Latest results, I’m a bit confused: Fresh in... - Thyroid UK

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Latest results, I’m a bit confused

Espeegee profile image
11 Replies

Fresh in today, and I’m amazed at the B12 result! My B12 has been steadily dropping, the last test in March last year showed total B12 at 271 range 145-569, this result is >150 for active B12, there isn’t a result for total but I’m not sure why it’s missing. Can anyone enlighten me? My CRP has shot up, no idea why, could it be connected to the high B12? My ferritin is out of range as it always is but has dropped a bit since the last test. TSH is up too, NHS test June 23, 2.12 range 0.35-5 T4 still at bottom of the range, all in all I can’t decide what sort of problem I might have, if any?

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Espeegee
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Espeegee profile image
Espeegee

Anyone?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

There’s nothing on your profile page

Are you diagnosed as hypothyroid

On levothyroxine?

If yes, how much and which brand

Exactly what vitamin supplements are you taking

High CRP

Have you recently had a cold or Covid or flu or similar

Ferritin

How old are you

Have you had full iron panel test to check if iron is also high

Top of range varies with age

Updated reference ranges for top of ferritin range depending upon age

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thank you for your incredible patience while you have been awaiting the outcome of our ferritin reference range review. We conducted this with Inuvi lab, which has now changed the reference ranges to the following:

Females 18 ≤ age < 40. 30 to 180

Females 40 ≤ age < 50. 30 to 207

Females 50 ≤ age < 60. 30 to 264l

Females Age ≥ 60. 30 to 332

Males 18 ≤ age < 40 30 to 442

Males Age ≥ 40 30 to 518

The lower limits of 30 are by the NICE threshold of <30 for iron deficiency. Our review of Medichecks data has determined the upper limits. This retrospective study used a large dataset of blood test results from 25,425 healthy participants aged 18 to 97 over seven years. This is the most extensive study on ferritin reference ranges, and we hope to achieve journal publication so that these ranges can be applied more widely.

Espeegee profile image
Espeegee in reply toSlowDragon

Not diagnosed as hypo, always "in range" so not on Levo.

Vitamins D3&K2, Magnesium glycinate, Astaxanthin (only recent).

No cold or Covid recently, few weeks ago I had sneezing and a cough.

Almost 73.

Never had a full iron panel, my ferritin has always been ignored. I've had recent bloods in which haemoglobin estimation is shown as 156 g/L range 115-165 classed as normal.

humanbean profile image
humanbean

Your high ferritin could be causing your high CRP.

...

With reference to B12, Serum B12 and Active B12 are not testing the same thing, so the results and ranges aren't the same.

Of the two B12 tests the Active test is better than the Serum test. I think the NHS still uses the Serum B12 test but I'm not certain.

If you are familiar with the Free T3 and Total T3 tests, the B12 tests are similar in concept.

Serum B12 is a measure of your Total B12.

Active B12 is a measure of your Free B12 and is the test that measures what your body can actually make use of.

Espeegee profile image
Espeegee in reply tohumanbean

Test was via Blue Horizon, they no longer do the B12 serum as part of their thyroid test. I've had much higher Ferritin (over 600!) without CRP being affected so at present it's fairly low for me. I'm concerned to have a high reading for the B12 active given my concerns have always been around serum B12 dropping lower at every test, PA in my sister and Mum. Net searches suggest it could indicate a problem but there's very little info generally, nearly all search results are about deficiency even with active included in the search. Strangely cortisol has gone up substantially too

I'm not sure what to do next, BH suggest a retest in 4 weeks, maybe as I don't feel ill I'll just do that.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toEspeegee

Perhaps look at full iron panel test via Medichecks

Though higher ferritin it pretty common after menopause

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Yes retest again in 6-8 weeks re crp

Espeegee profile image
Espeegee in reply toSlowDragon

I've ordered it, thank you.

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply toEspeegee

You might find this paper of interest on the subject of high B12 :

academic.oup.com/qjmed/arti...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

saw your reply on this post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Get bloods retested 8 weeks after being on 50mcg Levo per day

Test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Low folate

Are you now taking a daily vitamin B complex to improve your low folate

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

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 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) and continue separate B12

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

presumably you are not supplementing B12?

High B12 can be deceptive

Paradoxical B12 deficiency

b12oils.com/paradoxical.htm...

Espeegee profile image
Espeegee in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks for the info. I have in the past supplemented with Igenus and Thorne but although levels go up I was never sure if I was benefiting because I never felt any better which made me wonder about an absorption issue. I have a Wellwoman check usually in June so I'm going to see what bloods are like then. Levo will no doubt be up which will confuse them lol as no doubt TSH will have dropped. I'm thinking I'm just going to have to try and supplement with B12 and Folate all together and see if it makes any difference. That will probably take me to Christmas lol.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply toEspeegee

Retest thyroid and vitamins in another 2-3 months

Then, assuming Ft4 is still low, look at getting Levo prescribed

Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists

Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations so you could transfer eventually

thyroiduk.org/contact-us/ge...

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