Latest vitamin check. After supplementing my levels have gone down. Any ideas why?

May test

Ferratin was 56.7 (13-150)

VIT d 111 (50-175)

Latest results ferratin 32.9 (13-150)

VIT d 87.7 (50-175)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Macey2002

What exactly are the supplements you're taking?

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi I take a daily vit d spray (3000 units )

I was advised not to supplement with iron tablets but to eat lots of iron rich foods. I have been eating lots of red meat, black pudding, broccoli, green beans and asparagus. Also snacking on Brazil nuts and almonds.

I hoped it might have gone up a little but not to have gone down like it has

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Hi I take a daily vit d spray (3000 units )

Are you taking D3's important cofactors, particularly magnesium and Vit K2-MK7? 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.

Who said not to take iron tablets?

What was the ferritin level at that time that was based on?

Was an iron panel also done and taken into account when that was said?

Are you eating liver, that is by far the richest source of iron as far as meat is concerned.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi no i haven't been taking magnesium. Only the vid d spray.

It was a member on here that said it's best to to eat iron rich foods. I don't like liver so have been eating liver pate. When advised about the iron rich foods my levels were 56.7 and I was told it was to be 70 or above.

Could it be the hashi's that's causing the levels from going up?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Hi no i haven't been taking magnesium. Only the vid d spray.

Possibly the reason you're level has fallen.

Important cofactors as recommended by the Vit D Council

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

It was a member on here that said it's best to to eat iron rich foods. I don't like liver so have been eating liver pate. When advised about the iron rich foods my levels were 56.7 and I was told it was to be 70 or above.

I'm not quite understanding that. Your profile shows you joined the forum on 27th July. You tell us your level was 56.7 in May, that doesn't mean that your level was 56.7 when you were advised on the forum 4 days ago about eating iron rich foods. Obviously you've just had a new ferritin test done in the last few days and it's currently 32.9 so it's very likely that's what it was when you joined the forum, not the 56.7 it was in May. So it doesn't follow that your ferritin level has gone down since you've been eating iron rich foods, it's gradually been reducing since your previous test.

Maybe you're just not getting enough iron from the foods that you do eat.

Maybe the Hashi's is having an impact.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi sorry. I should have explained better. I had a private vitamin test in may that was 56.7. I read from other people on here that it should be at least 70. So I have been eating iron rich foods since. It was tested again this week and now it's 32.9.

So in.the 2 months it's gone down and not up. That's why I asked if there could be a reason why, if it's the hashi's. I wasn't personally advised. It was just something I read on other posts. That it's best to supplement with iron rich foods instead.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

But for how long have you been eating iron-rich foods? It won't rise over-night. It can take a long, long time to raise ferritin.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

For 2 months now. I didn't expect it to rise a lot. But also disappointed it went down. Would you recommend an iron supplement?

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Do you also eat a source of vit C - or take vit C tablets - at the same time as eating liver pâté? How much liver pâté do you eat?

The thing about being hypo is that absorption of nutrients from food is compromised, which is why we need to take supplements. Do you take any medication that can further impact absorption, like PPIs? Do you have acid reflux?

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Hi yes i have been eating potatoes with my meals and also a vit c tablet when eating iron rich food.

I had been eating 4 oatcakes with pate each day. Not sure of that's enough though. Along with snacking on Brazil nuts and almonds daily.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Not sure you're going to get much iron from almonds, they also contain high levels of calcium. Pistachios are the highest in iron amongst the nuts.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Oops. I should have added also that i have been eating pistachios too. I didn't expect a big improvement in 2 months. Even just a little would have been good.

Is there any other advice to help boost my levels? Other than the foods i'm already eating.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Hi GG the only medication I take just now is for an overactive bladder. No acid reflux. I read on here that ferratin should be 70 or above. And if it gets to that then TSH may rise enough for treatment. I worry now if i cannot raise my levels enough through eating lots of iron rich foods. I've just started adding liver to my meals aswell now. Eating with vit c to help absorbtion

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

From what others say, liver should do it. I can't say I've tried that myself, though, for various reasons.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

I hope so. I am trying to disguise it in meals as i cannot eat it by itself. I'll just need to try that for a few months then re test to see if there's any improvement. So ferratin levels do affect the TSH levels?

