Need advice

[Cheapskate]

Been feeling tired/exhausted for years. Weight gain, cold all the time. High cholesterol - being treated. Palpitations. A lot of these symptoms I have read can be due to thyroid problems. Had a private blood test done. Results are: TSH 3.71/ Free T4 14.3/ Free T3 4.5. I know these are within range but I feel like I'm really struggling day to day. What can I do? I know doctors won't prescribe anything on these results.Thanks

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Welcome to the forum Cheapskate; I think this is your first post.

Please can you give ranges for your results, as these can vary between laboratories.

It is important to have key vitamins optimal to support thyroid health, so in the first instance ask your GP to test ferritin, folate, B12 and vit D. Otherwise, look to do this privately (as many forum members do).

Have you had antibodies tested to see if you have auto immune thyroid antibodies (aka Hashimotos)?

TSH should be under 2, so this shows your thyroid is struggling right now. Optimising key vitamins will help, but please don’t supplement before testing/ sharing levels with us.

[Cheapskate in reply to Buddy195]

Thanks for the swift response. Blood tests ranges - TSH 0.27-4.2 / Free T4 12-22 / my Vitamin D is 70.7 (rang 50-250) thyroglobulin 13.2 (range 0 - 115). Got the blood tests from MediCheck. Thanks

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Cheapskate]

It’s essential that key nutrients - Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Folate and Ferritin are at optimal levels to support thyroid health:

This is where I like my vitamins to be:

Vitamin D (100-150nmol/L)

Total B12 at top of range or for Active B12 100 or above

Folate (at least half way through range)

Ferritin (half way through range) although some point to 90-110ug as optimal.

Are you currently supplementing any vitamins? Do you have results for ferritin, folate, B12 to share?

What time of day was your blood draw for Medichecks?

[Cheapskate in reply to Buddy195]

Hi - thanks for the information. My ferratin was 82 (range 30-650). Vitamin D 70.7 (50-250). No folate results. I do give myself vitamin b12 injections and my B12 is 150 (range 37-188). I took the MediCheck blood at 8 a.m. before breakfast. Thanks

[Cheapskate in reply to Cheapskate]

Sorry ferratin range should be 30-300

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cheapskate]

What about TPO antibodies?

How low was B12 before starting B12 injections

As you have B12 injections it’s recommended also to supplement a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

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 currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

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

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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

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)

[McPammy]

Having a TSH over 2.5 will give you symptoms. It should be around 1.00 ish. My endocrinologist explained this to me. NHS ranges are too wide. Check your antibodies this could indicate you’re having thyroid problems. You could choose a private route to get better help than the lousy NHS.

[McPammy]

My private only Endo properly responded to my situation.

[McPammy]

I was advised on here to see him. He is on the TUK pro T3 list.

[Cheapskate in reply to McPammy]

Hi McPammy - can you let me know where I can find this list. I know my GPs won't treat me so I think it's worth seeing a private endo and see what happens. Thanks

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Cheapskate]

Fill in this form to get the list from Thyroid UK thyroiduk.org/contact-us/ge...