Re: Starting to feel a fraud.

[Guest guest]

I can't really advise on the rest, being a bit of a newby myself, but I can tell you how doctors ignore a test 1/8th above minimum. For the same reason that I was not diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes when my glucose tolerance test came back at 0.1 below the top end of the reference range. It is because they treat the reference range as an absolute and anything that falls within that is "fine". I know I had a TSH result that actually had High written on it (presumably it was above the reference range but below the "guideline" limit of 10!), the receptionist told me this said high and I should arrange an appointment with the GP, but when I saw her she said it was all fine and would I consider...you guessed it...antidepressants.

B12 273 (200 - 950)

Folate 8.0 (4.6 -18.7)

I am treating the low B12 with a sublingual B complex That has 1200ug of B12 in each dose.How could ANY doctor ignore a B12 result that is only one 1/8th above minimum?

[Guest guest]

Note you are taking Vit D, if D2 (dont bother) if D3 I have read that 5,000iu is

a start if you are deficient.

the Recommend daily dose of VitD3 is 600iu, but if you went into the sun for 20

mins you would get 10,000iu - however, it needs to 'convert'.

I am a bit hot on Vit D3 at the moment and it is well worth investigating at the

links I put in the previous message.

The effects of Vit D deficiency has wide reaching ramifications

www,vitamindfcouncil.org

F

>

> I really am starting to feel a bit of a fraud being on here. As according to

my bloods I'm perfectly healthy (apart from low B12). I am not on any thyroid

medication.

>

> My TSH, which has improved since last time is puzzling me. TSH in March 2011

was 2.24 , range of (0.25 - 5.0).

>

> Yet now it is 1.65 (0.25 - 5.0 range).

>

> The main differences from March to now, is that in March I was on a 1/4 dose

of my Testosterone maybe even an 1/8 dose (and had been for 3 months whilst I

'weaned' myself off the testosterone) and feeling very depressed and desperate

(usual doctors advice, you're depressed here is some Prozac), the depression etc

lifted within 4 days of going over their heads and getting a testosterone

implant from my specialist.

>

> The other main difference had been to go wheat and gluten free, plus dropping

about half the carbs I was eating. (This has lowered my overall calorie intake,

but not my weight anywhere near as much as it should have). My Celiac result

came back 'normal', I will get the precise results ASAP, but whilst noting that

I had been gluten free for 5 weeks before the blood tests so didn't expect the

tests to show a marked antibody presence. Though if they show any presence of

any antibodies, I WILL be asking my doctor how my bloods can show any antibodies

when there isn't any gluten in my diet to react to.

>

> T3 and T4 results are back and they show

>

> FT3 5.1 (2.1 - 6.8)

>

> FT4 18.1 (12.0 - 22.0)

>

> I don't have RT3 or any of the mineral/vitamin tests apart from

>

> B12 273 (200 - 950)

>

> Folate 8.0 (4.6 -18.7)

>

> I am treating the low B12 with a sublingual B complex That has 1200ug of B12

in each dose.How could ANY doctor ignore a B12 result that is only one 1/8th

above minimum?

>

> Other supplements include, D3, Vit C, tiny amount of iodine in sea kelp (can't

afford the proper stuff yet), and a multi vit.

>

> I took the questionaire (from the files) for Candida and had a very high

score, so I am self treating that, one week in and I still have vaginal thrush,

so that diagnosis seems to be right. Treatment is weekly fluconazole for 3 weeks

and 2+ capsules of acidophylus a day. My guts seem better, less diarrhoea and

cramping.

>

> My adrenal temperature chart is steady as a rock, barely moving more than

degree centigrade average from day to day. But my basel temperature is always

below 36.6, the lowest being 35.7. I do notice when it is up to near normal, as

my energy and 'get up and go' improves. The rest of the time I could inhabit the

sofa quite happily. In the past I have had quite 'manic' episodes where I am

completely focused and full of energy, my mind buzzing with idea's and thoughts.

But not recently.

>

>

> Should I start taking Iron or any other supplements.

>

>

> Do you think I have a Thyroid problem, or should I look elsewhere for the

source of my problems? Could it be a sex hormone problem?

> If you do think I should be on Thyroid replacement, what type and what level

should I start at?

