Re: Blood Work Results

March 30, 2000

Carolann,

Your test ranges should be as follows: TSH 0.32 - 5.00 ( low end/high end )

T3 0.80 - 2.00

T4 0.71 - 1.85

No wonder you feel so sick! I would start on Twin Labs Allergy Vitamins,

they don't contain any iodine and are close to what 's supplement list

except I think I would add a little more copper. Hope this helps you

understand what the normal ranges are from the lab. Sheri Lynn

March 30, 2000

Hi Carolann: Your doctor may think10 mg of tapazole is enough, but he should

test your blood again in about 2 mos. to be sure. Once your thyroid levels

are normalized, you still should have blood tests on a regularly scheduled

basis. I am on PTU, my levels are normal, and my endo has me come in every

4-6 months for testing. Take care, Joyce

March 30, 2000

Thanks so much for that info. I was beginning to wonder myself why I feel so

crappy. I really really appreciate it and I will start on those supplements.

You guys are the best!

Carolann

March 31, 2000

Hi Joyce,

Thanks for the info. I will make sure of that. I have read about PTU a

little bit on the web but it did not really make enough clear to me about

what it is. Do you know where I can find that info. out. How are you doing

on it and doing in general?

Hope all is well...and thanks again.

Carolann

March 31, 2000

Hi Carolann: Basically PTU and Tapazole both accomplish the same result,

they slow down the thyroid. Tapazole is usually taken once a day and PTU is

taken about every 8 hours. I can't tell you much more about the difference

between them, but if you really would like to know, maybe one of our more

knowledgeable members can help out.

I have had a mild case of Graves and have always felt good. My eyes were

affected by Graves, which was a real downer, but in the last few months they

have improved to about normal. During the last few months I have also been

able to reduce the amount of PTU needed to keep my thyroid levels in

mid-range. There is no scientific way to prove why I have improved, but I

believe it's because I have eliminated all caffeine from my diet. No coffee,

cokes, chocolate. had recommended discontinuing caffeine to improve

the eyes, for which I am very grateful. To be honest I didn't think

eliminating caffeine would help, because I only drank 2 or 3 cups of coffee a

day, maybe Dr. Pepper twice a month, and hardly any chocolate.

I'm glad you asked your doctor to put you back on the Tapazole. Take real

good care of yourself. Joyce

July 25, 2001

Hi all,

I'm 4 l/2 months out from surgery and just got my blood work back.

I need some help here....I had a few things in the high range, a few more in

the low range, but what really concerned me was my B6. According to my

papers, the " normal " range is 5.0 - 30.0....mine is 65.0....has anyone else

had these results? My transferrin (and I don't have a clue what that is) was

low, and my white blood count was low (though not extremely low). My

Ferritin (again I have no idea what this is) was 190.0 with the normal range

being 10-120. I didn't get to see my doctor today, just an intern and he

didn't help me out at all. Can anyone give me any insight? Thanks......

Marie/Florida

Post Op 3/08 with Dr. Q

282/202/???

July 25, 2001

I researched a little and here is what I came up with....this is

copied directly off the http://my.webmd.com/ pages.

>>>>>B6. According to my papers, the " normal " range is 5.0 -

30.0....mine is 65.0....<<<<<

Vitamin B-6 plays a role in the synthesis of antibodies in the

immune system. It helps maintain normal brain function and

acts in the formation of red blood cells. It is also required for the

chemical reactions of proteins. The higher the protein intake, the

more the need for vitamin B6.

Large doses of vitamin B6 can cause neurological disorders

and numbness.

