Ferritin etc results advice please

[Pinkpeony]

Since a TIA almost three months ago , I have struggled to feel well . I blamed it on the medication I was given and indeed I believe ( unlike the G.P ) that is the case . After losing more weight since then the doctor ,faced with the " bag of bones " that I am rapidly becoming ordered a raft of more blood tests , most of which were done in the hospital . I am sick to death of going for more and more tests which appear to prove nothing . The only things that were flagged up were

Sodium ferretin. 23.7. 30 -400

Eosinophil. 05. 0 -4

Serum chloride 109. 95 - 108

MCHC 314. 320 - 360

I feel so tired I am walking around like a zombie . The next G.P appointment is June 22nd . What should I take . I have gentle iron by solar but not sure

Thank you in advance Pp

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your ferritin is too low obviously

Eating liver once a week should also help improve

SeasideSusie is good on iron supplements and which are easiest to cope with

What about B12, folate and vitamin D levels

These need to be optimal too

What are most recent TSH, FT3 and FT4?

How much NDT are you on

Are you on strictly gluten free diet? Have you tried it? It may help

Improving gut function with daily probiotics or bone broth might help too

[Pinkpeony in reply to SlowDragon]

SD thanks for the reply . I take three and a half grains NDT and end of April results are

TSH 0.05. 0.35 - 5.5

T4. 13 9 - 23

T3. 5.5. 6.5

Folate 12.1. 3.3 -99999

B12 is always around 2,000

I need to get vit d checked tho I take it every day .

Not gluten free . Pp

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pinkpeony]

If taking B12 (assume you are) then also taking a good vitamin B complex is recommended on here. One with folate in.

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Important to retest vitamin D. It's astonishing how many are still deficient after years of supplementing if not on high enough dose. Magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 are important too

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

Probiotics and varied diet to improve gut function

Most with Hashimoto's and Graves find strictly gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Interestingly people on here have said gluten free can also help post RAI or thyroidectomy too

There is theory that basically everyone can't really tolerate gluten, but if we are very well and healthy can get away with it.

Folate is much too low. You need to supplement. Lots of posts on here about iron and ferritin

[Pinkpeony in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slow Dragon . Lots to look at . A Medi checks blood test is in order I think Pp

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pinkpeony]

Push GP to do Coeliac blood test and full iron panel, B12, folate and vitamin D

Weight loss is common with coeliac and it might encourage GP to run vitamin tests too!

If any other vitamins are low then will need to supplement to improve, then can retest thyroid and vitamins privately in 2-3 months

[Pinkpeony in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SD . I will do that . I did have a coeliac test a good while ago when the weight loss was unexplained , but doc said it was ok . Pp

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pinkpeony]

Many of us find gluten is a really big problem (bot often with no obvious symptoms)

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

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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

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

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Pinkpeony

With a below range Ferritin your GP should be doing a full blood count and iron panel to see if you have iron deficiency anaemia. Low Ferritin can suggest this so it's important that the other tests are done.

[Pinkpeony in reply to SeasideSusie]

Susie thank you . I am told you are the ' go to ' person for advice on this . Can you suggest anything I can take until I see the G.P which is unfortunately almost four weeks away Pp

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Pinkpeony]

Pinkpeony

My only suggestion is eat liver. I don't like suggesting iron supplements because iron is complicated.

If you have confirmed iron deficiency anaemia then you be prescribed iron tablets - or with your level of Ferritin I would push for an iron infusion. If you didn't get on with the type of iron tablet prescribed then there are other types that might suit.

But if you don't have iron deficiency anaemia and have low Ferritin but high serum then that's a whole other ball game. Taking iron supplements would raise your Ferritin and it might go too high. I don't know enough about how that problem is solved.

In your position I would phone the surgery and ask for an urgent appointment, when asked why say you have below range Ferritin level, are so fatigued (add in shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness, any other symptoms of low Ferritin that apply), that you can't function in your every day life in this condition.

[Pinkpeony]

Gosh Susie , liver is an acquired taste for me , but anything that makes me feel better even a little bit . The tiredness and depression are really getting to me . I've read your replies to my OH and he is going down to the surgery for an early appointment on Monday . I can't thank you all enough . Pp

[Rmichelle]

Hi there back in january i had a ferritin level of just 10 and felt like i was at deaths door with palps, trembles, shortness of breath, gps would still not give me injections for it-they prescribed 2 sorts of iron but could not take them-i got my own in the end which is floravital ferrous gluconate and added b vits too, i raised it to 27 back in march and getting it tested again next week, ive had a hard time getting my gp to do anything else about it until the labs made a note saying please refer to GI now as patients ferritin is very low, i called gp again and told him what was on my latest blood test and also the fact that i am celiac and also i am having heavey periods which is not helping, i have now been referred to GI and haematology-sometimes wechave to lay things on thick to get what we want. Good luck.🌟🌟

[Pinkpeony]

Hello Rmichelle isn't it shocking the fight you have to get treatment . It makes you feel you're a hypochondriac in their eyes . I have been feeling off balance and shaking Etc and so tired and I'm thinking is it the bloods . Can I ask you what Gl means ? Pp