I have had an underactive thyroid for 10 years now and have been taking 100mg for at least the last 6 years.

[Tiredallthetime63]

I have just had some blood tests done and the results were that my TSH is 2.52mUL, B12 is 244ng/L and ferritin is 15.7ug/L. Do I need to take iron tablets or increase my Levo?

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum,

Do you have the ranges for your blood tests? They should be in brackets after the results. Labs differ in their ranges so it makes it easier to comment.

The most important question is "how do you feel overall?" I would say your B12 is on the low side and should be at least be towards the top of the range. Vitamin B also is usually deficient. This is a video re B12. Another link I read said that 60's or over's B12 should be a minimum of 500 as a deficiency can lead to all sorts of problems.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

[Tiredallthetime63 in reply to shaws]

I only have the TSH level in brackets 0.35-5.5 I feel tired all the time, legs feel heavy, tingling in hands, joints ache and itchy skin. I have put on weight over the last few months, i do exercise but lately have not had the energy.

[Tiredallthetime63 in reply to shaws]

I am not over 60....that was the year i was born...I was 50 last year...dont know if that makes a difference?

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tiredallthetime63]

No, it really doesn't matter but we should aim towards the higher end of the range. My sister, over 60, and GP said a B12 of 235 was fine as it was within range. I think the link above was informing over 60's in particular to make sure their B12 is at an optimum level.

This is a must listen/see video:-

youtube.com/watch?v=klobLSx...(Not working as expected?)

[Marz]

The Levo you are taking is a storage hormone and needs to convert into the ACTIVE thyroid hormone T3. When your iron and B12 levels are LOW then this very important conversion does not take place efficiently. Every cell in your body needs T3 to give them the energy to function. This may be the cause of your fatigue.

Ferritin is the Iron stored in the liver - so not much in the store cupboard - needs to be around 80/90 - although we do not have your ranges as Shaws pointed out. The B12 is VERY low as you can only use about 20% of what is in the blood in the cells where it is needed.

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Please read the above link - so much information - and it may help you with any further testing. You do not say if you are supplementing with anything. Do you have gut issues which may affect absorption of vitamins and minerals. You can buy B12 and a GOOD B Complex quite reasonably on-line. Worth having good quality ones as the cheaper ones can have too many fillers in them. Again the above link explains treatments

If you type B12 into the Search Box at the top in the Green Line you will see many posts. Look out for Hampster1 and others who have good knowledge on B12. I have learnt a great deal. Also VitD can be enhancing - it is more than a vitamin vitamindcouncil.org

Good luck...

[lisabax]

Your dose should have been adjusted before now. My understanding is that once in thyroid replacement TSH should come down to be nearer 1. If dose is not changed and TSH allowed to stay at 2 or more then that is likely to have led to problems with B12 levels etc. those more knowledgeable than me have replied, so I hope you will be able to get some help from your GP

[Heloise]

This is a good reference for other blood levels. Both your B12 and ferritin can use improvement. stopthethyroidmadness.com/l...

[Tiredallthetime63]

I only have the range for the TSH not the Ferritin or B12. I am just fed up with feeling so tired all the time....and its not a sleepy tired....just do not have energy to do the things i used to do.....

[shaws Administrator in reply to Tiredallthetime63]

It could be called fatigue. If our TSH/bloods are 'within range' they will probably diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome and it is a 'new' disease since the thyroid gland blood tests came in in the 60's.