New vitamin levels

[Jax02]

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)

[Nanaedake]

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).

[Jax02 in reply to Nanaedake]

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?

Thanks

[ShootingStars in reply to Jax02]

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.

[Nanaedake in reply to Jax02]

I agree with ShootingStars those are hypo symptoms. Why did you reduce your thyroid meds?

[Jax02 in reply to Nanaedake]

The endo suggested it

[ShootingStars]

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.

[Jax02 in reply to ShootingStars]

I can't really afford to eat as well as I should

[Gambit62]

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

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

b) your folate is a bit on the low side as well - particularly if you are taking 5mg tablets - which is a mega dose.

c) vitamin D also seems to be on the low side

Looks like you have an absorption problem as nanaedake says -

if your thyroid is hashimotos (autoimmune) then PA is a likely candidate for the absorption problem

[Jax02 in reply to Gambit62]

Yes I have Hashimotos

Injections every 3 months and I only feel well after having them for 2 weeks

[Gambit62 in reply to Jax02]

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

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

[e-mail]

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

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...