"Normal Thyroid Results" but tired and fat.

[dianacevallos88]

Good day: Im attaching my latest blood results. My doctor says everything is normal except for Vit. D (which she prescribed). My main symptom is Chronic Fatigue and Weight Gain even though I follow a clean diet and take good quality supplements. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[greygoose]

What supplements do you take? And how much? Did you get anything tested before starting supplementing?

[dianacevallos88 in reply to greygoose]

Hi greygoose, thanks. I take: DigestiveEnzymes,Magnesium, HCL,ALCAR,Taurine,CamuCamu,Probiotics, Butyrate,MinimalDoseVitexLiquid, twice a week Zinc and FolinicAcid. Doses are the ones written on the bottles and less than that.

Did you get anything tested before starting supplementing? No.

[greygoose in reply to dianacevallos88]

OK, so, I'm wondering how you decided on that weird collection of supplements. Digestive enzymes, HCL and magnesium, fair enough. Probiotics, too.

Is the CamuCamu for the vitamin C and antioxydants?

And Butyrate for your gut?

Minimal Dose Vitex Liquid for fertility?

Why the zinc only once a week?

All those are ok without testing, but you really should have got the folate tested before taking folic acid.

What you should get tested is B12. Taking folic acid can mask B12 deficiency. Your ferritin is much too low.

I have no idea what ALCAR is. And, why the Taurine?

[dianacevallos88 in reply to greygoose]

I based those supplements on the Organic Acid Test (urine test). Camu camu is Vit. C, Butyrate for the gut (helps a lot), Vitex increases my energy and helps colon peristalsis, Zinc -I`ll increase dose- If Im not mistaken, I did have folic acid tested before taking Folinic and it was within range but in the low side. I`ll get a B12 mouthspray. ALCAR is AcetylCarnitine and Taurine helps to increase bile in order to have bowel movements. Thanks!! Any other advice, please share it

[greygoose in reply to dianacevallos88]

No, don't get a B12 mouth spray until you've had your B12 tested. It's very important to get a base-line.

So, you do find all these supplements help?

You really should see your doctor about that ferritin level. You can't possibly get well with a ferritin that low.

[dianacevallos88 in reply to greygoose]

My B12 from a month ago: B12 679 (Range: 193-982)

Yes, those supplements are life savers.

[greygoose in reply to dianacevallos88]

OK, well you really don't need a B12 spray.

[Raventhorpe]

Hi dianacevallos88 your ferritin is below range what has your doctor said about that? You definitely need that to be alot higher. What has your Dr prescribed for your vit D? and what supplements are you taking.having low ferritin and/ or low vit D can make you feel fatigued.also would suggest you get your vit B12 and folate checked if you're not had these done.Sorry for all the questions but it's important to get as much info as possible to be able to help you.

[dianacevallos88 in reply to Raventhorpe]

Hey Raventhorpe, thank you! Dr. said Ferritin was OK b/c test was done on 3rd day of period and I was bleeding a lot. She prescribed liquid Vit. D with K2.

Folate 16.50 (more than 5.38)

B12 679 (193-982)

[greygoose in reply to dianacevallos88]

Heavy bleeding is caused by low iron, not the other way around.

[Hidden]

Your thyroid stimulating hormone is a bit raised but it may well be that your thyroid is needing to produce more hormones to make up for the lack of iron and vitamin D.You bodys needs goodlevels of ferretin, vitamin D,folate and B12 to enable it to utilise thyroid hormones.So it may be that your thyroid is functioning Ok but you are having hypothyroid symptoms as a resultof the low levels of these vits and minerals. You can buy ferrous sulphate from your local chemist and not expensive and I use a spray vitamin D andK2. You do need your folate and B12 tested as well as other have said. keep us updated and keep posting untill you are better. There can often be a number of hoops to get through to recover from these fatigue issues.Hopefully this will be resolved very easily but if not we can make other suggestions furthur along.

[dianacevallos88 in reply to Hidden]

Hello mandyjane, I appreciate your advice.

Folate 16.50 (more than 5.38)

B12 679 (193-982)

[Hidden in reply to dianacevallos88]

Hi are you on some ferritin now and vitamin D. The upper range limit of the folate would be helpful to see the ranges vary a lot from place to place. B12 results can be squewed by high folate. Do you have any neurological symptoms such as migraine, numbness, memory issues, falls? As the B12 blood test is so unreliable that it is recommended on NHS choices thatif people have neurological symtoms they be given a course of B12 even if the blood results good. It will take quite a while to start to feel better I am sorry to say although some poeple pick up fast. It is often a long windy rd to wellness but worth it in the end.

[dianacevallos88 in reply to Hidden]

Hello, Im planning to start liquid VitDwithK2 tomorrow. I do have neurological symptoms like memory issues, brain fog, right side head pain.

