Thanks for the advice! I have posted the blood test results again, just for reference.
I saw a gastroenterologist for anaemia, who was about as much use as a chocolate teapot! Told me I wasn't very anaemic and to take a different form of iron tablet. Said that the B12, THS, and 'other thyroid bits' were fine. He reckoned vit D was low, 'because we haven't had summer yet'. God give me strength!! He did request a test for Coeliacs, but I am pretty sure I have had one before, which was negative.
I am going to get vit C, vit D, B12, but try to get easily absorbed forms. I will try his iron tablets, but if I get any more constipated...! I am also contemplating taking T3 - self medicating - but am not sure how to go about this. Any advice on what to get and where, will be gratefully received.
Free T3 3.7 range 3.1-6.8 pmol/L
Thyroid Peroxidase antibody 8.0 range 0-24 IU/ml
TSH 3.380 range 0.27-4.20 mlU/L
Free T4 10.82 range 12-22 pmol/L
Iron 5.7 range 5.83-34.5 µmol/L
Transferrin saturation 9.1 range 15-45%
Ferritin 5.66 range 13-150 µg/L
Serum Folate 5.60 range 3.89-26.80 ng/ml
Vitamin B12 347.2 range 197-771 pg/ml
Vitamin D 50 range 75-200 nmol/L
I have been taking 125mg Levothyroxine daily, for last 6 years and took last dose 24hrs before blood test.
I had the blood test after 10 hour fasting and at 8:30am
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Aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2. Many need TSH under one, and FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range
Your vitamin levels are all far too low
Essential to improve them all for good thyroid function
Have you ever had TG thyroid antibodies tested?
Or had high TPO antibodies in any previous testes?
Low vitamins suggest gut is badly affected
Trying strictly gluten free diet helps thousands
Getting vitamins optimal by significant supplements will help reduce symptoms
But getting Levothyroxine dose high enough to bring TsH down essential
Guidelines on Levothyroxine dose is 1.6mcg per kilo of weight
So convert you weight into kilo x 1.6 = like dose required
See SeasideSusie detailed vitamin advice on many other replies
Only add one supplement at a time and wait at least ten days to assess before adding another
Suggest you start with vitamin D
GP will only prescribe to bring vitamin D up to 50nmol. Aiming to improve by self supplementing to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better .
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
Iron and ferritin
Eating liver or liver pate once a week, plus other iron rich foods like black pudding, prawns, spinach, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily vitamin C can help improve iron absorption
B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast
Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).
Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule
If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
Thank you so much! I will go back to the gp and ask for an increase in Levo. Will also start on the vitamins, one at a time, as suggested. I am a vegetarian, so will have to eat a lot of spinach and research other iron rich veggie-friendly foods. Although I had a blood test for Coeliac last week, I have decided to go gluten free, regardless of the test outcome, as I think it might help absorbtion and gut issues in general. I am feeling more positive and more confident to take charge of my own health, since joining this group. THANK YOU!
Serum iron ideally should be around 55-70% through range (higher end for males).
Transferrin saturation 9.1 range 15-45%
Saturation % ideally should be 35-45% (higher end for males), and needs to be 30% minimum to successfully treat with T3.
Ferritin 5.66 range 13-150 µg/L
Your ferritin is dire. It is way below range.
My guess is that all this points to iron deficiency anaemia and for the Gastro to tell you that you're "not very anaemic" then I think he may be in the wrong job. I would have a word with your GP because I honestly believe with that level of ferritin you need an iron infusion then careful monitoring.
Serum Folate 5.60 range 3.89-26.80 ng/ml
Folate is low in range, recommended is at least half way through range.
Vitamin B12 347.2 range 197-771 pg/ml
Your B12 is low, many people with B12 in the 300s have needed to be started on B12 injections.
According to an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:
"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".
"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."
D3 oil based softgels (eg Doctor's Best) have excellent absorption compared to tablets and capsules. And to bypass the stomach there is BetterYou oral spray and Vitabay Organics sublingual drops.
Once you've reached the recommended level then you'll need a maintenance dose to keep it there, which may be 2000iu daily, maybe more or less, maybe less in summer than winter, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with an NHS lab which offers this test to the general public:
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray
Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.
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