Advice please.

[Guest guest]

Dear Sheila,

Thanks for your recent reply to my post.

You asked me if I had my last test results, the only results I have

are from last year and they were:

SALIVA - RED APPLE CLINIC RESULTS 11-4-2007

fTSH >600 high (borderline low: 20-25 nIU/ml normal: 26-85

nIU/ml borderline high: 86-120 nIU/ml)

fT4 0.22 normal (normal: 0.17-0.42 ng/dl)

fT3 0.39 normal (borderline low: 0.21-0.27 pg/ml normal: 0.28-

1.10 pg/ml)

TPO positive (normal: negative)

-------------------------------------

BLOOD - GP RESULTS ON 17-6-2007

TSH 0.89 mU/I 0.35 – 5.0

Free-T4 12.9 pmoI/L 7.0 – 20.0

Ferritin 26 ug/L 12-250

----------------------------------------------

I'm afraid that I don't really understand the Red Apple results,

perhaps there is someone who could explain to me what they mean? I

was not on either NAE or Armour when I had the tests done, I didn't

start taking them until several months later – about

August/September.

" Because of your problems with wheelchair access to a suitable

clinic and the problem right now with your wheelchair comfort, have

you considered having a telephone consultation with Dr Peatfield

instead. "

I did ring and have a short telephone conversation with Mr Peatfield

last year and he asked me about my test results and he was the one

who suggested that maybe I should have a trial of thyroid

medication. I did contact him further by e-mail to ask about

telephone consultations and how much they cost but he didn't reply.

To be honest I was a little embarrassed that I hadn't paid him for

his advice and as I didn't hear back from him I didn't feel that I

could ring him again.

" What is the worse symptom you are suffering right now. Have you

ever got to the state where you get palpitations, feel dizzy,

sweating, feelings of being spaced out. "

The worst symptoms I have now are fatigue, feeling terribly cold,

stomach and bowel problems, dry skin and still some memory and fuzzy

headed problems. I am up to 3 grains of Armour now and I had hoped

that I would be feeling a lot better by now. I've never felt

palpitations, feel dizzy or sweating. I do sometimes have feelings

of being spaced out but I am putting that down to my fuzzy

headedness.

I start to doubt whether I am doing all the right things, perhaps I

am overlooking something. I'm just feeling a bit lost at the moment

and not sure what to do next, some days I feel so awful that I

really don't want to get out of bed. I get such bad problems with my

bowels and that in turn affects my bladder, it just feels like there

is a heavy weight on me it even seems to affect my breathing. I am

always cold (been known to wear polo necks all year) and when I am

in bad pain I am freezing cold and sit right in front of the halogen

heater all day.

Do you think that I should get some more blood tests done? If so

what do I need to ask for?

I would welcome any ideas or comments from anyone as I am feeling

that I will never be well again.

Love

Sharon

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon> > You asked me if I had my last test results, the only results I have > are from last year and they were:> > SALIVA - RED APPLE CLINIC RESULTS 11-4-2007> fTSH >600 high (borderline low: 20-25 nIU/ml normal: 26-85 > nIU/ml borderline high: 86-120 nIU/ml)> fT4 0.22 normal (normal: 0.17-0.42 ng/dl)> fT3 0.39 normal (borderline low: 0.21-0.27 pg/ml normal: 0.28-> 1.10 pg/ml)> TPO positive (normal: negative)

I'm not used to interpreting Red Apple results either, and we have to remember that these results were over a year ago. But - your TSH was very high and even though they have (normal) written next to your FT4, in my ionterpretation, the result was low.

> -------------------------------------> > BLOOD - GP RESULTS ON 17-6-2007> TSH 0.89 mU/I 0.35 – 5.0> Free-T4 12.9 pmoI/L 7.0 – 20.0> Ferritin 26 ug/L 12-250

TSH has dropped in a couple of months. Free T4 is still low (Why no FT3?) and your Ferritin is too low.

