Just had my vit d test result

[mitchell66]

A very respectable according to my doctor 18 (50-144 range)

[helvella Administrator]

Can I check that is not a typo?

Result was EIGHTEEN against a reference range of FIFTY to ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR.

And your doctor says that is "very respectable"?

I simply have to check it seems so ludicrous!

Rod

[mitchell66 in reply to helvella]

Rod so pleased you've replied, no typo, please can you look at my other results and give me your opinion, I am going slightly mad I think. It under 'my latest results' xx

[helvella Administrator in reply to mitchell66]

In earlier years I was on a thyroid forum where one of the regulars used to say:

"Change doctor. Don't walk, RUN!"

And that is about as far as I can think with what you have described.

It is bad enough when they decline treatment and suggest going to Boots or Holland & B. But to not even recognise the issue??????

Sorry - where are your other results? I thought you meant on your profile.

Rod

[mitchell66 in reply to helvella]

I have the doc phoning in a while to discuss/fob me off on my latest results, could do with some opinions.

My previous results in December were TSH 2.58 (0.3-5.5), T4 15.6 (12.0-22.0). The only T3 I have was 2010 which was 4.1 (3.1-6.8).

My doc says there is nothing wrong (I have increasing terrible symptoms and family history). I have been on a test dose of 25 Thyoxine.

These are my results today, plus a few dodgy ones from my blood count.

TSH 2.48 (0.3-5.5)

Free T4 14.8 (12.0-22.0)

Free T3 3.7 (3.1-6.8)

Thyroid peroxidase <5 (<34.0)

feritin 174 (15-150) above range

vit B12 312 (191-663)

folate 5 (3.8-16)

total white blood cell 4.9 (4.5-11)

neutrophil 2.99 (2.5-7.5)

lymphocyte 1.38 (1.5-3.5) below range

eosinophil count 0.10 (0.04-0.4)

basophil 0.01 (0.01-0.1)

[helvella Administrator in reply to mitchell66]

In my view, you are under-dosed.

Your TSH (if it is reflecting how you are) says that.

The FT4 says that.

The FT3 says that.

I'd rather see your B12 higher. And your folate.

[mitchell66 in reply to helvella]

Not really dosed at all Rod, think doc put me on a trial of 25mg Levo to shut me up

I asked her to refer me to Dr Skinner and she's ignoring me

[helvella Administrator in reply to mitchell66]

Yes - I was being moderate in my language.

Did it work? (From here it doesn't look like you have shut up!)

Quite honestly, I feel the vitamin D issue is complaint-making material. But I fully recognise the human cost and difficulty of making such complaints.

[cein in reply to mitchell66]

Hi mitchell 66 ... I was advised by someone on a blog to ( read about and contact Dr Skinner) I now have the phone number and prices etc; and once I have saved enough money I too will go and see him.

Go and ask her again and if she doesn't grant your request, go to another doctor in the practice and ask again.

Dr Skinner is in private practice so I can't really see why she has a problem its not like the NHS are funding any of it.

I found on Dr Skinners web page yesterday while looking for his phone number A Form Asking People to sign up to a Petition he is trying to organise to take the issues of poorly supported thyroid patients and testing World Wide to try and get the fact that a thyroid condition is a very serious issue and not something to be fobbed off.

He was taken to court in 2012 for daring to go against NHS and N.I.C.E by treating his patients as individuals and giving the correct dosages of medication for their individual needs ... his patients wrote testimonials and some also went to court to support him, the judge decided not to suspend him from practicing medicine but she made a condition that people can only see him after a recomendation from a GP which is a pity .. but eh as I said previously I can't see what the problem is they won't be paying for it .

Good luck Lynn

[Moggie]

Maybe you could speak to the practice manager and ask what the practice guidelines are on VitD. It wouldn't be making a complaint as such but would highlight any error in your GP's judgement as with a result of 18 and a statement of "a respectable range" by your GP there is definately something wrong.

