forum on HU. The good news seems to be that my UA thyroid is under control at the moment.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Jaydee1507]

But SpringerMom is already taking:

Iggenus B12 Complex 1000mcg (333 methyl, 333 hydroxo, 333 adeno)

Would seem far simpler to either leave it at that (with 1000 micrograms a day being sufficient for most of us) - or just take two of these? And, as you say, if such a high dose is already apparently needed, test and consider the injection route.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to helvella]

The OP had an active B12 of 46 which is pretty low and usual suggestion is to take a separate B12 of 1,000iu + then a B complex. This is standard recommendation.

Doubling the B complex doubles the folate which may or may not be necessary.

Recent test on the igennus, B12 is still not high enough at 472.

SpringerMom are you taking one or 2 of the igennus B complex a day?

[SpringerMom in reply to Jaydee1507]

I am taking the recommended 2 of the B complex a day which I believe give the full dose of 400 mcg.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to SpringerMom]

So thats the full dose of igennus and you don't need to take any more B6 so add the separate B12 spray or sublingual. Your serum B12 needs to be 500 minimum so you're not quite there yet with raising your B12. You will need to give it a few months to feel the benefit once your level is good.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to SpringerMom]

I'm getting confused between the 2 types of Igennus products but anyway, if you're having to take that much B12 and your results still aren't above 500 serum B12 then you have an issue there.

I'd try and press that home to ANP you see tomorrow.

Suggest getting recommendations of things to say from the PA group BEFORE you go.

The NICE guidelines have changed fairly recently so have a good read of them. nice.org.uk/guidance/ng239/...

Press for an MMA test and point out how much oral B12 you are taking with not great results.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Jaydee1507]

I thought the B12 complex was just B12!

Ingredients: Sugar-free sweeteners: mannitol, steviol glycosides from stevia leaf; bulking agent: hydroxypropyl cellulose; anti-caking agent: ascorbyl palmitate; natural strawberry flavour; natural colour (beetroot); hydroxocobalamin; methylcobalamin; adenosylcobalamin.

vitamin b12 sublingual high absorption with methycobalamin adenosylcobalamin and hydroxocobalamin

igennus.com/products/super-...

[SpringerMom in reply to helvella]

Yes, it is, 333 each of methyl, adeno and hydroxo.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to helvella]

I believe this is the B complex we usually mention in this group and what the OP is taking: igennus.com/products/super-...

[helvella Administrator in reply to Jaydee1507]

The OP is ALSO taking Igennus B12 Complex 1000mcg (333 methyl, 333 hydroxo, 333 adeno).

I suggested doubling this B12 complex - not the B complex.

[SpringerMom in reply to helvella]

Thank you Helvella. The B complex also has 900 mcg methyl and I have been trying the oral route for now to see how it goes. I think the combination of the increase in Levo from 75 to 100 in November and optimising key vitamins certainly seems to have helped my thyroid results. Is 6 months too soon to expect a great improvement or am I just being impatient and need to give things more time? Or, do I need to investigate further?

[helvella Administrator in reply to SpringerMom]

If you are taking two of the substantial B12 doses a day, separate them! And possibly best near meals.

Yes - I had missed that the B complex has quite so much B12 in it!

Even if your thyroid results have improved, the feeling better and healthier can take much longer. But the optimistic way of looking at that to appreciate that things can improve further.

[SpringerMom in reply to helvella]

Thank you Helvella. I take the B complex in a morning with breakfast and then the B12 complex early afternoon with lunch. At least things seem to be going in the right direction thyroid wise now so one less thing to discuss at my appointment.

[Milburn13]

I find pure encapsulations liquid b12 good. I recommend reading Paul Robinson's blog or his books about thyroid- he considers all the different factors that can mean we don't feel well. Also, have you ever done a cortisol saliva test to check your cortisol as taking Levothyroxine can sometimes effect cortisol levels in some and cause terrible fatigue. Hope you feel better soon.

[SpringerMom in reply to Milburn13]

Thank you for your help Milburn. I’ve just had a phone consultation with an ANP, thought it was going to be a f2f. He has agreed to do an IFab test and also test for Lyme disease. I had cortisol test a while ago but might suggest next time. I have read Slow Butterfly for thyroid and Martin Hoopers B12D books and I am posting on PA forum for B12 advice.

[Milburn13]

The NHS only do a blood test for cortisol and when I've had it done they always say it's fine, however when I got a saliva test it showed low cortisol. So if you think your cortisol may be low it's worth getting a Medichecks saliva test done.