Are my B12, Ferritin and Folate Levels ok.

[lexilou]

Ferritin 41 ng/ml (11 - 307)

Folate 4.8 ng/ml (3.1 - 19.9)

B12 415 ng/ml (180 - 914)

These were taken in December when I was originally diagnosed Hypo.

[Moggie]

All three are low and need looking into.

Your ferritin needs to be approx 70 for thyroid meds to work properly, your B12 needs to be approx 700 and your folates needs to be roughly half way up the range.

Low B12 and folates could be a sign of pernicious anaemia so you might want to do some research on this, but you should be o.k. to supplements iron - I am prescribed ferrous sulphate 200mg once a day but it must be taken with food and with a good vitc supplement or the body will be unable to absorb it.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Moggie x

[lexilou]

Thanks Moggie,

This may be why I'm feeling so awful.

Can I just take supplements myself for this or do I need to be getting this looked into by my doctor because My doctor has told me these results are all normal, I feel like I'm banging my head off a brick wall.

Lexi

[Moggie in reply to lexilou]

Sorry I have only just caught your reply and further question.

If you use the "reply to this" button at the end of someone's comment on your question they will get an email to say you have made further contact - it stops people missing your replies to them.

You can go and buy the ferrous sulphate from any chemist (1.40p or 28) and this is the vitc supplement I use (just a 1/4 of a teaspoon in made up orange squash will do). The vitc seems expensive but one pot has lasted me a whole year.

lambertshealthcare.co.uk/as...

It is up to you if you feel that you do not want to take the pernicious anaemia investigations any further but to get your B12 levels up you will need these. I took one lozenge a day for about 6 months and it raised my levels nicely. They dissolve under the tongue which is the best way to take them.

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

Hope this has helped.

Moggie x

[lexilou in reply to Moggie]

Thanks Moggie,

I will be seeing my doctor tomorrow so will ask about the pernicious anaemia , I certainly have all the symptoms .

Is it ok to add all the supplements at the same time , sorry I'm new to all this and feeling a bit overwhelmed by all this at the moment.

Thanks again Moggie I wish my doctor was as helpful.

lexi.

[Moggie]

ALL supplements, especially the iron, needs to be kept 4 hours away from levo.

My day goes like this.

7am vitD

12 noon iron

6pm more iron

levo 11pm

Do you night time dose - if not then maybe you need to give it a try as, not only is levo known to absorb better over night with no food or drink to interfere with it (as long as you haven't eaten or drank anything except water for two hours before) but it will also free up the rest of the day for your supplements.

I think you are wise to pursue the pernicious anaemia but don't take any B12 or folic acid until you have done so.

Moggie x

[lexilou in reply to Moggie]

No I morning dose but would like to give the night time dosing a try.

Will I just miss my dose tomorrow morning and take it at night instead, also can I take both the T3

and T4 at night.

I will start supplementing the iron tomorrow and hold back on the others until I've spoken to my doctor, will also be asking him to test my vitD levels.

lexi

[Moggie]

Yes you can take T4 and T3 together - how much T3 are you on?

You don't have to miss your morning dose, you cant just take that as normal and then take another dose that night (it is a storage hormone and you body only uses it if and when it needs it).

You might find that once you correct your vitamins you will have to reduce your thyroid meds. I have reduced mine twice since my iron and vitD levels have improved.

Am leaving work now so if you answer me and I don't get back straight away then you know why - I'll log back in when I settled down at home (got to walk the dog, cook myself something to eat etc)

Moggie x

[lexilou in reply to Moggie]

So I can start night dosing tonight and take both my T3 and T4 again even though I took them this morning.

I take 10mcg T3 and 50mcg T4.

I will live in hope that once my vitamin levels are corrected I will feel well.

[Moggie in reply to lexilou]

Sorry I have only just picked up your question.

Did you take them both together last night? and if so how do you feel today?

Moggie x

[lexilou in reply to Moggie]

Yes I took them both together last night, don't feel any different so I will continue to night dose.

I'm off to the doctors this morning so fingers crossed he will listen and look into my folate and B12 levels.

lexi

[Moggie in reply to lexilou]

Let me know wont you.

Moggie x

[lexilou]

Dr says my ferritin, folate and B12 are fine.

He says I need more tests to rule out adrenals and other hormone problems, also he will test ferritin, folate and B12 again along with vitD.

I will be having the tests on Tuesday so will hold off supplementing until then.

I told him of the ranges needed for meds to work properly but he shrugged it off. All that said he has been the most helpful Dr so far so that doesn't say a lot about the others.

Lexi