My ferritin came back as 80ug/L (11.0 - 307) so am I low and need suppliment. If so which one. Also folate was 4.9 (3.9 -19.9)

[130396]

So again do I need a folate supplement???

I have put other results on Hypothyroid questions.

[lucky10]

Hi, mine was 29ug and I was told it is normal!

[130396 in reply to lucky10]

Oh really. I was told in range but lower end of range

[lucky10 in reply to 130396]

I have an appointment with my Dr next week, so will ask him about the range!

[130396 in reply to lucky10]

Hi lucky10

Have you had your results yet and have you asked your Dr about the levels I came back with? Can you clarify...... do I need folate (not folic acid which is in the B complex I have just bought)

Feeling very anxious now having had 2 reductions of levo since 6th August. Getting flushes sweats chills. Sweat really profusely when I exert my self even just a little bit!!!Even putting on make up makes me flush and sweat (like it's a huge effort)

I have read that the B Complex is really good for stress which is why I bought it as feeling so stressed now with all this.

Also I work afternoons and evenings in a quite stressful job so don't think this has helped me but I have to work now as my Husband died on Xmas day and I needed an income.

[Hidden in reply to lucky10]

I could fill a book on how many times I have been told one lab result or other was "normal" yet was rock bottom of the range

[rosetrees in reply to Hidden]

I could fill a book with how many of my results have been out of range over the past 6 years, but they didn't see fit to tell me! Including my kindeys (below range for 4 of the last 6 years) and thyroid - TSH above range 3 times. They can't get away with that anymore as they all know that I now ask for the results.

[Hidden in reply to rosetrees]

Yes, it's absolutely essential - I have got that particular T shirt too! It' amazing how an Endo can stare you in the face and deny what ridiculously out of range bloods mean, even when you confront them too.

[130396]

Clear on this as gets confusing witj do many saying different.

Thank you do much. And please let me know. X

[Jackie]

Hi Foliates nothing to do with iron/ferritin, that is B12,needs testing annually and to be high in range, autoimmune and hormonal. Iron/ferritin with that result needs some treatment, permanently. G unlikely to as in range, best thing is considered Spatone,a sachet a day, Tesco etc. Less likely to cause upsets so preferred by Endo`s. You will need a test in 3 months again.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[DaisyFontazy in reply to Jackie]

Folates is Folic Acid B9 not B12. And Folic Acid does have something to do with iron in that it's a synergist with iron and will therefore improve absorption. Unless I'm misunderstanding your point, in which case sorry!

To answer the original question, the low folate level combined with a low iron level isn't a surprise given what I've said above about their synergistic impact on each other. Also, apparently the absorption of iron relates closely to manganese levels and vice versa. So low iron can actually result from chronically low manganese levels. Low iron can also be caused by excessive calcium, zinc, or magnesium levels.

What I've learned from years of taking supplements in what now appears to be dangerously misbalanced doses, is that you can't supplement one thing without being very careful to keep other vitamins and minerals in balance. In my case, after taking iron for months with very slow progress, my levels shot up when I added Vitamin C. But my last private mineral test showed my Manganese levels were very low and my calcium very high (due to Vit D dosing) and surprise surprise my last NHS ferritin test showed my iron levels had fallen again. This time I'll be taking Manganese and folates with my iron.

[Jackie in reply to DaisyFontazy]

Hi That is strange, as the ferritin / iron is simple anaemia, B12 is penitious, vastly different, foliate certainly relates to that, why it is always tested with it.If calcium, ( corrected ) not over range, then it is fine to just lower the vit D and test again in 3 months. If over range ( ca_) then you need PTH, Corrected calcium and vit D done AM together, If all up, D up for you, the other 2 over range then you need PTH scans, specific. Over range corrected calcium is a warning that the tests are needed.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Jackie]

There is no such clinical entity as "simple anaemia".

Although we tend to discuss iron-deficiency anaemia and pernicious anaemia, there are many other anaemias. And iron-deficiency itself can have many causes - sometimes several overlapping.