Moggie x

[mitchell66 in reply to Moggie]

sorry, must admit these are not docs words, my sense of humour. Doc said no further action necessary.

[Moggie]

I doesn't matter what she said its the fact that she intends to do nothing with a VitD result of 18. Did you see these results, could you have miss heard 18 for 80. Like Rod I cant get over the fact that nothing is being done.

I would still phone the practice manager and ask what the guidelines are. My VitD result came back at 12.8 (only a few points below your's) and I was given a mega powerful loading dose of vitD (50,000iu) for two weeks and am just about to start another one. How can my GP take VitD so seriously when your GP is not bothering. Its wrong, and for your sake, as well as the next poor soul that is in the same situation, you need to get it clarified by the practice manager.

You can be polite as well as being forceful but please dont leave it, what chance has your small dose of 25mcg's of Levo got of working with a VitD level so low.

Moggie x

[Hidden]

18 is a Clear Deficiency (don't you usually get a lab comment on blood tests?)

vitamindtest.org.uk/vitamin...

[mitchell66]

On my way to the docs, not the usual one so fingers crossed. Can't see them contradicting each other though.....

[Moggie]

Good luck and let us know the outcome.

Moggie x

[mitchell66]

Well seen another doctor, sat and told him the last 12 years of ill health, he didn't know what I meant by poor conversion, he failed to see how vit d and B12 were important. He couldn't understand why water retention would be linked, not concerned about my ongoing Low WBC count, told me he only goes by TSH which is normal, not bothered at T3, T4 etc etc you get my drift.

But said he will be making sure my referral to doctor Skinner goes through.

[Moggie]

So what did he say about your low VitD? The thing I have found with GP's is that you cant ask about more than one thing at a time as it confuses them.lol. You have obviously overloaded this GP with info that he couldn't process. If I have several things I need from my GP I make several appts and that way we are both more focused.

Moggie x

[mitchell66 in reply to Moggie]

lol Moggie he was sucking his thumb and rocking in the corner when I left!

As for the vit D he said not to worry about it :/

[Moggie in reply to mitchell66]

So what are you going to do? Are you going to suppliment or phone the practice manager? Sounds like its all about saving moneyat the expense of your health and I would be saying this to the practice manager if I were you.

I would definately not be leaving it like this - two GP's in the same surgery refusing to do anything about a very low VitD result is criminal.

Moggie x

[mitchell66 in reply to Moggie]

Off to Holland and Barrett, because of their denial I have to pay for my prescriptions any way

[Moggie in reply to mitchell66]

I definately would not be putting my hand in my pocket, I would be taking the matter up with the surgery and asking the simple question of WHY. WHY when I am deficient are you not willing to treat me.

Moggie x

[Hidden in reply to Moggie]

May I suggest you get your Vitamin D3 from other sources than Holland and Barrett, you will pay a lot more than from say Amazon. Your doctor needs to prescribe your Vitamin D3 and you must make that request in writing, it is his duty to respond to a low level clearly indicated as not sufficient.If he won't do it then you need the reasons why, in writing. He will know then that this is not something that can be just brushed over. Vitamin D3 is very very important to your health and welbeing.

[capricorn]

I too am suffering from low Vit D and am off to do battle next week with the senior doctor at my practice. Can someone tell me the effects of insufficient Vit D as I'm not sure what I'm suffering from is related to it or not. Thanks x

[Katkin1 in reply to capricorn]

Hi capricorn

I have low vit D. My doctor told me to go out and buy 1000iu and take one a day because they couldn't prescribe that high a dose (which is nonsense as I have just found out - they can prescribe 400iu and 800iu and I'm happy to double up!),

In the end I went to see a consultant privately who prescribed 50,000iu a day for 6 days. I noticed that I slept better and felt more rested, my aches and pains subsided, and I had much more energy. Unfortunaly, when I finished the 6 days of tabs all the symptoms returned.

I have emailed the endo and am waiting for him to get back to me.

Best wishes

Kathy