Test results and Levo help!

[Samra83]

Hi all,

Please could someone shed some light on these results for me please? The doctor says normal, and is just itching to diagnose me with anti depressants, so she can pacify the God of Pharma, despite me presenting with a load of hypothyroid symptoms (fatigue, weight gain, hair thinning, muscle weakness, painful pooping, brain fog, cold extremities, puffy face, feeling TERRIBLE in the morning and taking a couple of hours to rouse myself, very hoarse voice especially in the morning). Im waiting for my period so I can do the basal temp tests, but have been checking pulse on waking - it's very weak, and around 60/minute.

Ferritin- 13 ug/L --- 23.00 - 300.00ug/L

TSH - 1.95 --- 0.35 - 3.50mu/L

Free T4 -12 --- 8.00 - 21.00pmol/L

I've started taking some kelp (as well as a host of other supplements, including D and ferrous fumarate). If this doesn't make a difference, I may want to buy some Levothyroxine. So any advice about where from would also be gratefully received.

Thank you!

Sam

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Samra83 Unless you have been tested and found to be low in iodine, you shouldn't be supplementing with kelp. Nor should you supplement Vit D unless tested, you need to know your level and the right amount of D3 to take (along with it's very important cofactors) otherwise your level can become toxic as excess Vit D is stored.

As far as your Ferritin is concerned - has your GP prescribed the Ferrous Fumarate? With a below range result you really need an iron panel, full blood count and haemoglobin test to see if you have iron deficiency anaemia, if you do then you need treating with the appropriate amount of Ferrous Fumarate.

You should also have B12 and folate tested.

[Samra83 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi,

thank you. Yes, I had the full blood count and haemoglobin tested at same time - not anaemic. yes I was prescribed the FF.

I take D because I'm vegan. And for this reason I also started taking the kelp - as I don't have any other iodine sources. I also take B12.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Samra83]

I take D because I'm vegan. And for this reason I also started taking the kelp - as I don't have any other iodine sources. I also take B12

Were you tested and what are the results? You need to make sure you're not taking too much.

With B12 you need to take a B Complex to balance all the B Vitamins.

Important cofactors needed when taking Vit D vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

How much Ferrous Fumarate are you taking. Was that result before you started taking it? Are you taking each iron tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation and at least two hours away from other supplements and any medication?

[Samra83 in reply to SeasideSusie]

No, I haven't been tested for iodine or D.

I do indeed that a B complex. I will take your advice re the FF, and have a look t the D info too - thanks.

[Samra83 in reply to Samra83]

Having looked at the co-factors, I think I should be fine - I take a good quality multivitamin/ mineral and also eat tonnes of leafy greens and nuts etc etc.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Samra83]

Multivitamins and minerals are generally a waste of time. They contain not enough of anything to do any good and frequently use the wrong and least absorbable forms of ingredients.

Does it contain K2-MK7 or K1, methylcobalamin rather than cyanocobalamin, methylfolate rather than folic acid? Does it contain Magnesium oxide which is the worst and least absorbable form? And worst of all, does it contain calcium or iodine - definitely shouldn't be supplemented unless tested and found to be deficient and if it contains iron then nothing else will be absorbed because iron must be taken at least two hours away from any other supplements as it affects their absorption.

As for selenium, if you are using Brazil nuts as your source they need to be grown in selenium rich soil (the packet will say so if they have) otherwise there's no selenium in them.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to SeasideSusie]

There's iodine in many vegetables if they are grown in good soil, including beans, potatoes, peas, mushrooms, onions and strawberries. It's usually better to eat sea vegetables as vegetables rather than take kelp powder or capsules - that way you get fibrre and other nutrients as well. See iodine-resource.com/foods-h...

[Hidden]

If you are having a hard time with the iron (constipation?) take it with 500 - 1000 mg Vit C on an empty stomach, & adding Magnesium will loosen things up considerably.

And rather than self dosing with Levo would you consider NDT (natural Dessicated Thyroid) instead? I know you are vegan but...

And have you tried glutin free?

stopthethyroidmadness.com/n...

mindbodygreen.com/0-18316/t...

[Samra83 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, thanks. It's not really constipation - I have a lot of fibre! But painful passing! Ok. I will try it with Vit C (which I take anyway) separately from the other supplements. Should the magnesium go alongside it?

No, I won't take NDT.

yes, I am gluten free! And generally follow a very healthy whole-food diet.

[Hidden]

Try the magnesium with the evening meal. There are different types tho so investigate which one is right for you.

globalhealingcenter.com/nat...

It's great as a natural sleep aid too.

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

If you have pain with passing I wouldn't ignore that! Ask for a scope to be done as it could be polyps or something else...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Get your thyroid antibodies tested to see if you have Hashimoto's, if not done already.

[Kipsy]

Samra83

I'm not advocating taking levo, although I have been on it for a few months and think it is helping a bit alongside a paleo (also gluten free as no grains allowed) diet and a shed load of supplements. However, I just thought I'd mention that I was in Italy last week & was able to buy it readily over the counter with no prescription cheaply. I did ask about T3 too but the pharmacist (who luckily spoke excellent English) said she'd need to check if I needed a prescription. As I'm not far enough into my thyroid medication journey to know if I will need some T3, I didn't wait for her to investigate. I bought some T4 to have a few extra as my GP only prescribes 56 tablets at a time and I can be on the last one by the time I've had my blood test and managed to get to see her with the results etc. Best of luck to you.

[RachelS0822]

Have you been tested for celiac disease?