I have symptoms of thyroid issues but trying to get hold of a doctors appointment is impossible. Extreme tiredness, migraines, floating lights in eyes, cramp in my feet, pins and needles in arms, irregular periods, brain fog. I had bloods taken so will attach these. Shows slight elevated tsh levels. I was just after some advice
thanks in advance for any advice given
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Nataliebardell
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Once you finish prescription folic acid, look at adding a daily vitamin B complex alongside B12
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)
This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too
Igennus B complex popular option too. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
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) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
Your HbA1c indicates that you are NOT diabetic with your in range HbA1c.
Your TSH is above range. This suggests you have what doctors call "subclinical hypothyroidism" or "subclinical underactive thyroid".
Patients would probably just call it "hypothyroidism".
Unfortunately, doctors are unlikely to diagnose hypothyroidism (subclinical or otherwise) until TSH is 10+, which frankly is sadistic.
The rules doctors use are (I hope I got these right, but I wouldn't swear to it) :
Subclinical hypothyroidism = TSH over range but under 10 AND Free T4 is in range.
Overt hypothyroidism = TSH is over range and Free T4 is under range.
CRP (C Reactive Protein) is an inflammation marker and yours is high at 15 (Optimal is under one) suggesting that you may have a virus / bacteria / fungus / parasite problem or high inflammation somewhere, but the CRP gives no clues to where the problem actually is. You would need further investigation. Some people with thyroid disease can have inflammation in the gut e.g. gastritis or coeliac disease, or the lungs e.g. COPD.
Cholesterol I'm not the person to ask about this - I think almost any level of cholesterol is fine and would never take statins. Just for future reference but not needed now :
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.
Folate Your folate level is awful. Optimal is upper half of the reference range. Note that for the body to make use of your B12 it must have adequate folate.
To raise levels of folate - avoid folic acid. Good supplements are described here :
You can supplement with folate if your dietary intake is inadequate. Look for products that contain the Metfolin brand, or list “5-methyltetrahydrofolate” or “5-MTHF” on the label. Avoid products that say “folic acid” on the label. Make sure to check your multivitamin because most multis contain folic acid and not folate.
Ferritin is usually a good measure of overall iron status, but in the presence of inflammation, it functions as an immune response, not as a marker of iron status.
Hi Nataliebardell, welcome ... early a.m ~ shamelessly plugging this thyroid research petition ~ (asking the govt to give some of the £84Million CMA fine from the price hike of Liothyronine T3 to thyroid research) .
Please consider signing and SHARING this petition if you haven't already done so .. if you have signed already THANKYOU
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