Ferritin etc

[Keelz1]

Taking iron for 4 years, Vit D3 for 3 years, advice welcome thanks

Vitamin D total 24.5

Ferritin 22 (30 - 400)

Folate 1.6 (4.6 - 18.7)

B12 183 (190 - 900)

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Make an urgent appointment with GP

These all need treatment along with starting dose for thyroid hormone - Levothyroxine 50mcgs

SeasideSusie can advise on correct vitamin treatment

Your GP should havd sorted this out long ago

[Clutter]

Keelz1,

Vitamin D is severely deficient. Your GP should refer to local guidelines or the NICE CKS recommendations for treating vitamin D deficient adults cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d... My GP prescribed 40,000iu daily x 14 followed by 2,000iu daily x 8 weeks which raised vitD from <10 to 107. Vitamin D should be taken 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.

Ferritin is deficient and this may indicate iron deficiency anaemia. Your GP should do an iron panel and full blood count to check. If you are prescribed iron it should be taken 4 hours away from Levothyroxine and T3.

B12 and folate are deficient. Symptoms are listed in b12deficiency.info/signs-an... Your GP should initiate B12 injections 48 hours before prescribing 5mg folic acid daily. Gp should also investigate whether pernicious anaemia is causing deficiencies. Go to healthunlocked.com/pasoc who are the experts on PA, B12d and folate deficiency if you want more advice.

[Keelz1 in reply to Clutter]

Hi iron panel and complete blood count confirm iron anaemia but no iron tablets prescribed. Will push for this at appointment.

[Clutter in reply to Keelz1]

Keelz1,

I would complain that you've not had treatment for iron anaemia.

[Keelz1]

Hi not gluten free as GP wants me to do gluten challenge. I am not on any other meds and not using aluminium or non stick coated cookware or foil

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Make an urgent appointment

You are very hypothyroid. Your high antibodies confirm you have Hashimoto's

Your GP should start you on Levothyroxine immediately. Normal starting dose is 50mcg.

This is not a medication, but a replacement hormone. It must be taken regularly everyday

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after.

No other medications at same time

Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable. Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels stop Thyroid hormone working

You have probably had Hashimoto's as long as you have had vitamin problems

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

if GP can not give a date within six weeks for endoscopy, for coeliac test you might want to just go gluten free anyway

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Here is reply by SeasideSusie to similar low vitamin levels

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

You will need to have blood retest after 6-8 weeks, very likely further increases in Levo. Always in 25mcgs steps, retesting again 6 weeks after each time

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results