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Help with Blood Test Results - Doctor Unhelpful

6 replies

LizzieLoo28 · 16/08/2021 19:29

I'm 45 yrs old and am pretty sure I'm perimenopausal.

Symptoms are irregular periods since 2012, started with digestive issues especially constipation and bloating in 2014, headaches/odd migraine since 2014, starting to get brain fog somedays now, poor sleep, warm at night even when hubby is snuggled up to his neck with a duvet, i'm throwing it off. I am not actually having hot flushes luckily. I am permantly knackered. Very emotional. Not very tolerant either. Somedays I just can't bothered with my family in general. Somedays I'm ok.

It is now 60 days since my last period. There is no way i'm pregnant as hubby had snip 4 years and oh, there's loss of sex drive to add to the above list.

I've went to the doctor and had blood tests, hoping to talk about starting HRT. Below are my results, please could you help with making sense of them. Getting a drs appointment is nearly impossible. Thanks.

Bone profile
Serum calcium level 2.42 mmol/L [2.2 - 2.6]
Serum adjusted calcium concentration 2.42 mmol/L [2.2 - 2.6]

Blood haematinic levels
Serum ferritin level 126 ug/L [15.0 - 150.0]
Serum vitamin B12 level 328 ng/L [197.0 - 771.0]

HORMONE ANALYSIS COMMENTS
Serum follicle stimulating hormone level 29 iu/L
Adult female reference range:
FOLLICULAR MID-CYCLE LUTEAL POST-MENOPAUSAL
FSH 3.5-12.5 4.7-21.5 1.7-7.7 greater than 27
Serum prolactin level 263 miu/L [102.0 - 496.0]
Serum testosterone level 0.7 nmol/L [0.22 - 2.9]
Serum sex hormone binding globulin level 13 nmol/L [26.1 - 110.0]
Outside reference range
Free androgen index 5 % [0.5 - 6.5]

Liver function tests
Serum total bilirubin level 5 umol/L [< 21.0]
Serum alkaline phosphatase level 53 iu/L [35.0 - 104.0]
Serum alanine aminotransferase level 23 iu/L [< 40.0]
Serum total protein level 70 g/L [60.0 - 80.0]
Serum albumin level 40 g/L [35.0 - 50.0]
Serum globulin level 30 g/L [25.0 - 41.0]

Serum TSH level 3.19 miu/L [0.3 - 5.5]
No biochemical evidence of primary thyroid disease. If
on T4 the TSH suggests adequate treatment. If the
patient is on antithyroid drugs or there is a suspicion
of pituitary disease further tests may be required.

Urea and electrolytes
Serum sodium level 142 mmol/L [133.0 - 146.0]
Serum potassium level 3.9 mmol/L [3.5 - 5.3]
Serum urea level 6.0 mmol/L [2.5 - 7.8]
Serum creatinine level 87 umol/L [45.0 - 84.0]
Outside reference range
GFR calculated abbreviated MDRD > 60 mL/min/1.73m2
eGFR equation has changed - NICE Guideline CG182.
This result uses the old equation to allow trend
review if the eGFR using the CKD-EPI equation differs.
Otherwise please refer to eGFR CKD-EPI.
If Afro-Caribbean x eGFR by 1.2. eGFR invalid for
extremes of BMI or in acute kidney injury.
eGFR CKD-EPI 70 mL/min/1.73m2
eGFR 60 - 89: excludes CKD in the absence of other
markers of kidney damage, but indicates CKD stage G2 if
protein-/haematuria, etc
eGFR not valid in extremes of BMI nor in AKI
(For African-Caribbeans multiply eGFR by 1.16)
See guidelines:
www.renal.org/information-resources/the-uk-eckd-guide

Serum total 25-hydroxy vitamin D level 42 nmol/L [50.0 - 144.0]
Outside reference range
Vitamin D values of less than 50 nmol/L are considered
insufficient.
Vitamin D values of less than 30 nmol/L are considered
deficient. National Osteoporosis Society 2013.
Patients on Vit D replacement do not necessarily
require repeat measurement. For further information
please visit the website.
www.derbyhospitals.nhs.uk/p1
Note new generation of Vitamin D assay from 30/04/18
with greater specificity for 25 OH Vitamin D.
Results may be up to 18% lower than previous, however
this may vary for individual patients.

The doctor texted (yes texted me!!) to say I'm low in vit D and thats all...

OP posts:
Summerhillsquare · 17/08/2021 20:37

At 45 and over the NICE guidelines say not to do FSH tests. Didn't stop my GP either! She said the results would be inconclusive and lo and behold they were.

DerbyCat28 · 17/08/2021 21:01

@Summerhillsquare

At 45 and over the NICE guidelines say not to do FSH tests. Didn't stop my GP either! She said the results would be inconclusive and lo and behold they were.
Did you leave it at that or speak to your gp again? I feel like such a hypochondriac sometimes 🙁 Cheers x
Summerhillsquare · 18/08/2021 21:37

I only did it to try and get another GP appointment, but that didn't work! Just calling every day to try and follow up.

Sidge · 18/08/2021 21:52

Well you’re probably perimenopausal, but a single FSH at age 45 isn’t terribly useful, nor diagnostic. And it’s not terribly high.

All the other results are normal expect for (as the GP said) you are low in VitD. Start supplementing, you’ll probably feel better for doing it too.

You may want to have a chat with someone about HRT if your symptoms worsen.

LizzieLoo28 · 15/09/2021 21:02

Its now 90 days since my last period. I have started a high dosage of Vit D. Don't really feel any difference to be honest. I did speak to a doctor regarding how I feel, who suggested I try a plant based diet and this will solve all my problems. How crazy is that ? I mean my diet is already ok and I eat plenty of veg and protein.

My latest issue is that I'm waking up dizzy in the mornings. Is this a peri menopause thing too ? I have checked my blood pressure and it is fine.

Also getting warm flushes now. Constipation is a real issue. I feel I haven't had a normal day of toilet habits since before my last period 90 days ago. Somehow having a period, always seems to re-set my digestive problems for a couple of weeks and then it all starts again ....

OP posts:
Summerhillsquare · 15/09/2021 22:40

Dear god, GPs are advising plant based diets now? I thought the mention of herbal remedies was bad enough.

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