Ferritin etc

[Redvelvet]

Ferritin 12 (15 - 150)

Folate 2.32 (2.50 - 19.50)

Vitamin B12 197 (180 - 900)

Vitamin D 23.8

Feedback please thanks for reading

[jezebel69]

Well I read it and they are all too low

Are you supplementing any of them?

[Redvelvet in reply to jezebel69]

Nothing given

[Nanaedake in reply to Redvelvet]

When were these tests done, are you in the UK and have you seen the GP since these results or has the GP contacted you?

[Redvelvet in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks they were done about 8 weeks ago and haven't been told anything or seen GP. I was hoping I would be told about them if my levels were this bad

[Nanaedake in reply to Redvelvet]

Do not wait for GP to contact you, they rarely do it seems although I find it rather negligent. As they are all below range you need further investigations.

Have you got symptoms of B12 deficiency? b12deficiency.info/signs-an... If so then post your B12 and folate results with some background information about your iron and other results on the HealthUnlocked Pernicious Anaemia forum and ask their advice on how your GP should be investigating or treating.

If you have another GP in the practice, make an appointment to see them and point out your dire results and that you have not been contacted, you have symptoms and you want to be given the correct treatment since your deficiencies have been ignored for two months.

Follow SeasideSusie advice on vitamins.

[jezebel69 in reply to Redvelvet]

Well your GP should be addressing those levels - but to be honest its often better to deal with it yourself. I can't help you with iron as I don't take anything for that but your B12 is dire and could do with injections to boost before supplementing with at least 1000mcg a day sublingual. Vit D is also too low but be sure to take vit K with D3. B12 and D need to be high levels for your thyroid to work well.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Redvelvet

Your Hashi's has trashed your nutrient levels. Hashi's and gut/absorption problems tend to go hand in hand with low nutrients often the result. If your GP hasn't already done anything about them then make an urgent appointment and suggest he starts treating them.

Ferritin 12 (15 - 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.

You need an iron supplement and as your level is so low you should ask for an iron infusion which will raise your level within 24-48 hours, tablets will take many months.

You can also raise your 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...

You need an iron panel and full blood count to see if you have iron deficiency anaemia so if not already done then ask for them. If confirmed the treatment is 2 or 3 x ferrous fumarate daily. Take each iron tablet 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 2.32 (2.50 - 19.50) Vitamin B12 197 (180 - 900)

Folate deficiency and very low B12. Check for signs of B12 deficiency here b12deficiency.info/signs-an... then go and post on the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum for further advice healthunlocked.com/pasoc then discuss with your GP. You should post your folate, B12 and ferritin results, iron deficiency anaemia information if you already have it, plus signs of B12 deficiency. You probably need testing for Pernicious Anaemia, may need B12 injections and will need folic acid prescribing for the folate deficiency. Don't start the folic acid until other investigations have been carried out, and B12 should be started before folic acid.

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 23.8

You have severe Vit D deficiency and you need loading doses of D3 - see 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 maintenace treatment of about 800 IU a day. Higher doses of up to 2000IU 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 regims 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, do not accept a prescription for 800iu. Once these have been completed you will need a reduced amount (more than 800iu so post your new result as the time for members to suggest a dose) to bring your level up to what's recommended by the Vit D Council - which is 100-150nmol/L - and then 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

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.

When you start buying your own D3 supplement, as you have Hashi's you should get an oral spray for better absorption. BetterYou do a D3 spray, also a combined D3.L2-MK7 spray.

**

To address the gut/absorption problem, see SlowDragon 's reply to this post which contains information and useful links healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[jezebel69 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I was hoping you would turn up lol

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to jezebel69]

Can't keep up tonight - something in the air???

[Redvelvet in reply to SeasideSusie]

I have iron as 9.0 (6 - 26) and transferrin 15 (12 - 45)

MCV 77.5 (80 - 98) and MCHC 386 (310 - 350) were the only things that were flagged up

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Redvelvet]

MCV 77.5 (80 - 98) and MCHC 386 (310 - 350)

Suggests iron deficiency anaemia so proper treatment needed - see 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...

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.

Go and see another GP in the practice and have a darn good moan about this one!!! It really is dreadful and negligent to ignore these results and not tell the patient. I have got into the habit now, when I have blood drawn for absolutely anything, of saying to the nurse "When will the results be back?" She tells me then I say, "OK, I'll come and pick up a print out a couple of days later". My practice is good, I just ask at reception and they're printed off there and then, no questions asked.

[1971JM in reply to SeasideSusie]

Morning, ive just looked at my results online, the GP has offered iron tablets

MCV RESULTS 83 RANGE 84-98FL

MCH RESULT 26.3 RANGE 27.5 - 32PG

MCHC RESULT 318 RANGE 300-360

FERRITIN - 11

SERUM ZINC - 11

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to 1971JM]

1971JM If you want comment on your results, please start your own thread. It gets confusing about which answer is for whom when someone piggybacks on another member's thread.

[1971JM in reply to SeasideSusie]

sorry im a newbie

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to 1971JM]

That's OK

Make a new thread and put as much information in as possible so members can comment appropriately.

[Dee215]

Following with interest, very similar results to mine x

[MariLiz]

All too low! Lots of us on the thyroid site also have low B12 and other nutrient deficiencies. Your doctor ought to be treating you. Have a look at the Pernicious Anaemia Society website and check the symptom list on there. You can print it out and tick all that apply to you. Many are similar to thyroid. We need our levels to be at least mid range for our thyroid meds’ to work.

Good luck.

[jazzanne]

did your gp do these bloods what are your symptoms, you could have Pernicious anemia, your folate and b12 are low, and vit d is very low, am surprise your gp has not been in touch with you.

[KimberinUS]

hypothyroidmom.com/10-nutri...

This link shows how low D could be stopping your t4 from converting to t3 properly.

Please know that in additiin to A and K, vitamin D needs magnesium to increase.

And yes your b12, folate and ferritin are all low and need to be addressed.

Main issue when a doctor is looking at low but in range b12 or iron is both anemias effect MCV and when you are both,,b12 deficient and iron deficient they "mask" each other.

Low iron can produce a lower mcv while low b12 and folate can cause a higher mcv. So when both are present your mcv can be in normal range due to having BOTH!

Since your mcv is sooo low along with low b12 and folate, i believe this to mean your iron is soo sooo very low. if you are anything like i was, i could barely start a load of laundry without being tired. I was sleeping 9 hours at night and waking up exhausted and needing a 3 hour nap.

Btw taking folate can mask a high mcv due to low b12 once your iron is corrected. It is recommended (nhs guidelines) to start b12 prior to folate due to this.

Btw your thyroid doesnt function properly without acceptable b12 and iron.