Blood results (cfs etc)

[wobble]

Hi, these blood tests were meant to be taken in tandem with hair analysis but unfortunately the hair lab has "gone under" and I'm in the process of trying to get my money back

@mattyb mentioned that the following tests would be quite good in diagnosing cfs and so I'm hoping for some guidance if possible. I've desperately tried to keep this as short as possible, but it's hard to know what isn't important information. The main reason I'm here is for anxiety/depression/fatigue. It has stolen my youth and ruined my life, I'm only posting the other symptoms in the hopes that it might highlight a root cause or something. Anyway, any help greatly appreciated..

I'll post my symptoms first:

I'm 32 years old and male btw.

Since birth/early childhood - note - was a fairly active child
- extreme anxiety - beyond what is normal and has remained till this day
- hypermobility
- collapsed arches
- very easy to bruise
- mild Petechia / spider veins (not really any idea when this started)
- pale skin / very easy to burn (even for a white guy)

since around 13-14 - had stopped most exercise and put on weight, not obese or anything but enough to get a bit of a belly. total garbage diet.. sweets etc.
- anhedonia
- arthritis in knees
- low musculature/strength (perhaps since earlier but became noticeable around now)
- fatigue
- rhinitis / one nostril constantly blocked
- very fine/thin hair
- sensitive teeth
- dry skin
- mild receding hairline

since early twenties
- brain fog - just seems to get worse. I'm analytical and not stupid but have to avoid discussions in public because i just start to get tongue tied
- non existent memory
- back/neck pain
- mild scoliosis
- heart palpitations/arrythmia
- heart pain
- random neurological pains, "ice pick" pains around the body
- myopia
- hearing loss / also overly sensitive to loud sounds
- mild tinnitus

When I first went to the GP for my depression in 2001, they gave me a blood test, with the only thing out of range being my elevated serum T3. Looking over it now (I'm using the ranges provided by medichecks.com) it looks like I actually also had low MPV, MCV, Neutrophils, Monocytes, creatinine, and high MCHC. I was suggested SSRIs and took them for maybe 2 years (highest dose). Quick note: I've also smoked weed fairly consistently since 16, but all my major symptoms began before this.

At some point in my early twenties I heard some buzz about ketosis on the internet and gave it a go.. It remains to this day the only moment I've felt a near total remission of my depression. My memory is horrific but I think it only faded after about a week. I've been in ketosis a number of times since and unfortunately the results have not repeated themselves.

I then read the usual paleo blogs and ended up finding Peat. I ate a Peatish diet for about 3-4 months before then having this test taken:

https://imgur.com/NVdxYmP

As a result of the high folate and low b12 (presumed methylation block after googling and finding Freddd's protocol on phoenixrising) I started supplementing b12/folate/b-complex in tandem with Peat diet. I experienced some mental benefits but nothing particularly profound, my arthritis got worse and some of the heart palpitations/pains went away. Nothing particularly impressive. As of September 2017 I've been eating SAD and very little supplementation (mostly just occasional b-complex).

And so a few weeks ago I had this mammoth blood test taken that I've attached (along with a methylation report) I've mostly used Ecopolitan - Blood Interpretation - Functional medicine - Dr. Adiel to have a look at the results (along with the comments from medichecks and will post that in a second in a new post to break the text up :s

 

[wobble]

So these are the ones that seem to be out of range:

high MCHC - associated with low folate/b12 (especially in conjunction with low uric acid)
low white cell count - associated with low folate/b12
very low NEUTROPHILS - associated with low folate/b12

low crp - apparently supressed in chronic inflammatory conditions so perhaps not very surprising

very low ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE - apparently associated with malnutrition \o/

very low Gamma GT - "Decreased levels can be found in hypothyroidism and more commonly decreased magnesium levels."

low vitamin D - have supplemented a fair bit with this over the last two years so it's at least up from previous test

extremely high creatine kinase - absolutely through the roof. i think my test came 2-3 days after weightlifting which can apparently affect the result, but
surely not by this much? Other tests supposedly affected by exercise aren't out of range, let alone by this amount

low platelets / and slightly low mpv (although almost baseline in 1002 test - 7.8fl) associated with Thrombocytopenia, which i seem to have other symptoms of i.e Petechia (mildish), easy brusing (very easy to bruise and since birth), and "malaise, fatigue and general weakness" which i most definitely tick all the boxes for.

low uric acid - multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease - Altered Uric Acid Levels and Disease States (my 23andme also showed i had the apoe 3 and 4 gene which apparently puts me in the second highest risk group for alzheimers. :| )

low creatinine - coronary artery calcification - High estimated glomerular filtration rate is associated with coronary artery calcification in middle-aged Korean men without chronic kidney disease | Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation | Oxford Academic
high cholesterol - in tandem with the above + heart pains it's not looking good.

low insulin - no idea :/

JUST REALISED... I forgot to post electrolytes.... I've added them below.
Unfortunately my iron panel and zinc/magnesium failed on the initial test. All the iron tests were mid range.
ZINC - 17.86 umol/L Range - 11 - 18 (high)

 

[wobble]

So I tried to follow @gbolduev s posts since the peat threads, and although it's no longer mentioned in the 'causes' of the electroylte protocol, i do remember him saying how these health issues can be kicked off by inactivity/over eating carbs, which would correlate with my onset of symptoms around 13/14.

Ecopolitan - Blood Interpretation - Functional medicine - Dr. Adiel
According to this: "If low with CO2 increased then metabolic alkalosis is probable"

Which is a start. Would it be plausible that my constantly quite high T3 could be because my body detects it's in low metabolism, but the high potassium in serum is the cells dumping it to avoid using the T3? Becuase it's trying to get rid of the Co2 by downregulating metabolism? idk I'm so lost.

