Still not feeling better - have blood test results

[Tired2022]

Hi

I have been very grateful for your advice before. I posted late last year about not feeling better.

I have been to the GP in December and had three lots of blood tests since then(!) and my next appt with GP is 20 Jan. (I have also consulted a menopause clinic who recommend starting HRT. The GP said in Dec that she did not think HRT would help with my symptoms - she is working towards ME CFS diagnosis.

I have realised they have not repeated the folate/B12 and Vit D despite being prescribed supplements for these in Sept.

My thyroid results are "borderline".

19.12.24:

TSH: 0.45mu/L (0.27 - 4.2)

T4: 20pmol/L (12.0-22.0)

3.1.25

TSH: 0.43mu/L (0.27 - 4.2)

T4: 19.9pmol/L (12.0 - 22.0)

I have "abnormal" and "abnormal expected" results for what appear to be inflammation markers (raised ferritin, white blood cell count, neutrophil and ESR).

They tested for three different antibodies including for pernicious anaemia and rheumatoid factor and these were all negative.

I have been off work for almost 6 weeks now and still not feeling any different.

I take 100mcg lego daily (properly now)

5mg folate (prescribed)

Vit D (OTC)

Your thoughts and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

FT4 is 79% of range. Assuming you allowed 24hrs betwen test & last dose you have a small amount of room for an increase.

What time of day was the test taken?

Suggest you push GP to retest vitamins. GP will only do a serum B12 test so it might be an idea to buy a private test and see where your active B12 level is.

Have you tried any dietary changes such as strictly gluten free or dairy free?

[Tired2022 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Hi

I followed the advice on here about taking test first thing 24 hours after last meds. I was actually wondering if I was overmedicated. I thought that was why they had marked the test "borderline". I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing.

I am gluten free. I found this made a huge difference. Dairy free didn't make a difference.

I will definitely ask for re-test vitamins - I'm so surprised they didn't do that. Unless I can find a private way to get a result before my GP appt on Monday!

Thanks so much 😄

[greygoose]

Given your high-ish FT4, on your low dose of levo, I suspect you're a poor converter and that your FT3 is low. So, you really need that tested.

folate/B12 and Vit D despite being prescribed supplements for these in Sept.

When doctors prescribe nutrients, they tend to prescribe the cheapest and least bio-available forms, and not enough. And they don't tell you about the co-factors.

If you are taking folate and/or B12 you should also be taking a good methylated B complex. The Bs all work together and need to be kept balanced.

If you are taking vit D, you should also be taking vit K2-MK7 and magnesium and they all work together.

[Tired2022 in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose

I'm not doing these other things. I had got myself in a bit of a state and decided to just take what was prescribed and then review in January.

I will get the private thyroid panel done and make a plan.

Thanks so much.

[greygoose in reply to Tired2022]

You're welcome.

[JumpJiving]

Tired2022 When you say that you are not feeling better, what symptoms are you experiencing?

[Tired2022 in reply to JumpJiving]

It's three things mainly and I think they all bounce off each other to make it worse.

- I am so tired - it doesn't matter what I do. I have tried resting, varying my work pattern, taking time off work (currently not working). I have gradually ended up stopping doing various activities one by one until I am practically housebound.

- I can't think. My job is to assess children and write reports. I can't organise my thoughts properly to write reports.

- I am so stiff. When I wake up in the morning, I have to loosen up in order to get out of bed then a bit more to get downstairs. I used to do laundry and empty the dishwasher first thing. I never noticed the bending and stretching involved. I need to warm-up to do this. Showering is hard to raise my legs to step in, raise arms to wash etc. I find it all exhausting. Often I am not in the shower til 3pm as I do something for 5 mins then rest for half an hour.

It is getting worse. A year ago, I was tired and struggling to think, but I wasn't in pain and was holding down full time work, caring for two disabled teens and my dad was in hospital and I could still make time to meet friends, cook food and stay on top of household tasks.

It has been getting gradually worse over last 2 - 3 years but was originally explained as underactive thyroid then vitamin deficiencies and it just seems like whatever they find wrong and try to treat, I am just getting worse.

Be grateful for any insight. Apparently a diagnosis of ME CFS is a write-off and there will be no help with getting back to work.

[JumpJiving in reply to Tired2022]

Tired2022 Any unexplained weight changes, dizziness, high/low blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems?

[Tired2022 in reply to JumpJiving]

No

[Obsdian]

I personally think hrt is worth a try. It's not a complete fix but likely to improve some symptoms or take the edge off. That morning stiffness and then related soreness and stiffness was definitely amongst my perimenopause symptoms and hrt helped soooo much.

I do also get muscle tiredness and soreness from one or more other issues but I can't imagine dealing with that without my hrt being part of my treatment.

Our body is complex and seems often thete are many things to work on at the same time. Hrt isn't a magic cure all but definitely can help improve things.

[Tired2022]

Thank you. I have decided to ask for HRT.