Are hashi patients often low in ferritin...

[MidnightBlue]

...and if so, does the cause need to be looked in to? I ask as saw an endo today (will be posting some blood tests soon to ask if people can help me understand them) and he said as my ferritin is low I should stop supplementing with iron so he can see why it is low. (I think he meant if it keeps going down there might be a cause such as bleeding). My ferritin has risen from 11 to 20 since I started supplementing, and I don't want to stop as I am trying to get it to 70. Do I need to stop? Or is low ferritin to be expected and I don't need to look in to it? Thanks for any help.

[humanbean]

I wrote an answer to this. But it seems to have just vanished!

I'll write it again...

Low iron and ferritin are common in thyroid disorders.

You need to know more information about what your endo is planning. As it stands you don't have enough information on which to base a decision.

If he is going to suggest looking for blood in your poo with a faecal occult blood test then he might be expecting you to give up your supplements for a week or two. You might consider this an acceptable wait.

If he is going to make you wait three months then re-test your ferritin, you might consider that unacceptable and sadistic.

If he is considering putting you on a waiting list for a flexible sigmoidoscopy, a colonoscopy or an endoscopy you could be waiting for months.

You need to know more.

[MidnightBlue in reply to humanbean]

I replied to your previous answer, and that has vanished too! Thanks for your reply. He is planning to wait 3 months and retest. My GP was not concerned about the low ferritin, simply said to supplement, and supplementing seems to be working, slowly. He was only a registrar (sorry for spelling), and I am really concerned that not raising my ferritin is a silly thing to do.

[humanbean in reply to MidnightBlue]

I would be worried about waiting three months, knowing that you are already deficient. Low ferritin is not a trivial problem. If your levels continue to drop you could become seriously ill.

Have you felt better since starting to supplement with iron? How do you feel generally? Do you have any symptoms which suggest there is something else going on besides thyroid-related stuff?

If this doctor is worried about you losing blood from a gastro-intestinal bleed (for example), then it would seem reasonable to ask you to stop supplements for a week or two in order to do a faecal occult blood test. But making you wait three months without iron, just for a ferritin test, sounds like he is satisfying his intellectual curiosity and is forgetting that his request could have a serious impact on you and your health.

The other obvious problem is that, as you are someone with a thyroid problem, a lack of iron will reduce the conversion of your inactive T4 to active T3. And that will make you a lot sicker than someone who has low ferritin but has a healthy thyroid.

[MidnightBlue in reply to humanbean]

No, nothing else going on. I an worried about not supplementing, from my discussion with him I don't think he knows that ferritin is needed to convert t4 to t3.

[greygoose in reply to MidnightBlue]

Ha ha! Oh, dear! Sorry about that, but really!!! Where do they get their diplomas? Out of a Christmas cracker? That is basic 101 Thyroid!

[MidnightBlue in reply to greygoose]

Hi greygoose, he looked me in the eye and stated categorically that a ferritin level of 20 meant that I would have no problem converting t4.

[greygoose in reply to MidnightBlue]

Well, that really doesn't surprise me, sad as it is. They just don't know. Some of the things I've been told whilst they looked me straight in the eye. And it takes my breath away to such an extent that I can't reply. Even though I know they're wrong. Not that they'd listen to me, anyway! I don't know. What can you do!!!

[MidnightBlue in reply to greygoose]

I had papers with me, studies showing the importance of ferritin being at least 70, but I felt to show him would embarrass him. I am so British! I am kicking myself now.

[greygoose in reply to MidnightBlue]

I don't suppose he'd be worried about embarrassing you! lol Yes, you are too British. Just like me, believe it or not!

[mandy-white]

can I ask what iron supplement you take please?

[MidnightBlue in reply to mandy-white]

Hi Mandy, I take iron bisglycinate.

[mandy-white in reply to MidnightBlue]

Hi Midnightblue, Do you get them on prescription or buy from the chemist. I have never heard of them. I have tried some from the doctors and from the internet but they all seem to make me feel sick and upset my stomache. Thankyou.

[MidnightBlue in reply to mandy-white]

I buy it from my local health food store. It is solgar brand I think, will check when I get home. They don't have any adverse effects on me at all, not like the iron I was prescribed after I had my first baby! I am hoping they are effective, I am thinking of upping my dose to 2 a day.

[MidnightBlue]

Does anyone know why low ferritin is common with thyroid problems?

[Polaris]

You might be interested in the following link about the MTHFR gene and the effect if it is mutated :

stopthethyroidmadness.com/m...

"It produces a defective MTHFR enzyme of different varieties i.e. it functions less than optimally, such as performing at only 40% of its capacity, or 70% of its capacity. It can mean you won’t break down toxins or heavy metals well i.e. you could find yourself with high iron, or high copper, or high lead, or high mercury….etc. High copper can also cause low ferritin, even though your iron levels look great!

The defective enzyme doesn’t break down folate vitamins properly (of which folic acid is the precursor to), which can cause high homocysteine, which can increase your risk of coronary heart disease (arteriosclerotic vascular disease or venous thrombosis), and related heart and BP conditions, as well as increasing your risk for dementia.

Homocysteine is poorly converted to glutathione, which is your body’s chief antioxidant and detoxifier. You are then more susceptible to stress and toxin buildup."

[MidnightBlue in reply to Polaris]

That is quite frightening. My iron levels are not high, so hopefully that is not the cause. Might be a good idea to get homocysteine checked, as I have heard a lot about it. I tried it get it checked when I was pregnant, but the lab didn't do it.

[Polaris]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you...I've been looking into the MTHFR gene/homocysteine factor after linking it with thyroid/B12 deficiency, migraine with aura, digestive issues problems.

I found the book, The H Factor', by Patrick Holford and Dr James Braly really helpful and the good thing is that you can lower your homocysteine level with diet and supplements.

[MidnightBlue in reply to Polaris]

I scare easily! It was a book by Patrick Holford that I read while I was pregnant actually. He put a really convincing case for keeping homocysteine levels low. Do you know how they can be checked? My GP wrote it on the blood test form, but the lab just ignored it. Carrie

[Polaris]

I wonder if it's worth asking your GP again for the homocysteine test as the laboratories ignored it. He must have had a reason for asking.

There is a website for up to date information on how to test your homocysteine,etc:

thehfactor.com

[MidnightBlue in reply to Polaris]

Thanks Polaris. He only wrote it on the form as I asked him to test it as I had read Patrick Holford's book and so knew high homoscysteine is linked to a raised chance of birth defects. I find the whole issue very frightening,

[Polaris]

I don't think the website I gave you from the book is working now - it doesn't seem to be anything to do with with it!

Please don't worry Carrie. I'm an old lady now, have had Hashimoto's for a long time plus all the issues above, but am actually healthier most of the time and more active than most people my age ! And you are obviously very aware and health conscious from an earlier age than I was, so I'm sure you will get to the bottom of this.

I know a lot of people have problems taking iron. Our family always took it in the form of Floradix Liquid Iron. Taking vitamin C also helps with absorption, plus the B vitamins, folate, magnesium and zinc. which all help lower homocysteine.