I'm on day 12 of a planned 21 day water fast. I can barely move and just writing this makes me want to collapse. Any help @mattyb @gbolduev or anyone who sees a pattern in those results would be much, much appreciated xxxxx <3 I'm going to go lie down!

 

[mattyb]

I'm not sure what's causing the elevated CK. The high potassium + elevated CK actually points to rhabdomyolysis of all things (but you don't have hypocalcemia), or to some kind of kidney pathology. I really think you should take these results to a nephrologist and get their opinion. Nephros are super smart, and your elevated CK and potassium are suggestive of some sort of renal pathology. I would do this just to rule out anything significant, and if everything is clear it would be safer to try out some other interventions. The elevated K+ is why your heart feels fucked up.

I would like to suggest you take HCl and NaCl, but I am worried the HCl will aggravate the elevated potassium and cause you serious harm so I would avoid that for now. I think this protocol would fix a lot of your chronic problems, but I just don't feel it's safe with your elevated potassium. Need to get those kidneys looked at by an expert.

Regardless, after everything is said and done I think you should take up endurance training after you get cleared from a nephro. It will help with your pattern of low methylation and help you clear out the calcium and CO2/HCO3.

 

[mattyb]

So these are the ones that seem to be out of range:

high MCHC - associated with low folate/b12 (especially in conjunction with low uric acid)
low white cell count - associated with low folate/b12
very low NEUTROPHILS - associated with low folate/b12

low crp - apparently supressed in chronic inflammatory conditions so perhaps not very surprising

very low ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE - apparently associated with malnutrition \o/

very low Gamma GT - "Decreased levels can be found in hypothyroidism and more commonly decreased magnesium levels."

low vitamin D - have supplemented a fair bit with this over the last two years so it's at least up from previous test

extremely high creatine kinase - absolutely through the roof. i think my test came 2-3 days after weightlifting which can apparently affect the result, but
surely not by this much? Other tests supposedly affected by exercise aren't out of range, let alone by this amount

low platelets / and slightly low mpv (although almost baseline in 1002 test - 7.8fl) associated with Thrombocytopenia, which i seem to have other symptoms of i.e Petechia (mildish), easy brusing (very easy to bruise and since birth), and "malaise, fatigue and general weakness" which i most definitely tick all the boxes for.

low uric acid - multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease - Altered Uric Acid Levels and Disease States (my 23andme also showed i had the apoe 3 and 4 gene which apparently puts me in the second highest risk group for alzheimers. :| )

low creatinine - coronary artery calcification - High estimated glomerular filtration rate is associated with coronary artery calcification in middle-aged Korean men without chronic kidney disease | Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation | Oxford Academic
high cholesterol - in tandem with the above + heart pains it's not looking good.

low insulin - no idea :/

JUST REALISED... I forgot to post electrolytes.... I've added them below.
Unfortunately my iron panel and zinc/magnesium failed on the initial test. All the iron tests were mid range.
ZINC - 17.86 umol/L Range - 11 - 18 (high)

Most of what you wrote here isn't right. Most of those values you posted aren't actually significantly low, and some of them being on the lower side of normal is actually a good thing (insulin, uric acid, platelets, CRP, alkaline phosphatase). Most of these don't deserve your attention at all. Your main issues are elevated CK and potassium. That's where the real problem is.

 

[bruschi11]

@wobble any ammonia readings in blood?

 

[wobble]

Thank you for the response @mattyb I'm going to try and arrange a Gp appointment to see if I can get a referral. They already think I'm insane since trying to convince them I was hypothyroid from Peat but hopefully the test results will be enough

I do have just one more question if that's ok.. I've just completed a 14 day water fast, and have spent the past six days eating soups consisting of greens/mushrooms and chicken bone broth (lat two days I added two eggs per day). I've been using a pretty huge amount of salt as per cravings, but have just noticed today when going outside and my shoes felt very tight that I have huge swelling on both of my feet/ankles... A quick google and I'm seeing things related to bad kidneys. Do you think I should lower salt intake to redress this in the immediate term? Should I add carbs back in quicker? Any help appreciated!!

@bruschi11 unfortunately not, no! Why do you ask?

 

[bruschi11]

@bruschi11 unfortunately not, no! Why do you ask?

I had ammonia readings of 82 on scale of 0-50 when I was at my worst. Doing what I’ve done has significantly lowered that. Fasting, liver flushes, coffee enemas, workouts, saunas, infrared red light being collection of things that I think have helped.

GBOLD has noted in the past “ammonia=cfs.” Ammonia is a potent toxin in the body that really can poison our brain and tissues.

 

[wobble]

Ah, that's interesting. It looks like £70 for a test so I may just continue trying to introduce some of those interventions without confirmation I guess :/
Glad to hear you've improved!

 

[mattyb]

Thank you for the response @mattyb I'm going to try and arrange a Gp appointment to see if I can get a referral. They already think I'm insane since trying to convince them I was hypothyroid from Peat but hopefully the test results will be enough

I do have just one more question if that's ok.. I've just completed a 14 day water fast, and have spent the past six days eating soups consisting of greens/mushrooms and chicken bone broth (lat two days I added two eggs per day). I've been using a pretty huge amount of salt as per cravings, but have just noticed today when going outside and my shoes felt very tight that I have huge swelling on both of my feet/ankles... A quick google and I'm seeing things related to bad kidneys. Do you think I should lower salt intake to redress this in the immediate term? Should I add carbs back in quicker? Any help appreciated!!

@bruschi11 unfortunately not, no! Why do you ask?

Mention the edema in the feet/ankles when you talk to your doctor. That, on top of the elevated CK and potassium, points to a problem with the kidneys. Those three factors should be enough to merit a referral to a nephrologist from any GP with two brain cells.