Vitamin and mineral levels

[Turquoise223]

FERRITIN 15 (15 - 150)

FOLATE 2.1 (4.6 - 18.5)

VITAMIN B12 147 (180 - 900)

VITAMIN D 25.5 (<25 SEVERE VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY)

What do I do next? Thank you

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Turquoise223 If your GP tested those and has said nothing then you make an appointment then say to him "What the **** are you going to do about these severe deficiencies that you appear to be ignoring and which are making me ill".

Just had to get that out, I can't believe how many members have posted similar results over the last few days!

Bear with me, maybe get a cuppa, here goes:

Ferritin 15 (15 - 150) - this is the at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work, the recommended level is half way through it's range.

Have you had an iron panel, full blood count and haemoglobin tested to see if you have iron deficiency anaemia? If not then ask for them to be done.

Speak to your doctor about this dire result and insist on treatment. If he tells you that you are in range then tell him that if your result was 14.9 you wouldn't be and he would have to treat you so 0.1 shouldn't make any difference.

You need at the very least iron supplements, preferably an iron infusion to bring your level up quickly.

If given iron tablets then take each tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation.

Take iron four hours away from thyroid meds and two hours away from any other medication and supplements as it affects their absorption.

**

Folate 2.2 (2.5 - 195.)

Vitamin B12 147 (180 - 900)

You have folate deficiency and plus B12 Deficiency.

Have you any signs of B12 Deficiency as listed here

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Take these results, together with any signs and symptoms, over to the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum here on Health Unlocked for further advice. Include your ferritin result as well.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

Don't supplement anything for folate or B12 yet, you may need testing for Pernicious Anaemia, you may need B12 injections.

See what they say on the PA forum then speak to your doctor.

**

Vitamin D total 25.5 (<25 severe vitamin D deficiency)

The recommended level is 100-150nmol/L. The NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary for Vit D Deficiency can be seen here

cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...

and the treatment suggestion is

"For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, the recommended treatment is based on fixed loading doses of vitamin D (up to a total of about 300,000 international units [IU]) given either as weekly or daily split doses, followed by lifelong maintenance treatment of about 800 IU a day. Higher doses of up to 2000 IU a day, occasionally up to 4000 IU a day, may be used for certain groups of people, for example those with malabsorption disorders.

Several treatment regimens are available, including 50,000 IU once a week for 6 weeks (300,000 IU in total), 20,000 IU twice a week for 7 weeks (280,000 IU in total), or 4000 IU daily for 10 weeks (280,000 IU in total)."

So ask your doctor to check the guidelines for your area, which are probably the same, and insist he treats appropriately.

Come back and let us know what he prescribes because sometimes buying it yourself can be better.

There are important cofactors needed when supplementing with D3, which your doctor won't know about because they're not taught nutrition. Read about them here

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check here to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too

**

[Turquoise223 in reply to SeasideSusie]

MCHC 387 (310 - 350)

MCV 74.5 (80 - 98)

HAEMOGLOBIN 130 (120 - 160)

iRON 8.3 (6.0 - 26.0)

TRANSFERRIN SAT 20% (10 - 30)

[bluebug in reply to Turquoise223]

Haemoglobin is OK luckily but it will not be if you don't start supplementing iron as your MCV indicates you are on your way to get iron deficiency anaemia.

[Turquoise223 in reply to bluebug]

Haemoglobin has been below range before so maybe speak to GP. Thank you.

[bluebug in reply to Turquoise223]

To be fair if you keep having iron deficiency you need to take control of it yourself so you don't keep dipping and suffering.

This means try and work out if there is a cause that can be sorted out, and regardless of whether there is or isn't one try and work out ways of keeping your iron levels up.

This may mean you have to eat liver every week, or take x iron supplements per week, or both.

[Turquoise223 in reply to bluebug]

Probably the heavy periods and rectal bleeding I have been getting. Thanks

[bluebug in reply to Turquoise223]

The rectal bleeding needs to be investigated. If it hasn't and you haven't be referred to a gastroenterologist you need to request such a referral.