Low ferritin problems

[Murphysmum]

Just had a copy of my bloods printed after gp said they were “fine”.

As I suspected (because it was low before) my ferritin level is 22, down from 30 (15-200ug/l). Also my B12 is in range at 424ng/l (180-2000ng/l).

Over the last few months I’ve slowly but surely been having more good days than bad but find that I feel great before my period then I seem to spend the following 10-14 days feeling ropey again. I also have horrendous pain and heavy bleeding now but that’s probably a separate issue!

Could my low ferritin be exacerbating my hypothyroid symptoms do you think?

I’m desperate to work out why I feel good some days and rubbish others, aggghhh!

Vit D: 74 (25-162nmol/l)

Haemoglobin: 129 in Jan 18 (115-160g/l)

Ferritin: 22 (15-200ug/l)

Serum folate: 13.9 (2.8-20ug/l)

Vit B12: 424 (180-2000ng/l)

TSH from 4/18: 0.15 (0.2-4.5mu/l)

[Rmichelle]

Hi there more experienced people will respond but i had a ferritin level off just 10 back in january and started on iron supps-it is now 27 and i am still symptomatic, i have suffered quite badly with shortness of breath, exhaustion, heart palps etc due to the lack of iron, even one of my gps told me that my iron level was ok at 27 until the labs intervened and said please refer to a specialist, i have now been referred, please dont ignore it and just carry on it will get worse and so will your symptons-i know what you mean about being on a periiod-it makes you feel twice as bad but since i have been supplementing my periids are lighter now but you need to push this iron def with your gp-dont neglect it, others will be along later with alot more info for you to absorb.x😊

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Murphysmum

Yes, low ferritin will be affecting things. Generally it's said that ferritin needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work.

However, ferritin isn't the whole story where iron is concerned. Yours is low enough to warrant a full blood count and iron panel. You need to know if you have iron deficiency anaemia. And you need to know if your iron is low as well as ferritin, supplementing when serum iron is high and ferritin is low isn't the answer.

Marz posted a link to an article this morning about iron and the thyroid which may interest you

nahypothyroidism.org/uncove...

[Murphysmum in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you, yes i saw that post. Interesting reading.

Right oh, back to the gp for more bloods then - bet they’re as sick of me as I am of going!!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need vitamin D and folate tested too. Post results and ranges if you have them

B12 is only OK. You might benefit from supplementing a good vitamin B complex, 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...

Do you have Hashimoto's? If so, Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

[Murphysmum in reply to SlowDragon]

SlowDragon

Thanks. I did get vit D and folate tested too - I will edit them in when I get home. They were both ok - vit D was 75, I forget the range but it was above adequate!

I’m not gluten free and I’m sure I have hashis but will be confirmed hopefully tomorrow. I have noticed I feel yucky after a lot of gluten-y foods but not sure if its affecting my overall thyroid health as yet. I’m loathed to go down that route but may try if I can narrow this as being the problem!

At the moment I real abdominal pain and I’ve notived this over the last few months but I’m not sure if it’s thyroid related or not.

Ugh... so many issues!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Murphysmum]

Majority of Hashimoto's people need to be absolutely strictly gluten free. I had zero gut symptoms, still turned out to be severely gluten intolerant.

If you have gut symptoms it's first step

Watch out for cross contamination, use separate cutting boards, need separate toaster or coeliac Uk do a toaster bag, don't share butter, jam etc

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first before switching

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...

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

Persistent low vitamins (e.g. Ferritin) with supplements suggests coeliac disease or gluten intolerance

gluten.org/resources/health...

[Murphysmum in reply to SlowDragon]

I realise to be gf you have to be totally gf but I have noticed if I’ve mostly avoided it for a few days my gut symptoms seem better. I intend to test this theory more before I make any decisions as tbh in our house I don’t need another thing to complicate matters!

[Murphysmum]

I’ve edited my post with results 😉

[Murphysmum]

I’ve now got my medichecks results back so I’m going to put them in a new post. I’ll add my ferritin etc in too