Deficiencies and Toxicity of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine):

Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, has an effect on over 60 proteins in

the body, importantly, those that play a role in the nervous

system, in red and white blood cell production, and in heart

disease. Food sources of B6 are meats, oily fish, poultry, whole

grains, dried fortified cereals, soybeans, avocados, baked

potatoes with skins, watermelon, plantains, bananas, peanuts,

and brewer's yeast. Current DRI recommendations are 2 mg in

all adults, although for heart protection some experts

recommend 3 to 6 mg. Deficiencies are very uncommon but can

cause skin problems and nervous system disorders, including

impaired memory and concentration. They may also increase

the risk for kidney stones. In rare cases, infants are born unable

to metabolize pyridoxine; in such cases seizures or convulsions

can occur, and vitamin B6 must be administered. Deficiency is

associated with increased levels of the chemical homocysteine,

which is turn has been associated with heart disease, birth

defects, and possibly Alzheimer's disease and dementia. (It is

not known if reducing homocysteine levels will have any

protective effect.) A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may reduce

homocysteine levels. Very high doses (2,000 mg per day) can

cause nerve damage with symptoms of instability and

numbness in the feet and hands, which may be permanent in

some cases. In some cases, the damage may be permanent.

Pyridoxine also reduces the effects of L-dopa, the drug used for

Parkinson's disease.

>>>>> My transferrin (and I don't have a clue what that is) was

low,>>>>>

(trans-fer´in) a serum globulin that binds and transports iron.

This test is usually performed when iron deficiency is suspected

as a cause of anemia. About 65% of the iron in the body is in

hemoglobin (in red blood cells) and about 4% in myoglobin (in

skeletal muscle). About 30% of the iron in the body is stored (as

ferritin or hemosiderin) in liver, bone marrow, and

reticuloendothelial cells of the spleen. A small percentage of the

body's iron is in transport between various compartments of the

body (in association with transferrin) or is a component of

enzymes in cells throughout the body. Free iron is very reactive (it

stimulates free radical reactions) and is not normally in body

fluids.

Serum iron, as measured in the clinical laboratory, is really

transferrin-associated ferric iron. Each transferrin molecule can

carry 2 iron atoms. Normally about 30% of the available sites are

filled. This is called the percent transferrin saturation. By

completely saturating all the available binding sites, it is

possible to measure the total iron binding capacity (TIBC). This

is really a measure of the transferrin level in the serum. TIBC

and percent transferrin saturation are usually measured at the

same time serum iron is measured.

>>>and my white blood count was low (though not extremely

low).<<<<

Anemia and decreased platelets commonly accompany a high

white blood cell count.

>>>Ferritin (again I have no idea what this is) was 190.0 with the

normal range being 10-120. <<<<<

This test is measured to assess the amount of iron (which is

important for red blood cell production) in the body.

Ferritin is the major iron storage protein. The serum ferritin level

is directly proportional to the amount of iron stored in the body.

Normal Values:

male: 12 to 300 ng/ml

female: 10 to 150 ng/ml

Note: ng/ml = nanograms per milliliter

Ok so the Ferritin is high and the white blood cells are low

because you have a lot of iron? And maybe your iron is high

because your transferrin's are low and not transporting the iron

.......lolol....in other words....wait till you talk to your doctor.....I am=

no help at all!

Hope I did not confuse you more! Good luck solving this puzzle.

Bethie

July 25, 2001

WOW Marie....I don't know a thing but am interested in others responses!

How are you feeling? I am well...hit my first plateau at -90, Today the

scale FINALLY moved again...I was stuck at -90 or -92 for 2 weeks, but today

I am -93 1.2 and think I might be breaking through. I'm at a weight I

weighed for like 3 years, so I knew it was coming. Not bothered by it, but I

sure wanted that 100 gone THEN a plateau! HAHA....Oh well, just wanted to

update you. I am going to wait on my blood work til 6 months. I have to pay

out of pocket and just can't afford it right now. Plus I feel fine so I'm

thinking it can wait....

HUGS and hope the others can give you some advice....

in Gentry

your onliest littermate

3-08

322-229

July 25, 2001

My year-end B-6 was very, very high also. I had been taking an extra B Complex

so I stopped doing that, and the only extgra B I now take is the sublingual

B-12. The B-Complex that I was taking had an extremely high B-6 doseage in it.

Pat

Re: blood work results