Although I would not use this page as the only source, it does at least superficially discuss most of the types of anaemia that have been recognised:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anemia

Rod

[Hidden in reply to DaisyFontazy]

I agree that only supplementing one vit/mineral may cause others to be out of balance, testing first/regularly is important- however like me, many try one thing at a time to see if it helps - may I ask if the high calcium 'due to Vit D dosing' was because it was vit D with calcium or vit D alone? J

[130396]

My B12 is 2662. Above maximum limit but Gp not concerned. So i should get spatone ? Also need Bcomplex tpo to help with stress levels. Do I need folate?

[Hidden in reply to 130396]

I personally would supplement Folate if I was this low, but not with Folic Acid, I prefer a more easily assimilated and safer type. This site (and others give more info, Google it!) chriskresser.com/folate-vs-... Not quite so easy to get, and a little more expensive, but not massively so. I use Health Monthly, cheap but they are bit slow.

Can't *personally* recommend an iron supplement type as I have never needed to use any, (I have the opposite problem!) but Spatone as well as being very expensive contains very little iron,probably the reason it is so easy to tolerate! Other thyroid forums I have used generally seem to come to the general consensus that iron bis-glycinate (Ferrous bisglycinate) is the easiest way to up iron levels, and it is easy to tolerate, as well as much cheaper. You should take some vitamin C to help iron absorb of course, although some iron bis-glycinate tablets contain it already, and probably best to take with food too. Remember to keep it well away from when you take any thyroid meds though.

[130396 in reply to Hidden]

Hi picton

Have you had your results yet and have you asked your Dr about the levels I came back with? Can you clarify...... do I need folate (not folic acid which is in the B complex I have just bought) also where can I get Ferrous bisglycinate from?

Feeling very anxious now having had 2 reductions of levo since 6th August. Getting fkushes swetas chils. Sweat reaaly profusely when I exert my self even just a little bit!!!Even putting on make up makes me fklush and sweat (like it's a huge effort)

[Hidden in reply to 130396]

???

I am not waiting any results, nor have I spoken to my Doctor about you!

Clearly you haven't read my post, nor the link I posted, nor even heard of Google either! Try: " buy iron bis-glycinate" for starters!

Give us a break, I can post information, and even guide where to look but you have to meet half way and actually look at it!

[130396 in reply to Hidden]

picton

I am soooooo sorry I replied to you incorrectly. Your resonse above was rather abrupt and I seriously do not need things like that sent to me. You could have just put that I had made a mistake (Politely)

[DaisyFontazy in reply to 130396]

I'm very cautious about overdoing B Vitamins having taken them in big doses in an effort to combat anxiety which actually made it much worse. I didn't know this was a side effect of excess B vitamins. Here's some useful information.....

"When amounts at, or moderately above RDA / DRI levels are consumed, B-Vitamins positively support many metabolic functions....However when doses multiple times the recommended daily intake are supplemented, B-Vitamins - like other nutrients - produce stronger therapeutic effects that can vary considerably from one individual to another.

Subsequently, depending on age, genetic background, and preexisting medical conditions that impact the body's ability to cope with 50 mg, 75 mg, and 100 mg+ B-Complex formulations, negative results can easily outweigh the benefits that B-vitamins would otherwise provide when supplemented at much lower amounts.

Increased stress-coping abilities frequently require single B-Vitamins, and minerals or trace elements such as calcium with Vitamin D, magnesium, chromium, or even copper, at dosages that have an overall calming effect without depressing thyroid, adrenal, or cardiac functions too much. To help cope with extra stressful situations through a non-drug approach, "stress-coping" / reducing remedies such as tryptophan (5-HTP), l-tyrosine, taurine, GABA, or St. John's Wort may be considered.

[130396 in reply to DaisyFontazy]

What would you advise I take???

I have stopped sublingual B12 and just started a Solgar Multivitamin with B complex.

Could the high B12 of 2662 have given me the jitters and it NOT be due to too much levo