After seeing a private ENT a private Neurologist and then some £600 lighter (in pocket, no pounds lost from body ) the penny dropped and I’d been over medicated and wrongly diagnosed. I stumbled here and got picked up from the good peeps here. I demanded my GP send me urgently to the Endo, he did but they have no appointments yet!! No surprise there. My purse got £200 lighter at the private endo session. Lovely man I had researched over the years, he said I was doing all the right things now ( courtesy of the peeps here) he is testing my t3 and pituatory gland! He said he will also look at the last 20 years of my diagnosis re thyroid, wow he has some reading there! Reading my blood tests he said my iron was low. Is fereglobin multi with iron a good way to boost my levels?
Wishing all a good afternoon 🤸♂️
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phobicgirl
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This is a major problem, you are below range. An iron infusion would be a good idea as this will bring your level up within 24-48 hours whereas tablets will take many months.
Unless you have had an iron infusion or your ferritin level has shot up considerably into the range in the last two weeks then that advice still stands. Your ferritin level is dire. It's not a DIY fix, it needs your GP to sort it or possibly refer you to a haematologist.
I also mentioned your B12 and folate levels. The fact that Feroglobin Multi appears to include iron, B12 and folate wont help. Iron affects the absorption of anything else and should be taken 2 hours away from any other supplements. Treat them individually as suggested.
Thank you as I am with you on the readings but have had them read by the A&E doctor after being admitted for body and mental fatigue, my GP, my Neurologist and now the Endo, he said iron was a little low, all others said all my levels normal. The hospital who did the results said to see Dr as not normal. I have no idea, did have more blood works at the A&E, they tried and tried to get the canula in and the nurse made a right mess of both my arms and had me in tears, I've now to get more blood done and dreading it quite frankly. I am needle phobic sadly. I have of course mentioned that my results are not right but not from the source of my information. There all adamant I'm normal. I know also that its easier and cheaper to say nothing is wrong ....
They're not taught nutrition, as long as a result is in range that's all they look for, but to say your iron is "a little low" when it's 10 and the range goes up to 300 is, quite frankly, ludicrous and negligent.
Wow that is low, as you know I am very ignorant to all of this and have been so ill I could not fight my way out of the bed let alone with Doctors. I did ask to see a nutritionist way back last year as I was struggling to eat proper food but apparently I was above BMI range, which I would be because I was on soft high calorie small amount of food, I tried explaining this to the doctor, no interest, no interest in me, no interest what so ever. A new doctor maybe but as he's one of many I'm guessing response will be same, no interest! I take all you say on board and will not forget, while I fight my case as many here do.
As I mention I now have a formal complaint regarding this GP, NHS England are dealing with it but again I have no idea if there will be any results. It has of course resulted in much paperwork, which is so hard when you are so exhausted and can't even remember words at times, let alone string a sentence on the spot!
thank you so much for taking the time to read and reply, I really do appreciate this.
They're not taught nutrition, as long as a result is in range that's all they look for
I did ask to see a nutritionist way back last year as I was struggling to eat proper food
Not nutrition as a nutritionist/dietician would advise about food. Nutrition as in optimal nutrient levels - vitamins and minerals as commented on in your first post on the forum, optimal nutrient levels are required for thyroid hormone to work properly:
Vit D
B12
Folate
Ferritin
ferritin: 10 ng/ml [15 - 300]
Wow that is low
Not only is it low, it's below range, as was pointed out:
ferritin: 10 ng/ml [15 - 300]
This is a major problem, you are below range. An iron infusion would be a good idea as this will bring your level up within 24-48 hours whereas tablets will take many months.
he said iron was a little low
I think you should point out to this doctor that there are reference ranges for a reason. If something is below the reference range then it's deficient, not "a little low". In fact, as you are making a complaint, I would include this in your complaint - the fact that your below range ferritin has been ignored and just dismissed with the remark "it's a little low".
the endo people at NHS cold not give a hoot about how i felt i sat and cried over my weight and loss of eyebrows. it was like talking to a brick wall. i now have really painful burning feet and they dont seem to have a clue at the doctors
I to have painful burning feet and they drive me crazy but every time I ever mention this to any Dr they just pretend I never said anything. I'm not expecting much from the NHS but will at least have the same endo as private one. I just fell asleep upright at pc whilst reading these posts so guess fatigue is still an issue ....
i take a vitamin D every day it says 25pg on the bottle
when last checked about 6 months ago the doc said vit d level was fine. how would i take vitamin B and which one as their seem to be so many in the chemist to choose from
thank you for bearing with my ignorant questions i must say my feet have pained me so much i could hardly sleep last night.
since being diagnosed as under active my weight has gone from 61kg for the last 17 years to 82KG and climbing
i am so utterly depressed over this and they just dont listen
How low was vitamin D before starting on supplements?
Strongly recommend getting FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing privately
Many of us only made progress by doing this
Getting B12 and folate tested BEFORE starting on any supplements
Ferritin needs testing too
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Do you have high antibodies? Ever had both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested?
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
If your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
thank you so much for your detailed helpful advice
i really appreciate it.
i am in work at the moment at the moment
i am going to re read this information later and get tested my thyroid is being tested at 8.40 am tomorrow so the tips about fasting and medication are really appreciated.
i will ask them for a full break down of the results when they are back and then from there go for private testing in all the areas you mention.
i have had to demand this blood test for tomorrow as the pain in my feet is really bad
Improving low vitamin D will increase need for B vitamins. So peripheral neuropathy can get worse as vitamin D levels improve unless also supplementing good quality daily vitamin B complex
Thank you also for taking the time to reply, I have a lot to learn but little concentration and most of my energy is taken up with just the daily tasks, then I'm shattered and brain fogged.
I have posted these results of vitamin d levels and I think there normal for nhs but would It be good to improve these levels. Still so much for me to take in. Serum total 25-hydroxy vitamin D level 65 nmol/L [50.0 - 150.0]
25-OH Vitamin D between 50 and 75nmol/L: may be
sub-optimal, although these levels are commonly
seen in autumn/winter. Please evaluate in light
of clinical picture.
NB Patients on alpha-calcidol may have low results
that are not indicative of actual vitamin D status
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