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[Machair]

No Sparkle but had thyroid, B12, iron and a few other tests at the time which were ok. When I was seriously ill in 1996 everything was wrong with white cells, iron, auto immune markers etc all due to polio related virus Coxsackie B.

[Machair]

How are you feeling ER have the migraines stayed away?

[Maryjane]

Medichecks are excellent for bloods very efficient service , used them for a couple of years now.

[Elizabethrose]

Hi Machair, sorry, I've been on the run just dipping in to MM when out with my phone. Haha, it takes too long to reply with that!

Thank you for asking, I would say overall much improved. The lurgy surfaced a couple of weeks ago and the headaches morphed into migraines but that is to be expected. Woke with one yesterday, with a full on day planned I took meds early and it cleared it sufficiently for me to be able to get out. It rebounded later and meds cleared it again to allow me to go out for dinner. That is very unusual. They seem to be manifesting themselves differently and are much less frequent and intense. It is so encouraging and exactly what the specialists advised would happen. I want to shout it from the rooftops to try to encourage other ladies who are currently suffering as I have. It helps so much to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel because the horrible things really are ruinous.

I've read your posts re bloods with interest. Do your GPs not do regular bloods to check these levels, especially given how poorly you've been? I wonder why you have to use this outside service? Had a debate with friends last night re the quality of care from GPs, it varies so much it would seem. I am hugely thankful that my GPs are brilliant, there are a couple of iffy docs at the practice but I just avoid them. If they get me there they take the opportunity to give me the once over!! 

How are you feeling? It really seems the hormones are still doing the fandango BUT it also sounds like the surges are not as ferocious as they were even just a short time ago. The three months before my last period did not produce surges with the previous intensity. The symptoms were recognisable but not so vicious. I think you really are on the home run!

I really know nothing about ME but I wonder whether you'll see an improvement once through meno and the hormone levels start to settle. Is this something you could expect? Please God I have everything crossed for you, you've struggled for too long! I wonder this because our immune systems definitely seem to be greatly affected by this hormonal roller coaster ride, so many women suddenly start developing allergies and intolerances, aggravating asthma and many other conditions even before peri symptoms become obvious. I wonder whether these things start to calm too when through.

Hubby off travelling for a week so I have a whole week home alone. Yippeeeeeeeee!    I'm on strike, I'll food shop in M and S and have a list of wonderful gallery exhibitions planned. Hah, I shouldn't count my chickens, something usually creeps in to spoil the show!!! 

Lots of love to you and Sparkle and nearly50!! xxx

Oooh just seen your post Maryjane, lots of love to you too!

[Elizabethrose]

That's very interesting Sparkle, I had never considered that re the wideness of ranges. I'm presuming the wideness of acceptable levels is due to us all being very different?  Do these private companies make recommendations on the results? What then, do you take the results back to your GP for interpretation and for relevant prescriptions or do you buy necessary supplements and manage it yourself? Is there a reliable, accessible source for acceptable ranges for vitamins and minerals being tested? Very interesting!

Yep this'll be me.........       well, maybe the cake!!

[Maryjane]

Medichecks get a lot of there bloods tested through "The London Laboratory " which all the private London Doctors use also.

Re ranges basically what sparkle said , I went to a lecture on B12 and thyroid and they said the ranges are to wide and Doctors don't think outside the box , B12 for example ranges from 200- 900 , if you have a reading of 201 you will be told within range / satisfactory, HOWEVER if you are going in with symptoms of say B12 deficiency then common sense says treat the patient , as ANYTHING below 500 is deficient as per specialists , and for nerves to function correctly nearer a 1,000 plus.

Don't get me started on thyroid, as a vast majority of us do have issues , but as all medication is free once you are on thyroid meds the NHS just wouldn't cope.

[Elizabethrose]

Very interesting Maryjane, but tell me, do the results come back with recommendations or do you have to personally analyse the results. If, let's say with thyroid as that's something you've mentioned, if the results come back and are too low but within the accepted NHS range, is your GP going to be persuaded to treat you anyway? My word it could be a potential minefield!

