Low ferritin

Hi ! x

Does anyone know if extremely low ferritin can affect your thyroid?

Thank you

[Nanaedake]

From the experience of people on this forum I would say yes. The general view is that ferritin needs to be around 70 or midrange for thyroid hormone to function effectively.

[Hidden in reply to Nanaedake]

Ooooh this is interesting , mines extremely low.

However I started on Levo 3 weeks ago. I feel rubbish and I now have a swollen throat I didn't have before

Anyway, my other question was, if you're already taking thyroid hormone, and say it was low because of stress, vitamin deficiencies and all the rest of it, how will you know if getting your vitamins up had made any difference ? x

[Nanaedake in reply to Hidden]

Always keep a copy of all your blood test results from now on, ask for a printout that includes the lab ranges or register online for blood test results if in England. You can keep track of progress by keeping copies of results, a diary of symptoms and a note of the dose and brand of Levothyroxine you were taking at the time.

[Hidden in reply to Nanaedake]

Thank you , it's 50 I'm on. feel ten times worse though 😂 And look worse too ah it's so much fun!

[Nanaedake in reply to Hidden]

Post your latest blood test results along with lab ranges and people on this forum will give you good advice. Include vitamins and antibodies blood test results.

[Nanaedake in reply to Hidden]

By the way, a starter dose of Levothyroxine is 50mcg unless very young, very old or with heart condition.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hollyava

Exactly how low is your extremely low Ferritin? Have you also had an iron panel and full blood count done, which are always advised when Ferritin is low or below range.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

He didn't tell me, I will call and get th results from the receptionist. He had prescribed me ferritin.

I asked him if I should be taking levothyroxine, he said I am still borderline as I have normal FT4 and FT3 results.

It's a chore to take this medication it really saps my spirit lol because it makes my face bloat and hasn't really helped with anything

[Nanaedake in reply to Hidden]

If the iron tablets you've been prescribed don't suit you then please return to GP as there are alternatives. If your results are below range you might need to be referred to a haematologist which is why you really need to get hold of your results and get some advice from knowledgeable people on this forum to check you are getting the treatment you need.

[Nanaedake]

These are rather odd results because if your TSH is 11, we would expect a low FT3 but yours is above range, however, you don't give a lab range for TSH and we need that to correctly interpret results. When you collect your ferritin results, ask for a printout of your thyroid tests that includes the lab ranges then post again here.

Also check whether doc has done a full iron panel and get those results too.

[Hidden in reply to Nanaedake]

Yes the high FT3 is strange , but it is Infact high. I just have a good FT3 , good conversion.

TSH range is 0.5 - 5