Thoughts please? Blood results.

[Mummybear0213]

Serum vitamin B12:520 ng/L

Normal range:

187 to 883

Serum folate:

3.20 ug/L

Normal range:

3.10 to 20.50

Serum ferritin:

14 ug/L

Normal range:

20 to 235

Serum TSH level:

2.37 mIU/L

Normal range:

0.40 to 4.90

Serum free T4 level:

10.9 pmol/L

Normal range:

9.0 to 19.0

Serum inorganic phosphate:

1.41 mmol/L

Normal range:

0.80 to 1.50

Platelet distribution width:

18.0 fl

Normal range:

9.0 to 16.0

I posted my results from MMH last week, and went for a blood test at my GP surgery on Monday. The above are results.

I've added Inorganic Phosphate results because I feel like 1.41 is high and Google tells me it can be related to thyroid problems so thoughts on that would be great.

My PDW is always high and I don't understand why, and why the GP is never concerned about it.

Their automatic response to my low ferritin was unsurprisingly to send me a truck load of Ferrus Sulphate tablets to the chemist, which I'm reluctant to take due to the horrible side effects. I've been looking into heme iron supplements but I'm clueless on iron panels so I don't know if they would help or not.

I have an appointment next week to discuss my falling tsh levels (see my last post for the very clever graph by MMH showing this), but I have a feeling I'm going to be fobbed off again and told all my symptoms are due to anxiety and anemia 🙄

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your low vitamin levels are direct result of your Hashimoto’s

Folate low

No vitamin D result?

Your Ft4 is now very low

With high thyroid antibodies and symptoms and low Ft4 your GP/endo could start you on Levo

[Mummybear0213 in reply to SlowDragon]

Vitamin D: 57.0 nmol/LNormal range: above 49.9

I've requested a specific GP for my appointment next week because the one they've put down for my appointment is one I've seen before who dismissed everything I said and was clearly clueless on thyroids.

I still don't have much hope though because in their eyes, my t4 is in their range. It's really frustrating.

I feel awful today, absolutely no energy.

Oh can I also ask about iron? What would you recommend? I read a post about heme iron yesterday, would it be worth looking into?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low folate

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...

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 5-7 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...

[Mummybear0213 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, I still have a full pack of Thorne b vits, I really should pull my finger out and start taking them again.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Mummybear0213]

Retest in 2-3 months after working hard on improving all your vitamins

NHS only tests and treats vitamin deficiencies

Aiming for vitamin D at least minimum of 80nmol and many thyroid patients find 100-125nmol is better

Serum B12 at least over 500

Active B12 over 100

Folate at top of range

Very common to need to supplement vitamin D, separate magnesium and vitamin B complex daily and continuously to maintain GOOD vitamin levels

Iron/ferritin …..retest full iron panel 3-4 times a year if self supplementing iron

Aiming for ferritin at least over 70 minimum

If iron is high but ferritin low then you can ONLY improve by eating iron rich diet

If iron and ferritin are low you can supplement

Many members have good success with Three Arrows iron

Read the many posts and replies by FallingInReverse on iron and ferritin