Got my blood results today. Was surprised at everything being normal apart from Vit D and Ferritin as I feel dreadful. I posted last week about menopause type symptoms returning after many years (I'm 63).
Can anyone advise what to do to reduce my iron (I don't take supplements) and also what dose I should take for Vit D.
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Ireness
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Hi Ireness, I find the results difficult to read. They are very faint. I haven't got a smart phone so wouldn't know how to improve the picture. Could you type them onto a post, with the ranges?
I am on a PC and I can't read them either. Medichecks results really bug me, the grey print is so feint it's impossible to read unless you enlarge the picture and just show the results.
I can see there's an asterix by your TG antibodies but I can't read the result. However, that would mean that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Halshimoto's so you need to address that. Hashi's is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results. You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.
Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
Doctor said thyroid is normal but need an iron check and Vit D supplement. I don't know how to reduce the iron as I'm not on supplements and not sure what dose of Vit D I would need.
He also thinks I need to reduce the thyroxine.
I am concerned about that as I'm sure the goitre in my throat is getting bigger and it's becoming uncomfortable.
Ireness Unfortunately, the doctor's comments on these tests are fairly generic and follow the same lines as GPs, they are TSH driven and disregard the free T levels.
TSH 0.174. (0.27-4.2)
Free thyroxine. 19 (12-22)
T4 95.8 (59-154)
Free T3 4.6 (3.1-6.8)
There isn't much wrong with these results and you certainly don't need to reduce your Levo.
Your TSH is slightly below range but it's not suppressed. Your FT4 is just about where most of us hypos tend to feel best (upper third of range) and your FT3 is actually a bit low in range. FT4 and FT3 should be in balance - your FT4 is 70% through range and your FT3 is 40% through range. Supplementing with selenium can help with conversion of T4 to T3 and optimising all vitamins and minerals will help Levo to work properly.
As mentioned, you have Hashi's so follow the advice given above regarding a gluten free diet and supplementing with selenium.
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Active B12 102.7 (25.1-165) Folate Serum 8.71 (2.91-50)
I'm more familiar with normal serum B12 results although your Active B12 result looks fine. However, your folate is too low, it's recommended to be at least half way through it's range whch is 27+ with that range. You could supplement with a decent B Complex containing 400mcg methylfolate and that will help raise your level.
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25 OH Vit D 61.3 (50-200)
The recommended level, according to the Vit D Council, is 100-150nmol/L. I suggest you buy some Doctors Best D3 softgels like these and take perhaps 3000-4000iu daily for 3 months then retest. When you've reached the recommended level you'll need a 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
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
Changing to strictly gluten free diet to reduce antibodies and improve symptoms, can really help, just don't expect your GP to know anything about it ....on here we find it helps very many
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