[Maryjane]

They come back interpreted by a doctor already .....my GP was absolutely fine as after many here / there and everywhere with my husband re specialists.

It was a medichecks blood test that picked up the problem , as I researched and it showed up his problme , and is now back at the gym 3 times a week from being on the verge of early retirement.

I don't blame the GP as she referred him on , but so much NHS money was wasted on him when a simple blood test would have given the answer.

I no lots of peeps who have asked for bloods and refused by the GP had a medichecks test and deficient in all sorts , especially Vit d /ferritin and B12.

I had some NHS bloods the other day , and the phlebotomist said GPs are being told to restrict the amount of bloods they send off regards cost.

Also the UTI testing is superior to the quick turn around of the NHS.

My GP said the NHS is at the point of collapse , and understands people doing what I do and others.

[Elizabethrose]

Blimey I'm staggered! My GPs test bloods on a very regular basis, however I have to say aside from Cholesterol readings for which I always ask for the full breakdown, I just rely on them carrying out the required analysis and offering treatment as required. I don't think I've had a vitamin profile done in recent years. Thanks for that, food for though!

[Menomale]

Hi ladies,

Sparkle, I take B12 sublingual tablets (1mg) and it has sent my levels above normal (which does no harm) so now I take only one tablet a week and my levels are in the optimal range (above average normal range). Of course I buy it, but as a veggie I think it's a good cost/benefit investment.

XXX

[Menomale]

Looking in retrospect I think the tingling and numbness (paresthesia) have improved a lot, the few ones I have now are related to migraine attacks. I'm not sure these were symptoms of B12 deficiency or low levels, though.

To be honest, I have never heard of any veggie/vegan suffering from B12 deficiency... we have huge amounts of B12 stored in the liver, enough for up to 5 years, so it's really rare to be deficient. Optimal levels are another matter, I guess that's important for some people with problems in bowel absorption, high alcohol intake and long-term use of acid-reducing drugs (maybe your case?)

XXX

P.S. good article https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696961/

[nearly50]

Blimey I'm staggered! My GPs test bloods on a very regular basis, however I have to say aside from Cholesterol readings for which I always ask for the full breakdown, I just rely on them carrying out the required analysis and offering treatment as required. I don't think I've had a vitamin profile done in recent years. Thanks for that, food for though!

I had to pay £10 to get a note of all of my health records as no-one would tell me what my exact results were for different tests taken. I'll report back on whether the medcheck ranges are different from the NHS lab ones I got last year.

[Machair]

 Being a trained nurse I am not a great fan of private blood testing in general, as I believe doctors are trained to look at symptoms and request tests accordingly and they have a very long training enabling them to do so.

 However, I think there are some cases where private blood tests are a really good idea, and I have used them for many years. I think they are ideal if you do not have symptoms of a condition, but maybe have an understanding of what optimal levels are. B12 is an example, vitamin D is another. I am also very keen on blood sugar monitoring at home and BP as well, as the NHS can't cope with everyone requesting tests that are not clinically indicated.I have done thyroid, cholesterol and B12 as well as vitamin D over the years which I have found to be very helpful. The one that has helped me the most is blood sugar though, as I have changed my diet a lot since measuring levels after high carbohydrates. I think keeping an eye on this at home once or twice a year is no bad thing. I had a very large baby over 10lbs so am at risk of diabetes.

[Machair]

I think I am going to need some of your mindfulness training Sparkle as I have just found out I have to endure some horrid dental work on an old inlay. First treatment in many years. I hope this isn't the start of more appointments as I hate dental surgeries. Anyone else?

[Machair]

Thank you Sparkle - it's two appointments, but an 8 week wait so going to have to learn mindfulness. He found the trouble on an Xray- pity really as I thought it was ok. He said I could leave it but that would risk toothache and losing tooth, so better see to it before we get that far. Shouldn't grumble really as first treatment in 15 years, but not looking forward to it! Rather be on a tropical beach anyday!