>

> Regards

>

> 2

>

[Guest guest]

Hi please check out my reply regarding low Vitamin D3 and psychiatric problems

with links, it didnt get posted to this thread so I put it in a new topic.

regards

F

>

> I really am starting to feel a bit of a fraud being on here. As according to

my bloods I'm perfectly healthy (apart from low B12). I am not on any thyroid

medication.

>

> My TSH, which has improved since last time is puzzling me. TSH in March 2011

was 2.24 , range of (0.25 - 5.0).

>

> Yet now it is 1.65 (0.2

>

[Guest guest]

Gosh 2 - your message goes into a lot.

I really am starting to feel a bit of a fraud being on here.

As according to my bloods I'm perfectly healthy (apart from low B12). I am not

on any thyroid medication.

Never feel a fraud. Doctors would have us all believe that blood

tests are the be all and end all of everything. They refuse to treat our

symptoms, only treating our blood/urine/sputum results without taking into

consideration the symptoms we are suffering or the signs we are showing. We

basically, are 'bits of paper' to the majority of doctors.

My TSH, which has improved since last time is puzzling me.

TSH in March 2011 was 2.24 , range of (0.25 - 5.0). Yet now it is 1.65 (0.25 -

5.0 range).It appears that the testosterone patch and the gluten free diet

with low carbs is helping - as we often recommend. However, although antibodies

thrive on gluten, this does not mean they completely disappear once you go

gluten free, but with Selenium at 200mcgs daily and no gluten, the level of

antibodies does fall. Antibodies remain until they have done the job they have

set out to do, and that is to destroy the thyroid tissue completely. However, for

those with thyroid antibodies, the TSH does fluctuate and is not, therefore, a

test to be relied on.

B12 273 (200 - 950)

B12 level is far too low - and too low to be treating with B12

sublingual supplements. It is almost at the very bottom of the reference

interval. You need a course of B12 injections pretty quickly. Discuss this with

your GP as a matter of urgency. If your GP ignores this, and refuses to treat

you, I would ask him to give you an explanation as to why in writing, and if

this is not satisfactory, you should report this to the Head of Practice and if

it a Practice is a Partnership, report the matter to your local primary care

trust

Folate 8.0 (4.6 -18.7)

Too low - but you can supplement this yourself with 5mgs Folic

Acid available from your local health food store or Boots.

I took the questionaire (from the files) for Candida and had

a very high score, so I am self treating that, one week in and I still have

vaginal thrush, so that diagnosis seems to be right. Treatment is weekly

fluconazole for 3 weeks and 2+ capsules of acidophylus a day. My guts seem

better, less diarrhoea and cramping.

Are you on a strict Candida Diet?

My adrenal temperature chart is steady as a rock, barely

moving more than degree centigrade average from day to day. But my basel temperature

is always below 36.6, the lowest being 35.7. I do notice when it is up to near

normal, as my energy and 'get up and go' improves. The rest of the time I could

inhabit the sofa quite happily. In the past I have had quite 'manic' episodes

where I am completely focused and full of energy, my mind buzzing with idea's

and thoughts. But not recently.

Have you done the adrenal questionnaire in our FILES SECTION to

see whether you are suffering with low adrenal reserve. If not, answer the

questions to see how you score.

Should I start taking Iron or any other supplements.

I would say most definitely you are likely to need iron

supplements. Did you have your iron, transferrin saturation%, ferritin tested?

If not, these are vital.

Do you think I have a Thyroid problem, or should I look

elsewhere for the source of my problems? Could it be a sex hormone problem?

If you do think I should be on Thyroid replacement, what type and what level

should I start at?

If one of your hormone glands is not functioning properly this

throws out all the others, so yes, do get your sex hormones tested, i.e.

oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone etc. Your thyroid function test results

look fine at the moment, so you need to check your adrenals and the other

specific vitamins and minerals that do not appear to have been tested yet.

Luv - Sheila

[Guest guest]

"I really am starting to feel a bit of a fraud being on here. As according to my bloods I'm perfectly healthy (apart from low B12). I am not on any thyroid medication."

You don't sound like a fraud. You sound like you may have saved yourself from being very ill because you have caught something before the situation becomes very serious. The interpretation of blood tests by doctors is very sloppy. As long as you are in range, even if you are right at the bottom, they don't do a thing! Do you really want to be rock bottom for every blood test before you make a move?

