Other results: Do I need to supplement for them... - Thyroid UK

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Jax88 profile image
7 Replies

Do I need to supplement for them.

FERRITIN 15 (30 - 400)

FOLATE 2.2 (2.5 - 19.5)

VITAMIN B12 207 (190 - 900)

VITAMIN D TOTAL 25.9 (25 - 50 VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY. SUPPLEMENTATION IS INDICATED)

Taking 800iu vitamin D only and that was given to me after result above.

Thankyou

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Jax88
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Jax88 You said you supplement for them. Is the D3 all that you have been prescribed then?

FERRITIN 15 (30 - 400)

Your iron store (ferritin) is dreadfully depleted. You need an iron infusion to bring your level up within 24-48 hours, ask for this, tablets will take months to raise your level.

Ferritin needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work, and it's recommended to be half way through it's range but 100-130 is the figure I've seen recommended for females.

Also, you need an iron panel and full blood count carried out to see if you have iron deficiency.

Eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet will also help

apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

If you are prescribed iron tablets, take each one with 1000mg Vitamin C to aid absorption and help prevent constipaton. Always take iron 4 hours away from thyroid meds and two hours away from other medication and supplements as it will affect absorption.

**

FOLATE 2.2 (2.5 - 19.5)

VITAMIN B12 207 (190 - 900)

You are folate deficient with very low B12. Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency b12deficiency.info/signs-an... If so please post on the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum for further advice quoting your folate, B12 and ferritin results along with any signs of B12 deficiency you may be experiencing healthunlocked.com/pasoc

I have read (but not researched so don't have links) that BCSH, UKNEQAS and NICE guidelines recommend:

"In the presence of discordance between test results and strong clinical features of deficiency, treatment should not be delayed to avoid neurological impairment."

And an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

**

VITAMIN D TOTAL 25.9 (25 - 50 VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY. SUPPLEMENTATION IS INDICATED) Taking 800iu vitamin D

The recommended level, according to the Vit D Council, is 100-150nmol/L.

800iu D3 isn't going to ever raise your level. It is hardly a maintenance dose for someone with a reasonable level.

In fact, your level should be treated with loading doses of D3 according to the NICE treatment summary for Vit D deficiency: cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...

Treat for vitamin D deficiency if serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels are less than 30 nmol/L.

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)."

Each Health Authority has their own guidelines but they will be very similar. Go and see your GP and ask that he treats you according to the guidelines and prescribes the loading doses. Once these have been completed you will need a reduced amount to bring your level up to what's recommended by the Vit D Council and then you'll need a sensible maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/

There are important cofactors needed when taking D3

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 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

**

These are serious deficiencies and if your doctor has ignored them you should see another one and consider making a complaint against this one for his negligence.

Jax88 profile image
Jax88 in reply toSeasideSusie

Sorry I also supplement folic acid 5mg

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toJax88

Jax88 - folic acid can mask signs of B12 deficiency. You may still have some, but also think back to before you started the folic acid, and check that list of signs and symptoms of B12 deficiency I linked to above. Then you need to post on the PA forum for further advice because with a B12 level as low as yours I wouldn't like to say that just supplementing with over the counter B12 is going to be enough. You have serious deficiencies across the board and they need investigating.

Jax88 profile image
Jax88 in reply toSeasideSusie

Complete blood count showed

HAEMOGLOBIN 114 (115 - 150)

MCV 77.6 (80 - 98)

MCHC 386 (310 - 350)

MCH 27.9 (28 - 32)

IRON 5.7 (6.0 - 26.0)

TRANSFERRIN SATURATION 12 (10 - 30)

eeng profile image
eeng in reply toJax88

It wouldn't be surprising if you had symptoms of iron deficiency then. That would be breathlessness after any physical exertion, tiredness, general lethargy. Your doctor is being negligent if he doesn't treat you for iron deficiency. At the very least he should prescribe ferrous fumarate. Ferrous suphate is very hard on the stomach and not easily absorbed. You can buy ferrous fumarate from Amazon and try taking 3x210mg a day for 2-3 months (with Vitamin C), then get retested. It can take a long time to get your iron levels up.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toJax88

Jax88 These results all suggest iron deficiency anaemia. Please read NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary for iron deficiency anaemia treatment (which will be very similar to your local area guidelines) cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...

and note

How should I treat iron deficiency anaemia?

•Address underlying causes as necessary (for example treat menorrhagia or stop nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, if possible).

•Treat with oral ferrous sulphate 200 mg tablets two or three times a day.

◦If ferrous sulphate is not tolerated, consider oral ferrous fumarate tablets or ferrous gluconate tablets.

◦Do not wait for investigations to be carried out before prescribing iron supplements.

•If dietary deficiency of iron is thought to be a contributory cause of iron deficiency anaemia, advise the person to maintain an adequate balanced intake of iron-rich foods (for example dark green vegetables, iron-fortified bread, meat, apricots, prunes, and raisins) and consider referral to a dietitian.

• Monitor the person to ensure that there is an adequate response to iron treatment.

You need to discuss this with a GP and get some treatment.

With all your dire results you really seriously need to consider making a formal complaint against this doctor who has ignored them. Total and utter negligence and one day this doctor will most likely kill someone.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Going strictly gluten free will help gut heal too

Read as much as possible about Hashimoto's

The Thyroid Pharmacist website is excellent

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Amy Myers and Chris Kresser too

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2015/07/the-...

Be kind to your self over next few weeks as your body has to adjust to taking Levo

Plenty of rest and relaxation.

Getting vitamins back to decent levels is essential to help thyroid hormones to work

You are definitely going to need higher dose of vitamin D than 800iu

"Better You" vitamin D mouth spray in 3000iu or 5000iu would be good option as this avoids poor gut absorption caused by Hashimoto's.

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