Is your GP treating your low ferritin (stored iron) level? If not, you must get this boosted or it will hinder the absorption of your thyroid hormone replacement. Your ferritin should be around 70 to 90 to make you function properly. If your GP refuses to prescribe some elemental iron, you MUST treat this yourself. Once you boost your ferritin, you will probably find you start to function much better.> > I did ring and have a short telephone conversation with Mr Peatfield > last year and he asked me about my test results and he was the one > who suggested that maybe I should have a trial of thyroid > medication. I did contact him further by e-mail to ask about > telephone consultations and how much they cost but he didn't reply. > To be honest I was a little embarrassed that I hadn't paid him for > his advice and as I didn't hear back from him I didn't feel that I > could ring him again.

You shouldn't be embarrassed about not having paid him for advise when you first contacted him. Dr P is a medical adviser to this forum and is happy to help people. Many of us have to phone him initially and he doesn't charge for that. He charges for consultations (one and a half hours) and this is £140. Follow up consultations (3/4 hour) is £80. I keep meaning to ask about his telephone consultation fees, but it would probably be the same as the follow up consultation fee. It can be problematical trying to get him, and this is simply because so many people need his services and he is often doiong a clinic in some part of the UK and is impossible to get hold of him. The best way really is to telephone him and if he is engaged, you can use the 'ring back' facility. The operator tells you that "this lione is busy, to use ring back, press 5". You do that, and then when his line is free, his phone starts to ring, he picks it up, you will still hear it ringing until he answers. The other way is to send hiom a FAX. If you don't have this facility, you can send this from a post office etc or you may know somebody with a FAX. You can also leave a message on his answer machine giving your name and phone number , telling him you wish to arrange a telephone consultation, and he will call you back. BUT - please doln't feel guilty for not having paid him for your telephone enquiry.> The worst symptoms I have now are fatigue, feeling terribly cold, > stomach and bowel problems, dry skin and still some memory and fuzzy > headed problems. I am up to 3 grains of Armour now and I had hoped > that I would be feeling a lot better by now. I've never felt > palpitations, feel dizzy or sweating. I do sometimes have feelings > of being spaced out but I am putting that down to my fuzzy > headedness.

You may not be utilizing the Armour properly because of several problems. You may have low adrenal reserve (and you will have to speak with Dr P to find out the best way to treat this if you cannot take NAE). You may have Candida Albicans (Have you done the home saliva test - take a glass of water to bed and in the morning, first thing, before anything else, spit into the top of the water. If you see threads floating down towards the bottom of the glass, this could be an indication you have Candida). You ALREADY have low Ferritin (this MUST be treated immediately - and this could be the one cause why your Armour isn't working). You will need iron supplement such as Ferrous Sulphate - though you can take Spatone which is milder - but with both you must take large doses of Vitamin C. OR - you could have mercury poisoning (have you any amalgam fillings or had contact with mercury in the past) and this would need sorting also.> > I start to doubt whether I am doing all the right things, perhaps I > am overlooking something. I'm just feeling a bit lost at the moment > and not sure what to do next, some days I feel so awful that I > really don't want to get out of bed. I get such bad problems with my > bowels and that in turn affects my bladder, it just feels like there > is a heavy weight on me it even seems to affect my breathing. I am > always cold (been known to wear polo necks all year) and when I am > in bad pain I am freezing cold and sit right in front of the halogen > heater all day.

What are the problems with your bowels - constipation or loose stools? How is this affecting your bladder? I think your problem could be outside your thyroid problem (as above) and needs identifying and treating. Your low ferritin just might be the culprit. Once you do find out and get it treated, your Armour should then kick in and you will start getting the benefit. Problem is, once again, NHS doctors are NOT aware of these associated conditions, so don't diagnose them and therefore, don't treat them.> > Do you think that I should get some more blood tests done? If so > what do I need to ask for?

Most definitely as it has been a year since you had any. You need TSH, Free T4, Free T3. You should get the 24 hour salivary adrenal profile done to see where your cortisol, DHEA are at 4 specific times during the day which you can get through NPTech services (attached list of tests and prices) or through Red Apple. Your GP should do the TSH and FT4 and yhou need to get your Ferritin level tested again, as it could be lower since you had it done a year ago, but I would get the FT3 done through NPTech (or Red Apple)> > I would welcome any ideas or comments from anyone as I am feeling > that I will never be well again.

Try Dr Peatfield's number again, I know he is on annual leave from 5th May to about 19th, so keep trying and good luck.

Luv - Sheila> > Love> Sharon>