You do not need an official stamp of a doctor saying you have a thyroid problem to have a thyroid problem. It took me a year to be diagnosed. I was ill for the whole time and probably for a long time before!!!

MacG.

[Guest guest]

> I took the questionaire (from the files) for Candida and had a very high

> score, so I am self treating that, one week in and I still have vaginal

> thrush, so that diagnosis seems to be right. Treatment is weekly fluconazole

> for 3 weeks and 2+ capsules of acidophylus a day. My guts seem better, less

> diarrhoea and cramping.

>

> Are you on a strict Candida Diet?

As strict as I can go. I am low carb, the only grains I have are half a cup of

rice once a week and cornflour in the gravy. I have cut out most fruit and all

sugar (apart from a cheat last night where I had 3 Amaerican hard gums, and does

my tummy feel it this morning). I have 2 or 3 mini new potatoes about 3 times a

week.

****************

>Did you have your iron, transferrin saturation%, ferritin tested? If not,these

are vital.

Building up my courage for these. I really am terrified of going back to the

same doctor and I have managed to piss of the rest of the practice as well (I

made a formal complaint about one of them, who happens to be married to another

and I have gone over the head of a third to get treatment direct from a

specialist), so this last, condescending doc is my only chance. I think writing

is going to be my only hope.

*************

> If one of your hormone glands is not functioning properly this throws out all

the others, so yes, do get your sex hormones tested, i.e. oestrogen,

progesterone, testosterone etc.

I have some of those, I think this is what you want..... I can't say when

exactly I was in my cycle as I have had a TCRE (Uterus cauterisation) to stop my

extra heavy periods. But the results seem to show ovulation. These results are

from 1 week ago.

FSH level 29.8

Ranges

Follicular 2- 17

Ovulatory 5- 48

Luteal 1- 15

LH level 14.5

Ranges

Follicular 2-13

Ovulatory 14- 96

Luteal 1-11

Post menopausal 8 - 59

Tests from MARCH 2011 are shown below.

Serum sex hormone binding 25 (19- 145)

FSH 4.2

Ranges

Follicular 2- 17

Ovulatory 5- 48

Luteal 1- 15

LH level 4.4

Ranges

Follicular 2-13

Ovulatory 14- 96

Luteal 1-11

Post menopausal 8 - 59

Oestradiol 213

Ranges

Follicular 80 -550

Ovulatory 400 - 1600

Luteal 175 - 880

Post menopausal <170

Progesterone 16.4 ( >30 ) only to be considered in Luteal phase day 19 - 21.

Testosterone 1.2 (0.2 - 1.65) useless to consider this as its being

artificially supplemented.

Is there anymore I should ask for?

2

[Guest guest]

The Adrenal questionaire shows a score of 101 and an average of 1.65, so mild to

moderate adrenal fatigue. This is on a testosterone implant of 100mg (100mg slow

release implanted under the skin in the abdominal fat layer, lasts about 6

months). Symptoms without the added testosterone are much much worse.

I have already changed my diet to include most of the Ardrenal diet, except for

the wholegrains as I am wheat and gluten intolerant. I have found that I

function much better when I have minimal grains and starches as the high carbs

and subsequent high blood sugar level followed by the corresponding sugar lows

cause me to constantly eat to get the sugar levels back up. A low carb diet

avoids the extremes, I get my energy from my fat layer (built like a whale,

thick layer of blubber), though the weight isn't shifting as fast as I want or

believe should happen.

2

[Guest guest]

Dear and others with the same condition:

There is a malady, which is known to medical science but ignored by medical

practice, that has your characteristics. It is euthyroid (your thyroid is OK)

hypometabolism (but you are dragging about anyway).

The tests for euthyroid hypometabolism are metabolic including Basal Metabolism

Rate or Resting Metabolism Rate.

A potential blood test is for rT3, which can be produced in excess by the

various peripheral metabolism sites in the body. RT3 is more active in stopping

the use of T3 by the body than anti-hyperthyroidism drugs.

Please also note the Greater Thyroid System description that can be accessed

from the TPA homepage. It is a schematic of the communication and command from

the brain to the body's cells' nuclei and mitochonria. The top half is

acknowledged by medical practice. The bottom half is not acknowledged in spite

of being known to medical science and has been for at least 40 years.

