Hi, thanks for all respones last week, just wanted to update to see if anyone has an opinion. My thyroid August 13th were TSH 2.5 T4 11.2 T3 6.5. Just had my results for Sept 10th bloods:
TSH 2.77 (0.35-5.5)
Free T4 11.1 (7-17)
Free T3 6 (3.5-6.5)
Vitamin D - 67
Folate - 5.1 (>3)
Ferritin - 45 (15-300)
B12 - 559 (150-900)
Cortisol - 329 (9:15am)
I feel worse, weaker arms, heart still races with activities, TSH has risen, am I heading for sub hypo. Everything was in range so why do I feel so bad? I think I need to take iron tablets as I'm sure that ferritin is too low?
Would appreciate anyones opinions, thank you.
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Mwms9
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Hi. I would say i’d be concerned about the high tsh and low fT4, however, your fT3 is at a good level. That may be because your higher tsh is causing increased conversion of fT4 to fT3 and would indicate that your Thyroid is struggling.
Your Vit D level is low. The optimum level is 100-150. This will be contributing to you not feeling well. You can get a good Vit D supplement from Amazon. I use Better You vitamin d spray and you need to take co-factors vitamin k2 and magnesium with it.
Ferritin does look low. Ask your GP to do a full iron panel.
Check out Seaside Susie’s posts for more advice on vitamin/mineral levels.
Hi thank you! Yes I'm very concerned about my increasing tsh, and more so as I would like to concieve but I doubt I will get any help as it needs to be over 10 to be treated apparently, sigh. I feel like there isn't any point going to see the gp as they won't do anything.
Oh really I thought that vit d was ok, I actually have the better you spray and have k2, I will continue to take them!
I think my ferritin is making me feel crap as well, these NHS ranges really anger me. I remember years ago I read it needs to be between 70-90?
Well I saw the gp this afternoon, I was given iron tablets for my low ferritin and will get a monitor for my heart for the racing I'm experiencing. As for my thyroid I will get it re-tested in 6 weeks time as she has realised my TSH is rising, she said I wouldn't get any treatment now to lower it as I said I want to concieve when I feel better, so that's that even though I told her it needs to be under 2.5 for pregnancy and that other countries have lowered their tsh range, she wasn't interested, so looks like I'm stuck and will have to watch my tsh rise, how depressing and conception chances will reduce I guess.
How's your salt and water intake? I had similar issues with bp and heart rate. Turns out, in addition to an increase in thyroid meds, I also needed to increase my blood volume. I'm in the US and an electrophysiologist suggested I increase water intake to 2-4L daily and bump salt (not table salt but sea/pink salt) to 4-6g. I usually just make it over 4g! But bp has risen and the pounding, tachycardia has largely subsided. The salt helps your body retain the water, increase blood volume, and then the heart doesn't have to work so hard to pump blood throughout your body.
Hi! Did increasing salt not cause you fluid retention? I also suffer with ridiculous BP 90/60 today which causes really poor circulation issues and swellings in legs. Whenever I try salt to help this I get even more swollen from sodium water retention. Cannot win. 😭
I haven't had any issues with swelling or fluid retention. By the end of the day, my abdomen becomes a bit distended from all the water and such, but that resolves by morning.
I also take midodrone to help low BP. It causes the peripheral arteries to constrict which helps blood return to the heart easier and lowers pulse. Maybe that's something worth talking to your doctor about.
It was normal according to the results, I do drink a lot of water and feel when my heart races when I do something it helps a lot. I might increase sea salt to see if that helps, but have just started iron tablets so maybe my low ferritin is not helping either.
Your ferritin is only 10% of the way through the range which is far too low. Many people with thyroid problems do best with it around mid-range, which with the range you've given is roughly 150 - 170.
It is possible to get prescription-strength iron supplements without a prescription in the UK. However, it isn't a good idea to supplement iron unless serum iron is below optimal as well as ferritin. And anyone who supplements iron should be testing fairly frequently to check that neither serum iron or ferritin are rising rapidly while the other one stays low.
Optimal levels for iron-related tests can be found on this link :
Low iron can make people feel utterly exhausted and weak, as well as often causing breathlessness. Cramp and restless legs are both frequently found in people with low iron, although it isn't the only cause of such problems.
Thanks for replying. Yes it's too low, my doctor gave me iron tablets to take for 3 months and re-check the ferritin in 4 months time, my haemoglobin is in range 141 (115-165). I was given ferrous fumarate 210mg twice a day, I've had them before when my ferritin was at 16! I'm hoping to see some improvements, thyroid won't be tested for 6 weeks so I hope it won't get worse. Am I right in thinking my folate of 5.1 is on the low side? Thank you
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