Jan 2018 supplementing vitamin D 3000iu oral spray with K2 MK7 by Better You since March 2015, folic acid 5mg since Nov 2016, B12 injections since Feb 2017, iron infusion done Dec 2015, haven't taken iron since then because it upsets my stomach. Thanks x
FERRITIN 31 (30 - 400)
FOLATE 2.7 (2.5 - 19.5)
VITAMIN B12 303 (190 - 900)
VITAMIN D 44 (50 - 75 suboptimal)
Written by
Jax02
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Has your doctor excluded coeliac disease or other absorption problems? You can increase your iron by eating iron rich food such as 200g of liver weekly (no more due to high vitamin A content).
I haven't had coeliac disease ruled out at all, I am confused about my symptoms regarding coeliac. I don't go to the toilet for a few days and when I eat or drink something in the morning one day it comes out hard and difficult to pass but I have an urge to go. Is this coeliac related?
This is because you are very hypo, have Hashimoto's, are not on anywhere near the correct dosage of medication, which results in FT3 and FT3 being at the bottom of the range. Low thyroid = slow metabolism.
These levels are not surprising since you mention having very poor eating habits and starving yourself on one of your other posts. Taking yourself off 200 mcg levo and down to 25 mcg when you have Hashimoto's is never a good idea. Your entire body get's messed up.
a) what is the frequency of the B12 injections and how do you feel on them - 303 is a very low reading for someone on B12 shots - though that doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't an okay reading for you. Please take a look at and post on the PASoc forum
Jax - would you mind posting on the PAS forum - don't want to sidetrack TUK - but sounds like you need shots much more frequently than 3 months - and you really aren't alone in that
You must insist on Coeliac blood test ASAP, this week. Make an urgent appointment to see any GP at the surgery
If it's positive you will need to stay on gluten rich diet until endoscopy (6 week wait max in theory)
If coeliac blood test is negative then you can change straight away to 100% strictly gluten free diet
Your vitamin levels are absolutely dire in part because you are incredibly under medicated for your thyroid
You need to improve vitamins, while slowly increasing dose of Levo in 25mcg steps. Retesting bloods 6-8 weeks after each increase.
Increases continue until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range
Getting vitamins optimal is essential, and it's extremely likely you need to be strictly gluten free
If after all these steps, 6 months down the line your FT3 is still low then you will likely need a small dose of T3 adding
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,
"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.
In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.
Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."
You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor please email Dionne at
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Also request list of recommended thyroid specialist in case you need them
Your endo was not helpful
Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many
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