Have a Great Day,

>

> " I really am starting to feel a bit of a fraud being on here. As according to

my bloods I'm perfectly healthy (apart from low B12). I am not on any thyroid

medication. "

> You don't sound like a fraud.  You sound like you may have saved yourself from

being very ill because you have caught something before the situation becomes

very serious.  The interpretation of blood tests by doctors is very sloppy.  As

long as you are in range, even if you are right at the bottom, they don't do a

thing!   Do you really want to be rock bottom for every blood test before you

make a move?

>  

> You do not need an official stamp of a doctor saying you have a thyroid

problem to have a thyroid problem.  It took me a year to be diagnosed.  I was

ill for the whole time and probably for a long time before!!!

>

> MacG.

>

[Guest guest]

>Did you have your iron, transferrin saturation%, ferritin tested? If

not,these are vital.

Building up my courage for these. I really am terrified of going back to the

same doctor and I have managed to piss of the rest of the practice as well (I

made a formal complaint about one of them, who happens to be married to another

and I have gone over the head of a third to get treatment direct from a

specialist), so this last, condescending doc is my only chance. I think writing

is going to be my only hope.

I think you are correct - get that pen and paper out and write

to this doctor asking for these tests and if you wish, copy in the references

below to show him why it is essential that these specific minerals and vitamins

are tested because of their association with low thyroid.

Low

iron/ferritin: Iron deficiency is shown to significantly reduce T4 to T3

conversion, increase reverse T3 levels, and block the thermogenic (metabolism

boosting) properties of thyroid hormone (1-4). Thus, iron deficiency, as

indicated by an iron saturation below 25 or a ferritin below 70, will result in

diminished intracellular T3 levels. Additionally, T4 should not be considered

adequate thyroid replacement if iron deficiency is present (1-4)).

1.

Dillman E, Gale C, Green W, et al.

Hypothermia in iron deficiency due to altered triiodithyroidine metabolism.

Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 1980;239(5):377-R381.

2.

SM, PE, Lukaski HC. In

vitro hepatic thyroid hormone deiodination in iron-deficient rats: effect of

dietary fat. Life Sci 1993;53(8):603-9.

3.

Zimmermann MB, Köhrle J. The Impact of

Iron and Selenium Deficiencies on Iodine and Thyroid Metabolism: Biochemistry

and Relevance to Public Health. Thyroid 2002;12(10): 867-78.

4.

Beard J, tobin B, Green W. Evidence for

Thyroid Hormone Deficiency in Iron-Deficient Anemic Rats. J. Nutr.

1989;119:772-778.

Low

vitamin B12: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18655403

Low

vitamin D3: http://www.eje-online.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/3/329

and http://www.goodhormonehealth.com/VitaminD.pdf

Low

magnesium: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC292768/pdf/jcinvest00264-0105.pdf

Low

folate: http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/content/full/47/9/1738

and http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/thy.1999.9.1163

Low 

copper http://www.ithyroid.com/copper.htm

http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/copper_toxicity_syndrome.htm

http://www.ithyroid.com/copper.htm

http://www.rjpbcs.com/pdf/2011_2(2)/68.pdf

http://ajplegacy.physiology.org/content/171/3/652.extract

Low

zinc:http://www.istanbul.edu.tr/ffdbiyo/current4/07%20Iham%20AM%C4%B0R.pdf

and http://articles.webraydian.com/article1648-Role_of_Zinc_and_Copper_in_Effective_Thyroid_Function.html

Ferritin

levels for women need to be between 90 and 130

Vitamin

B12 needs to be at the top of the range.

D3

levels need to be about 50.

Magnesium

levels need to be at the top of the range.

Hopefully,

somebody else will come along to help with your sex hormone interpretations as

I know nothing about these.

Luv

- Sheila

*************

> If one of your hormone glands is not functioning properly this throws out

all the others, so yes, do get your sex hormones tested, i.e. oestrogen,

progesterone, testosterone etc.

I have some of those, I think this is what you want..... I can't say when

exactly I was in my cycle as I have had a TCRE (Uterus cauterisation) to stop

my extra heavy periods. But the results seem to show ovulation. These results

are from 1 week ago.