Mom of 2 boys

[rasti13]

43 year old, mother of 2 boys. Low ferritin, heavy bleeding since 15 days, what could be the reason?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you have thyroid issues? Are you on Levothyroxine, if so how much and since when.

Any blood test results?

[rasti13 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes, on synthroid, 25mcg, since last 8 years, my recent blood work came normal.

Thanks for the reply!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to rasti13]

That's a very small dose for a long time.

Can you post your "normal" results, often they are not adequate

What about thyroid antibodies. Have you had TPO and TG antibodies tested

Have you also had vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested. Again make sure to get actual results and ranges

[shaws Administrator in reply to rasti13]

I cannot believe you have been on 25mcg of levothyroxine for eight years! That's really terrible. 25mcg is a starting dose and usually it is 50mcg to start with 25mcg increases every six weeks until you are symptom-free.

Heavy bleeding is a clinical symptom. You are on insufficient thyroid hormones, it would seem to me.

Never accept the words 'normal' 'ok' 'fine' with regard to the whereabouts of the results. We want a TSH of 1 or lower with a Free T4 and Free T3 in the upper part of the range. Rarely are the frees tested and they should be, even if occasionally when symptoms reappear.

First make a new appointment for a blood test. It has to be the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards. Many doctors make the mistake of thinking that if the TSH is somewhere in the range (even the top) that patient is on sufficient. No it isn't. We need a TSH of 1 or below.

Request TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. You can say you've taken advice from the NHS Choices Healthunlocked Thyroiduk.org.uk.

Ask also for B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

He or lab may not do the FT4 and FT3 but you can get these privately from one of our recommended labs. They are pin-prick home tests.

We have to read, learn, and ask questions to recover our health and be symptom-free.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges for your own records and post if you have a query. We are entitled by Law to get them if we request.