I've not been right for a while. Mainly very tired, achy, very cold hands and feet through the colder months, short of breath and dizzy at times. I have struggled to loose weight but gain very rapidly. The gp has done thyroid tests twice previously due to my symptoms and checked my iron. My ferritin levels are very low borderline anemic. I can't take iron tablets as they make me vomit. I was told my thyroid levels were normal.
Last appointment with the gp and she suspected I may have fibromyalgia. Since then I have joined the gym and am with a personal trainer. I found out that my blood pressure is on the high side. I started following a low carb high protien diet and exercising 3 times a week but finding it really hard to shift the weight - lucky if I shift a lb a week. I'm often tired but sometimes I just can't get to sleep. The whole thyroid thing is playing on my mind, but I feel silly questioning it. I'm not sure where to go from here.
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h4nz05
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h4nz05 If you post your results, with reference ranges, members can comment. If you haven't got them then ask your surgery for a print out, you are legally entitled under the Data Protection Act although there may be a small charge for printing.
If you can't take iron tablets you need to find another way to raise your ferritin level. No thyroid hormone - our own or replacement - can work unless it is at least 70. Have you tried Iron Bisglycinate which is a more gentle form, eg Solgar Gentle Iron, or liquid iron such as Spatone or other brands? You can get actual Ferritin supplement. What about liver? I can't tolerate iron supplements but raised my Ferritin level by eating liver once a week and still continue eating it to maintain my level. If you don't like liver on it's own then mince it and add to any meat dish such as casserole, cottage pie, curry, bolognese. Then there's pate. Look up iron rich foods.
As SS says, the gentle iron products are fantastic. I used to get very nauseated on the usual supplements but I have taken Solgar and Terra Nova gentle iron and have had no gut issues whatsoever. If you're very sensitive you can try Spatone but it can take time to work.
I really liked the liquid feroglobin and it did make a difference to me even within a few days years ago but I used to forget to get it out of the fridge so bought the slow release capsule instead. I am taking sublingual B12 the proper stuff but the feroglobin contains: Non Pareil Seeds, Purified Talc, Ferrous Fumarate, Sucrose, Zinc Sulphate, Potato Starch, Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine HCl), Hydroxylpropylmethylcellulose, Copper Sulphate, Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin [Carrier: Dicalcium Phosphate]) & Folic Acid (as Pteroylmonoglutamic Acid), Capsule Shell: Pharmaceutical Grade Gelatin
I was surprised that a well known company like that would use cyancobalamin and I am already taking zinc. My B12 is top of the range but ferritin is fairly low and I was told not to go rushing out buying iron but I am seeing a functional medicine practitioner again next week and hoping to sort the ferritin situation out.
I don't have my actual results so will request them. Maybe this will make things clearer one way or another. I haven't tried a natural supplement for iron, but will look at doing so. I was given ferritin tablets and didn't cope with them sadly. I was told my ferritin level was 10 - but I don't know what this means?
h4nz05 It's very unlikely that you were prescribed actual 'Ferritin' supplement. GPs tend to only prescribe Ferrous Fumarate or Ferrous Sulphate which have a large amount of elemental iron, about 65mg, and can be quite harsh.
'Ferritin' supplement contains about 5mg and you would have to buy that yourself as it comes from USA and is made by Cardiovascular Research.
The range for ferritin is usually something like 12-150. Your level is dire and if it is under range you should ask for an iron infusion which would bring your level up in a day or two, then you could maintain it by eating liver regularly. As you had such a problem with the tablets, discuss with your GP and ask for an infusion.
Yes you are right it's ferrous gluconate I was prescribed. Thank you, My plan of action is to email the surgery asking for my last blood test result levels and then hopefully this will show what I should request or do next. I really appreciate your quick responses!
Make sure you ask them to include the reference ranges, they are important as they vary from lab to lab and results can't be accurately interpreted without them.
Having been diagnosed with Fibro in 2000 - I was subsequently diagnosed with Hashimotos in 2005. Different Doc in a different country. Once Fibro is on your notes everything will be blamed on that for evermore without seeking the root cause.
Am suspecting your FT3 will be LOW so ensure it is tested - as others have mentioned .....
I recommend watching THE THYROID SECRET documentary and going on Izabella Wentz website. Although the documentary is no longer available through her website you can still find it on youtube.
Testing for antibodies is critical in order to diagnose you. Request TPO and TG Antibodies tests.
You must have a wonderful GP surgery as mine would never do anything like that. Only once a private endo wrote to the GP and told them to do antibodies. OMG, it took three attempts and finally the GP actually drew the blood. It was a joke, however, we got there in the end and antibodies were so high they went over the hospital lab range of 1300. Even the functional medicine practitioner who is a GP I am seeing, uses Medicheck.
As fibromyalgia has been mentioned a few times, I thought the following link might be of interest. I came across it quite by chance. I am in pain all the time but the other evening got fed up with what to eat as I don't like to eat meat but have resorted to organic chicken and fish. I also have a compressed spinal fracture. I am on an elimination diet via a functional medicine practitioner and have given up eating fruit and veg that contain lectins which are basically from the nightshade group, like tomatoes, potatoes, goji berries, etc. etc. so I roasted up a whole load of parsnips, carrots and sweet potato. Usually the pain dies down in my back when I am sitting in the chair with my heatpad but as I was getting ready for bed I had pains just about everywhere in my feet, legs, shoulders, wrists and back of course. I had an awful day yesterday and so just out of curiosity last night I googled parsnips are making my muscles ache not thinking for a minute anything would come up. dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...
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