I need help with hypothyroidism and anemia

I have recently found out that I have anemia, wanting to find out the affects on thyroid hormone. I am on t3 only. Does low iron prevent the thyroid medicine from working effectively.

[Marz]

I am not an Iron expert - but my understanding is that good iron levels are required to aid conversion of T4 into T3 - so as you are T3 only you should be OK. How are you being treated ? - and how were your other results - B12 - Folate - VitD ? They may be low too if you have absorption issues ...

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

My Vitamin D results showed that I was deficient, like it was 20. My B12 was good and it was 800. My doctor doesn’t check Folate. I feel a difference on iron, wondering if iron plays a role on thyroid medicine absorption.

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

You will feel better when supplementing Iron - especially if taken with VitC and away from your T3 by about 4 hours I believe ! Iron is contained within the red blood cell and oxygen sticks to the iron for transportation around the body - delivering it to all the cells. Low Iron = Low Oxygen = Fatigue and more !

How is your Low VitD being treated - needs to be over 100 if you are in the UK.

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

I hope my iron and vitamin c supplements will get back to my full health. Basically my thyroid medication wasn’t working, until seeing my iron results, it all made sense.

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

How is your Low VitD being treated ?

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

I have vitamin d 5000 iu, which I need to take on a daily basis.

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

Are you taking the co-factors - VitK2-MK7 and Magnesium ? If you were deficient there are guidelines your GP should have followed ! - loading doses usually. I have just posted about Grassrootshealth and VitD this morning - I suggest you have a read when you have time ...

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

I will check it out and I start realize my multivitamin is ineffective, so I started to get individual vitamins. I know nutrients that I am low in is zinc, vitamin d, as mentioned in the post iron too.

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

Yes individual supplements is the way to go ! Read some of SeasideSusie 's replies - they are FULL of good information on which brands to buy ... What was your actual VitD result ?

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

Did you find my Post - if not I have linked it for you above

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

I tried to open the link, but the link didn’t open. 😞

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

It works for me ! It was 9 hours ago - so click onto POSTS above and scroll through the posts today ...

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

Okay I will try it again!

[Marz in reply to Hidden]

.. or go to the TOP of this page and Click onto POSTS !

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

Okay I saw it, the article explains a lot on vitamin D, mine is always. I think my low vitamin d has to do with past low thyroid.

[shaws Administrator]

This is an excerpt from the following link:-

"How the interaction occurs:

Iron may bind to your thyroid medicine in your stomach, preventing your body from absorbing your thyroid medicine.

What might happen:

Your thyroid medicine may not work as well.

What you should do about this interaction:

Do not take any products containing iron within four hours of taking your thyroid medicine. If you experience fatigue, sluggishness, constipation, stiffness, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, weight gain, dry skin, or difficulty in cold weather, contact your doctor. Your doctor may need to perform a blood test to make sure that your thyroid medicine is working.Your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first."

webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-7716...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Why are you taking just T3 and not Levothyroxine plus T3

Vitamin deficiencies suggests you are not adequately treated Thyroid wise. Many people need good levels of FT4 and FT3. Obviously on T3 only your FT4 is likely very low

How much T3 are you taking?

TSH is almost always suppressed on any dose of T3, essential to test both FT4 and FT3

Last dose of T3 should be 8-12 hours prior to blood test

Do you have Hashimoto's (high thyroid antibodies)

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Well I had anemia, when my doctor had me on t4 only, it seemed to got low by another circumstance. My doctor said it’s fine being on cytomel only, she mentioned a few of her patients are on cytomel only.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Yes some people do well on T3 only. Others need both Levothyroxine and Liothyronine

Your low vitamin levels suggest under medication and/or gluten intolerance.

Gluten intolerance is extremely common with Hashimoto's

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I think it was over medicated because I was extremely hyperthyroid at one point.

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

I know your not offer medical advice, yes, cytomel and tirsont would be a good option to try. I want to see though, if the cytomel only holds up. I talked with greygoose, she explains people usually take a higher dose of cytomel, which my dose is low at 10mcg.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

T3 as combination with Levothyroxine...typically dose is 10mcg or 15mcg often as split dose (5mcg doses) ....taken along with Levothyroxine at 75mcg or 100mcg or slightly higher

Eg I take 125mcg Levothyroxine and 20mcg T3 (T3 as 3 doses 8 hours apart)

But if ONLY taking T3, 10mcg is tiny dose.

Taking any dose of T3 will frequently turn your TSH right down

How low is your TSH?

What were your TSH, FT4 and FT3 results after 6 weeks on this dose?

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

If TSH is suppressed, and therefore your own thyroid production turned off , would possibly need at least 30mcg-50mcg of T3

T3 has to be increased very very slowly. 5mcg and wait at least 2-3 weeks after each increase. Ideally wait 6-8 weeks and retest each time

some people would still take as split dose, others can manage single dose

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m going to try a small dose of t4, just having time with anemia. I thought it had to do with my t4, so I went with t3. I hate feeling bad, it made me more depressed. Last thing, I wont is feeling extreme depression, yet I think is best to go back on t4.

[Hidden]

Slowdragon I only took a thyroid panel test, after two weeks off levothyroxine. I seem to be okay with my dose, for now it works. My test I took about 2 weeks off t4, however, it still showed t4 in my system. I know it takes a few week, until it leaves my system.