New bloods.

[Winegum2]

TSH - 3 (0.2 - 5.5)

Jan '15 - 4.3

Sep '14 - 3.9 (taken at midday)

Ferritin - 65 (10 - 300)

March '15 - 46

Oct '14 - 18

Folate - 19.5 (>4)

March '15 - 12.8

Oct '14 - 13.5

B12 - 732 (180 - 1000)

March '15 - 609

Oct'14 - 240

Creatinine - 73 (45-84)

March '15 - 65

Jan '15 - 69

Oct '14 68

Haemoglobin - 142 (115-165)

March '15 - 134

Jan '15 - 139

Sep '14 - 129

I am yet un-medicated although taking a lot of supplements which seem to be working. Overall I feel much better and have a lot more energy, although slightly flagging with sore hips atm probably due to busyness. I expected my TSH to be lower because its the Summer and this is reflected in how I feel.

Until now, I hadn't realized that the Ferritin range went so high. I was aiming for 70, which seems to be recommended everywhere, but mid-range is actually more like 150. Although my haemoglobin is good and my red blood count is mid-range, so I'm wandering if this is wise. My hair is still falling out though, I've had to cut it short as its so thin.

My plan of action is to wait for 6 months and get TSH retested. If I'm feeling awful again come Sep/Oct (which happens every year!) I may well take the bull by the horns and self medicate.

Any comments appreciated!

[Clutter]

Winegum, aim for ferritin half way through range or when your hair stops shedding 70-90 is half way through USA ranges which is why STTM advise 70-90.

B12 is good although PAS recommend 1,000 as optimal. I've seen folate ranges top around 20, so yours is good.

Have you had vitD tested? Low vitD can cause musculoskeletal pain and may be why your hips are sore.

TSH 3.0 shows your thyroid is struggling. 200mcg selenium or 3-5 Brazil nuts daily and iodine rich foods may be helpful.

Have thyroid antibodies been tested?

[Winegum2 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter!

I had D3 tested in November and it was 53.6. I supplemented throughout the rest of the winter even though it was deemed OK. I've stopped since the sunnier/warmer weather.

I've had TPO tested which was fine but not the other one. The NHS here won't do it.

I had something like Glandular Fever in my 20s and had chronic fatigue for a year. I think it may have something to do with that. Also, my TSH went from 0.6, 2 months after my first baby to 4.5 when it was tested a year and a half later. I'm pretty sure I had post partum thyroiditis, the photo of me soon after giving birth quite clearly shows a large goiter. I now have a multi-nodular goiter.

I'll carry on supplementing iron. I have also been supplementing magnesium and selenium for a few months. I need to get my head around the iodine thing as I know that it can also be bad for the thyroid. Would you recommend Kelp?

[greygoose in reply to Winegum2]

Personnally, I wouldn't recommend kelp. The iodine content is much too high. Before taking something like that, you should get your iodine tested to see if you need it at all. It can be very bad for the thyroid if you get too much.

Next time you have a test, make sure it's as early as possible - before 9.00 am - and Don't eat before the test because that will lower your TSH unnaturally.

[Winegum2 in reply to greygoose]

The first time I had it tested I didn't know about the timing. Since then I've had it done as early as poss. The latest one was done at 9am despite arriving at the hospital at 8.20am (10 mins b4 opening time) there was already 16 people ahead of me!

[Muffy]

You need to have your blood drawn as early in the day as possibly, maybe 8am/8.30am.

[Winegum2 in reply to Muffy]

Impossible I'm afraid. The hospital don't open until 8.30am, although I've since found out that they will open earlier if there's a lot of people waiting, but that's just pot luck. Also its first come, first served, so again it just depends how many people got there b4 me.