Advice on thyroid results please, and ferritin levels.

[Xanthe]

My last thyroid test results were as follows:

FT4 12.4 (10-22)

FT3 4.94 (2.8-6.5)

TSH 2.14 (0.4-4.0)

rT3 0.38 (0.14 - 0.54)

TG <20 (0-40)

TPO 12 (0-35)

I take 3 NT per day as well as all the usual nutritional supplements - Se, Zn, vit C, D, A, E etc. But I stopped taking iron recently when I received these results (below), where the serum iron was at the top of the range. (A week before the test I stopped taking iron supplements to avoid these interfering with the results).

serum iron 27.2 (6.6 - 26)

TIBC 60 (41-77)

Transferrin saturation 45 (20-55)

Ferritin 52 (13-150).

My basal temperature remains low (35.5-36.0) and my energy levels have plateaued. I know that my ferritin should be higher in the range but I'm concerned about overdosing with iron given the serum levels. Any ideas on this?

Also, I'm confused about where to go with my thyroid support. Dr P has given me two contradictory pieces of advice about whether or not to try T3. Advice on this would also be much appreciated.

On top of all this I have ME, and very weak adrenals, but these are being supported with hydrocortisone 15-20mg/day, fludrocortisone and Dr Wilson's adrenal rebuilder supplements.

[LouiseRoberts]

So sorry you had no replies - it would appear that your question was missed...

Hopefully someone with relevant knowledge will pick it up from Latest Activity...

L

x

[Xanthe in reply to LouiseRoberts]

I hadn't seen it listed - could that be a reason?

[LouiseRoberts in reply to Xanthe]

Something went a bit awry with people's activity last week - I thought this was now resolved..

Have you checked out our main website for info....?

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/diagno...

I would suggest perhaps posting again...

x

[kafe1]

Hi there I'm new I read your post as in on fludrocortisone. I also have me and I strongly suspect undiagnosed thyroid. I have a new consultant but Iseems to be trying to educate myself to educate him. I've just posted my history but I wonder would you tell me, how do you get a rt3 blood test? Who do you see you mentioned a doctor and adrenal support. Any advice v appreciate d

Katherine

[Xanthe]

Hi Kafe,

I hope this doesn't make you despondent, but I've had to do everything myself - no help from GP or NHS at all! you can get your rT3 tested via Genova Diagnostics as part of a thyroid test - you can find details about this company on the TUK website. I can't remember the cost - it was a while ago - but around £100? The NHS won't routinely test more than TSH and T4.

I also tested my adrenals privately - again via Genova, which confirmed that I had Adrenal Fatigue, but guess what? The NHS says I have no problem!!! I see Dr Peatfield but he's retired, so although he can give you advice, he can't prescribe. But he's an expert on the thyroid and adrenals, so you might want to give him a try. He's based in Crawley but has outreach clinics around the UK. If you google his name you'll get his contact details, or TUK will have them. I take adrenal granular supplements and I self-dose with hydrocortisone ( my idea). During a consultation he can test you for symptoms which would indicate whether you had an adrenal problem or not and then advise you what's best to take.

For advice on ME check out the website of Dr Sarah Myhill - lots of useful information generally.

I hope that this helps!

[kafe1 in reply to Xanthe]

Hi xanthe,

thanks so much for taking the time to reply somehow I wasn't given an email notification so have just found it !

Thanks for saying it but you're right I'm the same I have had to keep trying to find an answer myself and at other times burying my head in the sand which makes progress difficult.

I have had the saliva adrenal test which showed low adrenals so was on isocort off the internet. I was working via phone consultation with an American doctor who basically cost loads then left me in the lurch with my bloods even more askew. I have recently found an endocrinologist who is sympathetic and when I was crashing back to square one put me on fludrocortisone. This saves me but seems only temporarily as my tiredness and joint pain and other symptoms are back. Going back to see him with information from this website to see if he can do anything further. Think I do need thyroxine, I was treated for graves ten years ago after having m.e and bein housebound it gave me my life back. I will check out thouse websites 're Dr peatfield thanks so much for that.

As a note on your bloods I see where your tsh is and have seen users mention a tsh of around 1 is optimal for most.. Saying that I felt best when mine was higher more in the region of 2.4.

my iron ferritin is similar to yours still low in range. Not sure about the higher serum iron. I've been taking supplemental iron for years with no change to my bloods am trying another one but my body just won't take it. Fun fun! I posted my bloods last night but see they haven't come up on here so will try again later.

Best of luck with replies to your questions

Kafe x