Low Ferratin and reverse T3 ratio ( re-post )

[john_Lindstrom]

Hi all

My girlfriend had her thyroid removed 4 years ago following thyroid cancer.

After the thyroid conference in September we both signed up for and had full blood checks done.

Hers has come back with two flagged deficiencies :

Reverse T3 ratio 14.2

Ferritin.20.9

Any suggestions as to their importance and what can be done to normalise them ?

She's taking 125mg of T4

Here is a screenshot of her full bloods :

[jezebel69]

She could do with a little increase in her T4 but if she is not converting well to T3 this could increase the RT3. Its borderline so needs monitoring. She may well need an addition of T3 now in order to be optimally medicated. Her ferritin is low and indicates an iron shortage. Is she taking good supplements?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Her ferritin is definitely too low. Her vitamin D could do with improving too

See this reply from SeasideSusie

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I agree with jezebel69 she probably needs higher dose of Levo, but this may increase RT3, in which case would need addition of small dose T3. She might benefit from T3 anyway

Email Louise at a Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists. Some are T3 friendly

[e-mail]

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

john_Lindstrom

Ferritin 20.9 (20-150)

For thyroid hormone to work (that's our own as well as replacement hormone) ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range.

Your girlfriend needs to speak to her GP about this level as it is just 0.9 into the range. As it is so low she should have an iron panel and full blood count done to see if there is any iron deficiency anaemia. GP may not like the fact that she has had private tests done so just invite him to do his own on the strength of these results. You can always say that she has taken advice from NHS Choices recommended source of information for thyroid disease, which is Thyroid UK, best not to mention the internet or forums, they don't like that!

She definitely needs an iron supplement and as her level is so low she should ask for an iron infusion which will raise her level within 24-48 hours, tablets will take many months. Whether she will get one is another thing but push for it. If given tablets then she should 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.

She can also help raise her ferritin level by 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 apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

**

Vit D: 73nmol/L

The Vit D Council recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L. As it is now winter and we can't make natural Vit D from sunlight, it would be an idea for your GF to supplement now through to April then retest (if only Vit D needs testing there is City Assays fingerprick blood spot test vitamindtest.org.uk/ ). I would suggest 3000iu daily, either as a D3 softgel, eg. Doctors Best, or an oral spray, eg Better You.

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 helps D3 to work and 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.

K2-MK7 can be taken as a separate softgel or there are combined D3/K2-MK7 supplements. Better You also do a combined D3/K2-MK7 oral spray.

**

B12: 646

This is OK although 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."

I keep my level at around 1000.

**

FT4: 19.10 (12-22) - this is actually in a pretty good place at 71% through range

FT3: 4.37 (3.1-6.8) - this is too low at 34% through range and not in balance with FT4

FT4 and FT3 should be in balance in the upper part of their ranges, and good conversion takes place when the FT4:FT3 ratio is 4:1 or less, some say 3:1. Your GF's ratio is 4.37 : 1

rT3 ratio is worked out using FT3 and rT3 results. I believe it is low due to the fact that her FT3 is low. If her Levo is increased, it should raise FT4 and may possibly raise FT3 but they still wont be balanced, and there is the danger that the increased Levo will raise the rT3. What is needed is the addition of some T3.

[john_Lindstrom in reply to SeasideSusie]

SeasideSusie - Thank you on behalf of my girlfriend for such an in-depth comprehensive reply.

if you ever need to know anything about motorcycles drop me a line 😊

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to john_Lindstrom]

if you ever need to know anything about motorcycles drop me a line

I'll send my grandson over, he's not long got his first motorbike and good grief he seems to be clumsy - two accidents also 'it fell over' in the space of a couple of months!