Ferritin Levels: The doctor has now increased my... - Thyroid UK

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Ferritin Levels

Lezley profile image
8 Replies

The doctor has now increased my levo from 50 to 75 to go back in 6 weeks to check my levels

TSH LEVELS. 34.5

T4 9.1

Hair loss is awful and patches appearing. I had more blood tests

Vit D. 85 nml/L. 75.00 - 150 nml/L

Ferritin. 68 ug/L. 10.00 - 291.00ug /L

Doctor said they are in normal range but still feel awful😢 is my range ok or should I be supplementing.

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Lezley profile image
Lezley
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8 Replies
Clutter profile image
Clutter

Lezley, you feel awful because your FT4 is low and your TSH high, you are very hypothyroid and this is also why your hair is falling out. The dose increase will help but you will probably need another dose increase after your next blood test. Most people are comfortable with TSH just above or below 1.0 so you can see you've a way to go yet.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Ferritin is within range but is a bit low. Optimal is half way through range. You can buy Ferrous Fumarate over the counter or online. Take each iron tablet with 500mg-1,000mg vitamin C to aid absorption and mitigate constipation.

VitD is in the optimal range but it won't hurt to supplement 1,000iu daily until end of April when ultraviolet light is strong enough to stimulate vitamin D if you can get sun on your face and arms a few hours a week.

After your next bloods ask for a printout of your results with the lab ref ranges (the figures in brackets after your results) as the ranges help members interpret the results.

Lezley profile image
Lezley in reply to Clutter

Thank you it is just taking me a little time to get my head around it all. Hopefully I will be sorted soon.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to Lezley

Lezley, cognition, lack of concentration, memory loss are all symptoms and will improve as your thyroid levels normalise. Research shows that TSH >20 can impair driving reactions more than being over the drink drive limit so please be very cautious when driving.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

As your TSH is high I would go back in about 4 weeks if your symptoms are still severe. I don't think there's any reason to wait 6 weeks as you feel so unwell.

When you go for a blood test have the earliest possible and don't take levo before it, take it after. Take levo first thing with a glass of water and don't eat for around an hour. Some may leave a shorter time but some foods might interfere with the uptake of levo.

Lezley profile image
Lezley in reply to shaws

Thank you. I go on holiday next week so as soon as I get back I will have my bloods done it will be 4 1/2 weeks.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Lezley

I hope GP is flexible and lets you have it earlier than 6 weeks.

Heloise profile image
Heloise

Lezley, was your TSH even higher than that when you were diagnosed? Unbelievable really that you are on your feet.

Everything is off so I don't understand why he feels you are normal when everything is at the bottom of the range. You need iron to convert T4 (your levo) to the active T3. You barely have enough T4 to work with I think even without seeing the range. I hope you can get some sunlight on your holiday, your D is also too low.

Your levels should look more like this and look at the four iron tests and folate and B12 are also important:

stopthethyroidmadness.com/l...

eeng profile image
eeng

I would say your vitamin D and Ferritin results are not the worst I have seen on this site by a long way. You can try topping them up a bit but you might not be able to tell any difference in the way you feel. If you want to take supplements it won't do you any harm though. Have a lovely holiday - I could do with a holiday myself!

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