Help me interpret my labs?

[gabbyraja]

I know some things that show up as "normal" aren't always, and I'd like some guidance. We do seem to be right in the middle for most things, so it does seem to be that "nothing's wrong with us", as usual. Only, there HAS to be! We just haven't come across the test for whatever it is yet.

Ds (3 years old) and I both went in after learning my children all have midline issues (him most of all). So Dr checked us for malabsorption of nutrients, MTHFR (though the lab missed this on me, somehow. Frustrating, but maybe the fact ds doesn't have it would mean I also do not?) and celiac. Maybe some other things, too, though I can't tell what they may be. I couldn't get in to see him til 2 weeks from now, but I had a copy sent to me, so now I'm looking for info.

Me:                                          Result                     Ref Range

Vit B12                                        593                          211-911

Homocystine                                7.2                         3.7-13.19

TSH  (I'm adjusting my thyroid meds after pgcy, so I expected this to be off)                                                                                                   .08                                                   .35-5.5

Anti-Gliadin IgG                                4                             0-19

Anti-Gliadin IgA                                4                              0-19

Thyroid MicroSomal Ab (TPO)         <10                             0-35

Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibody             <20                             0-40

Tissue Transglutiminase AB, IgA, S <1.2                          <4.0

Tissue Transglutiminase AB, IgG, S   1.3                           <6.0

Vit D, 1,25-Dihydroxy, S                     66                          18-78

Zinc, S                                             .88                          .66-1.10

Vit A                                               47.7                         32.5-78.0

Glutathione (GSH)                             810                            >668

Selenium, S                                      99                             63-160

DS:

Vit B12                                      1143  (HIGH)                    211-911

Homocystine                                6.2                                 3.3-8.3

TSH                                            3.41                                .35-5.5

Anti-Gliadin IgG                                5                                 0-19

Anti-Gliadin IgA                                4                                  0-19

Thyroid MicroSomal Ab (TPO)         <10                                 0-35

Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibody             <20                                 0-40

Tissue Transglutiminase AB, IgA, S <1.2                                <4.0

Tissue Transglutiminase AB, IgG, S <1.2                                <6.0

Vit D, 1,25-Dihydroxy, S                     71                              24-86

Zinc, S                                             .92                             .6-1.20

Vit A                                               29.8                          11.3-64.7

Glutathione (GSH)                             983                              >668

Selenium, S                                      111 (HIGH)                40-103

Ascorbic Acid, P                               1.2                               .6-2.0

Methylenetetrahydrofol Reduc Mut, B  Negative                Negative

I do not give him Vitamin supplements except Vit D when I can remember (a few times a week at 1000 IUs) and occasional probiotics. What do the high selenium and Vit B12 mean?

Thanks ladies.

[gabbyraja]

[Koalamom]

Not a big help on figuring out labs, but great Vit D levels!  Do you get much sun?

[gabbyraja]

No, I have a great dr who recognized many yrs ago that Vit D is important. He had me on an rx of 5000 IU every couple of days. Then I began BI FCLO just before the test.

See, I know they look good on the lab's range, but I've found that often the lab's range isn't really what's optimal. Like thyroid number, for instance, that have changed a lot over the years and are probably still not "right" for everyone. So, I'm just hoping someone here knows 1. what the "real" numbers are and 2. what those high numbers mean in my son.

[sbgrace]

Hmmm....the high selenium and b12 without supplementing would bug me. Selenium especially given high is toxic.
Could be an absorption issue or intake issue.
Is he eating anything rich in those?

[gabbyraja]

Not that I know of, and yes, it's bothering me, too. I've been reading about high B12 and it's either an absorption thing, or it's terrible things (liver failure, leukemia, etc). I choose to believe absorption, since I KNOW we have gut issues. I'm guessing I'll get him tested again in a couple of months, after our gut healing program, and hope for the best until then. Unless anyone has more ideas on what's going on...

[tanyalynn]

I don't have much to add, except that I don't think that's the right vitamin D test.  The 1,25 test is different than the 25(OH) test, and the latter is what you want.  So I don't think you really know his vitamin D status.

It looks like they only tested for one of the MTHFR variants and I can't tell which one.  You may want to ask, there's C677T and A1298C. 

The selenium's only a tiny bit over the reference range, but you're in the middle of the (adult) range.  I'd try to think of foods--brazil nuts are an easy one, I don't remember the next things on the high selenium lists, and some foods vary based on where they're grown.

And yeah, I don't understand why the B12 is that high without a supplement, I'd wonder if it's not being used well, but I don't have good ways to figure that out--except in a very vague way to stuff related to what B12 does.  Stomach acid, methylation (gets sick a lot, high histamine, true allergies), not sure what else.  But I'd think that many people have those issues _without_ having B12 above the ref range so still something would need to be different than most other people. 

[gabbyraja]

Anyone else have ideas? Appt w/dr was last week to go over the results but I had to cancel because ALL of the kids AND dh are deathly ill.

[Marnica]

Your son's TSH is way too high IMO.

Ive just been through this nightnmare for myself so it's fresh in my head. I don't care what the reference range is - any doc that knows what he's doing (most endos don't imo) will tell you that it's way too high. Anything above 2 is suspect. Too bad you didn't have the free t3 and free t4 done as well.

I would def follow up on this with a doc that is experienced with Armour - they are the ones that usually can spot subclinical hypothyroidism.

I spent the last 8-10 yrs being told my numbers were "in range" and I was fine. Finally found an MD who listened to me. Im on Armour and feel much better.

[LessTraveledBy]

The range for kids is different than for adults (thyroid labs, I mean). However, I am not familiar with the kids stuff. If he were an adult, yes, the TSH would definitely mean more tests needs to be done. I would study those things a bit, if I were you.