Totally confused!

[kirsty1946]

Just got my bloods back results just over the phone. What the hell is going on??

TSH 1.56 (range 0.5-6)

FT4 12.5 (range 9-24)

Ferritin 7.2 (range 12-300)

Antibodies were supposed to have been checked but seems not....surprise!!!

Do I feel so utter rubbish because of my ferritin level???

[Poshpenny]

Well I don't know how exactly you're feeling, but yes low ferritin can make you feel just awful. Let me guess, exhausted, weak, fatigued, hair falling out with a generous dash of brain fog? apart from the antibodies, what about vitamin d, ferritin, folate and b12? My ferritin was 12 and I know I felt terrible. Have you any symptoms of coeliac disease?

[kirsty1946 in reply to Poshpenny]

Thanks for your reply...sorry for my rubbish description of how I feel

[kirsty1946 in reply to Poshpenny]

Now my phone is playin funny buggers!!! Im tired beyond tired hair like a brillo pad and falling out sore aching muscles all over depressed total and utter brain fog and psoriasis from head to foot! Dont think theyve checked owt else...doc bout as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike!!

[Ansteynomad]

Looks to me like you need an iron infusion and someone to figure out why your TSH looks quite good, but your FT4 is in the bottom quarter of the range. This, as well as the very low ferritin could be what is making you feel so … unwell. Don’t let anyone tell you that’s ‘normal’. You may wish to familiarise yourself with the principles of secondary hypothyroidism and ask for a referral to an endo in accordance with the NICE guidelines.

[kirsty1946 in reply to Ansteynomad]

I was diagnosed hypo in november with a TSH of 10.7 (previously 0.96) and FT4 of 12.1 previously 12.6. Started on levo 50mcg upped yo 75 just last wk as I feel terrible n skin getting worse n worse. Was supposed to check antibodies this time for hashis but doesnt look like its been done. Refused to check FT3 x

[joyce59 in reply to kirsty1946]

could it be that antibodies test is taking a bit longer? thats what happened to me so will be worth checking again in about 2 working days.

[kirsty1946 in reply to joyce59]

Oh thanks hun I will check...got docs on tues anyway xx

[missymystique]

why do we have hypos always have low ferritin?

Does ferritin deficiency cause body ache? I have very low ferritin too and my body aches.

[kirsty1946 in reply to missymystique]

Im now led to believe so after researching a bit!! Great eh?

[silverfox7]

You have only just taken an increased dose which may or may not make you feel better, hopefully it will make you feel a little better but in another 4-5 weeks I should ask to be retested to see if your levels change. Please then post your new levels, what your GP has said and more importantly how you are feeling and whether any of your present symptoms have decreased or even increased. By then we may we have a better idea of what is happening and how you body is trying to respond to it and hopefully where to go next. I'm sorry but progress is often slow to make sure you don't get over medicated and to make it easier for your body to cope with the increased medication. Good luck

[kirsty1946 in reply to silverfox7]

Thank you. I know I look impatient but convinced I've had it for years and like many of you our docs just dont listen. I have coped with tiredness for years n years along with various other ailments its my skin getting me down at moment and fact Im due to get married in few months im desperate to get sorted as much as I can

[silverfox7 in reply to kirsty1946]

I didn't think you were particularly impatient but I understand how tempting it is to try and speed things up, just want to advice that being methodical hence slowly can actually help to get sorted more quickly than risk putting more variables into the mix or by increasing in larger steps. If you find your next dose has pushed you too far over then try taking the present and last dose on alternate days and see if that helps. It's the fine tuning that can take time. I finally ended with mixed doses and my higher one is Mon We'd and Fri. I found with strictly doing alternate days I was more lightly to forget what I'd take the day before do settled on actually days do easier to think oh it's Wednesday do it must be 125 then 100 on Thursday. It's also easier I found than pill cutting to get the exact dose each day as its wasn't easy to do that accurately either!

[kirsty1946 in reply to silverfox7]

Thanks hun...why can we not just be "normal" lol. My prob is I feel worse since starting levo but might be other things causing it ie ferritin vitd vitb12 just hoping she agrees to check these and address the 7.2 ferritin level xx