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Hi I've been feeling terrible, breathless, pain everywhere, clammy and asked for my blood results. I have underactive thyroid, high blood pressure and Firomyalgia but I think the underlying reason is iron deficiency. This is a letter I picked up today, note the dates! Last blood test I had was a couple of months ago, I wasn't advised to take iron, what do you think, because I think my iron is lower than 13 now!

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

I'm surprised you've not been given iron as both your results were below range. Have you asked GP directly if you should take iron?

Are you on thyroid medication as you mention you have an underactive thyroid but the GP doesn't mention underactive thyroid. I asked a doctor once what was the optimal ferritin levels for someone who was hypothyroid and was told around 100. There is an active Thyroid UK forum on HU.

Have you had recent tests for Folate and B12 and a full blood count as well? There are quite a few people on this forum who have both B12 deficiency and thyroid problems.

Lists of B12 deficiency Symptoms

pernicious-anaemia-society.... click on Symptoms Checklist

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

B12 blood tests

b12deficiency.info/b12-test...

b12deficiency.info/what-to-...

b12deficiency.info/misdiagn...

I am not a medic just a person who has struggled to get a diagnosis.

There's a lot of B12 info in pinned posts.

[Sleepybunny in reply to Sleepybunny]

Some people have a full panel of iron studies carried out.

labtestsonline.org.uk/under...

[Hidden in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thanks for your answer, no I haven't had any tests and I'm just deteriorating, I'm at GP's this afternoon and I want tests done, just too exhausted x

[Gambit62 Administrator]

ferritin is a protein that binds to iron allowing your body to use it so low levels can be an indicator of iron deficiency, but diagnosis means looking at other aspects of what is going on with your blood.

do you know if your B12 and folate levels have been checked? Deficiencies in these two vitamins tend to make your red blood cells larger, whilst iron deficiency tends to make your cells smaller - if you have both sets of deficiencies at the same time then on average your cells might look as if they are normal sized on average but a full blood screen would show a wide range in distribution of the width of your red blood cells.

do you know what is happening with your haemoglobin as that is the real measure of iron deficiency.

Please have a look at the pinned posts and try looking through the symptoms of B12 deficiency - there's a strong overlap with thyroid so can be easy to miss if you have thyroid problems as well,

PA is actually an auto-immune condition that results in problems absorbing B12 and leads to a B12 deficiency, rather than an iron deficiency, though it is quite common for people to have iron absorption problems as well.

[Hidden]

Hi thanks for answering. I am on 125mcg of Levothyroxine, I am at doctors today at 5.30pm I'm wondering why they haven't addressed the iron issue, I really feel neglected by the NHS I've hardly had any tests yet I feel so bad I can't get up for work this morning. The room is spinning and I can't stop crying and that's not me, exhausted beyond belief x

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

When you go to the GP this evening ask for copies of your most recent thyroid test results with ranges. It is possible you are not converting the Levo into the Active T3 - caused by the iron issue. You are legally entitled to YOUR results. When you have them start a new post either here or on Thyroid UK.

Happy to help if appropriate ...

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

Ok will do thank you 🙂

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

How did things go with the GP ?

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

I'm still in shock, she booked me straight in for a full blood screen including all the T's, vit D, magnesium and iron, b12 the lot, should have results back Monday then she will consider referring me to Endo, .I'm off work as just feel too weak and dizzy to go in, the fatigue is debilitating. thanks for asking x

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

Will look out for your results 😊😊

[Hidden]

Thank you 😊👍🏻

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

Did you get copies of your last thyroid results with ranges ?

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

No they only took my TSH this is the first full screening I've had

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

Fingers crossed they do more than the TSH. Labs often do not do the T3 if the TSH is in range. You also need Thyroid antibodies tested to rule out Hashimotos.

[Hidden]

She did say she was going to do them all so fingers crossed

[Hidden]

Hi Marz, I have put my results up, would value your opinion please thank you

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

Am just off to the Airport to fly to the UK. May not be able to look today - then I will only have my phone so difficult to see them. You could type the Thyroid ones out in a PM to me which I will then see. Only saw the above post by chance as you forgot to click onto the Green Reply button

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

Have a wonderful and safe trip, I'll type them out today but don't worry just have a nice Xmas and new year x

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

Just seen your other posts and replies. Good advice from everyone.

Check out the book - The Cholesterol Con - by Dr Malcolm Kendrick.

drmalcolmkendrick.org