Stopthethyroidmadness says: FOLATE: Standard range is 3-17, so optimal would be at least the top third of that, we have noted. Higher for MTHFR.

Should I supplement both?

[Hidden in reply to dianacevallos88]

Looks like you have enough folate so it would proabbaly be unessasary expense to get some. Some b12 patches or lozenges would be good to start or a chat with GP about a course but I doubt they will agree, like trying to get blood out of a stone. The most important stuff to get is the ferretin and to start the vitamin D. Vitiamin D can really help quite quickly in my experience.

[Tugun]

Hi,

Your Ferritin levels are low. Google Ferritin and there is some good information there and how it relates to your thyroid. There is also some info on ideas to increase this. I think you would be very interested in the list of possible outcomes for low Ferritin.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your Ferritin is absolutely dire

Do you suffer from heavy periods? Common hypothyroid symptom

Ferritin needs improving substantially

SeasideSusie may be along to comment on this

Eating liver or liver pate once a week should help improve ferritin

Vitamin D obviously needs improvement too

How much vitamin D have you been prescribed? You should have been given loading dose

Aiming to improve to around 80-100nmol.

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function. It's trial and error what dose each person needs.

Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Local CCG guidelines

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

Ask GP to test folate and B12. These are often low as well

All need to be optimal for good thyroid function

Then retest full Thyroid and vitamins 6-8 weeks after adding last vitamin Supplement

[dianacevallos88 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello SlowDragon, I really thank you for your reply. Indeed:

Folate 16.50 (more than 5.38)

B12 679 (193-982)

The blood was drawn on day 3 of my period and I was bleeding a lot. Doctor said I should not take iron, but Im not sure. I do consume DesignsForHealth organic grassfed meat powder protein (half scoop) in my smoothie everyday.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I think with your ferritin level below range, you should ask your GP to carry out a full blood count to see if there is iron deficiency anaemia. I don't think you should buy your own iron tablets, you need to get this checked.

[dianacevallos88 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie, thanks. The blood was drawn on day 3 of my period and I was bleeding a lot. Doctor said I should not take iron as Iron itself is OK. Thoughts? I do consume DesignsForHealth organic grassfed meat powder protein (half scoop) in my smoothie everyday as well as organic chicken.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to dianacevallos88]

Diana

I don't know how much difference testing during a period will make to your level, but personally I would want this checked and as your GP isn't particularly helpful I would see a different one. It's not going to cost much to do a full blood count and iron panel, and you would then know if you have iron deficiency anaemia and need treatment, or not.

[dianacevallos88 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oh I see, and in case I have iron deficiency anaemia , which (in your opinion) would be the recommended approach? I live in a 3rd world country, doctors here are not updated.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to dianacevallos88]

As I'm not medically trained, I can't answer your question I'm afraid. There are guidelines here in the UK on how to treat iron deficiency anaemia, it involves taking iron tablets or maybe an iron infusion if levels are really low, and monitoring by a haematologist.

[Heloise]

Hi diana, our adrenal glands are responsible for sex hormones and vitamin D is a prohormone which helps other hormones work. So your adrenals are trying to support your thyroid which usually keeps them busy making cortisol and not the sex hormones, etc. But it is pretty certain it all begins in the gut which is supposed to be making all these vitamins from your food using certain gut bacteria which you may lack. That is the importance of both good nutrition and good digestion.

Inflammation is almost always at the core. This is why we look at trigger foods, inflammatory foods of which gluten, dairy and vegetable oils may be the source. Autoimmune conditions are complicated but can be overcome. A really clean diet would be good protein, low carbs, higher fat, and organic food.

[dianacevallos88 in reply to Heloise]

Hello Heloise, thanks! I follow a paleo template with some modifications according to my sensitivities. I actually have done salivary tests and it shows very low cortisol. I have just one ovary. I wonder if due to this, I need thyroid hormone replacement....

[Heloise]

Hi diana, I'm going to speculate here but your TSH is too high and often that may account for heavy periods. I had the same problem although my TSH was much higher than yours and I also may have had low progesterone. Your low cortisol may be caused by weak adrenals which could also be due to longstanding high TSH. I would try a bioidentical progesterone if possible, it's almost certain many of us have a deficiency. If that doesn't help and you've avoided gluten (even though you don't seem to have antibodies it doesn't rule out a gluten problem), go for thyroid hormone of some kind.

[dianacevallos88 in reply to Heloise]

Hi Heloise, yes I`ve tried BHRT of Progesterone and it helps. I agree with you, I`ll try to get some T3 to see if that helps.

[Heloise]

I'm still a believer that you can heal especially people like you who are really trying to. I'm not sure how you have modified your diet. Are you getting plenty of fats. There is insulin resistance even of the brain. I found this article to be pretty good. restartmed.com/thyroid-supp...