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

I've never read that it does. But it can affect thyroid function, and hypothyroidism can affect ferritin levels. But, low ferritin can affect all sorts of things, so it's best to have it optimal.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

OK. Thank you. Looking back at previous results. It's never been optimal. I just tried to eat mince with liver cut up into small pieces. I couldn't quite manage it. It's the texture that i can't stomach

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Can you not mince it? Put it in a blender? Then you wouldn't notice the texture.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

That's a good idea. Never thought of that. I've read on here that it can be really difficult to raise levels

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

I believe it can, yes.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Sorry to bother you again with all these questions. My antibodies were elevated to 1000 last year. Do you think they have been for a while? As i've had symptoms for 2-3 tears now that i had thought was all thyroid related. Maybe just the hashi's causing symptoms?

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Seems like two parts to that question:

a) do you think I've had Hashi's for longer than I hitherto realise? Yes, I think you probably did. It's long, slow and insidious, and symptoms can come long before anomalies show up in blood tests.

b) do I think antibodies cause symptoms? And, I have to say, I have no idea. Some people say they do. But, quite what those symptoms are, nobody seems quite sure. Or, are their symptoms just down to the lowering levels of thyroid hormones? I don't see any way it can be proved one way or another.

Hashi's causes hypo. Hypo causes symptoms. Are any of the symptoms caused directly by the Hashi's, and not by the hypo? I don't know. If anybody does, perhaps they'd like to tell us?

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Thank you again for the detailed reply, as always. With you having hashi's too i thought you might have had some symptoms of that, before becoming hypothyroid

Yes, if anyone does know please tell us 😊

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

I've had symptoms since I was about 8 years old. But, I didn't even know what a thyroid was! All the doctors I saw over the years made out that all my symptoms were my fault, for whatever reason. The weight-gain, the hair-loss, the fatigue, the excruciating periods, etc. etc. etc. And I didn't manage to get tested for thyroid until I was 55. And, by then, my thyroid was on its last legs, and it all came as a bit of a shock. So, no, I wouldn't even know when exactly I became hypo, let alone when I developed antibodies.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Wow! That's a long time to suffer without any help. I don't know how you coped.

For the first time today in about 6 months i've felt cold all day and not needed the fan on.

It feels like such a relief.

I probably shouldn't speak to soon but hopefully it lasts. So much better than the heat

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Well, as I had Hashi's, symptoms came and went. But I've always struggled with my weight, my hair and terribly bad monthlies. When I was 41, I had a hysterectomy, which was somewhat of a relief! But, as I had no idea what was wrong with my - and according to my doctors and my ex, there was nothing wrong with me, I was just stupid, greedy and lazy - I had to find coping mechanisms to live with it.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

I can sympathise with the hair issues. Mine is just awful now. It's not falling out.....yet but just I'm such bad condition. So dry brittle and breaking easily. Was always soft and healthy before.

I feel Dr's too think I am a hypochondriac. And look at me like there's nothing really wrong at all.

I'm so wary of Dr's now.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Me too!

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

I think i spoke too soon. Back to the horrible heat last night and today. Can I ask how you coped with it?After 6 months now it's becoming more difficult.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

I don't really know how. I had windows open all the time. But, it was probably easier to tolerate because I thought it was 'normal'. I didn't know anything about thyroid, so I didn't suspect that. Doctors told me there was nothing wrong with me, so I just got on with it. I didn't over-think it, that's just the way life was.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Did you find it eased a bit when you started on medication?

The cold i can handle. Not the heat. Like you, windows open and fans on constant.

It bugs me when i hear people complain about heat in summer.

Feel like saying 'try living like that all year round'

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

To be honest, I don't really remember what happened when I started medication. It was a long time ago and a lot happened in a short time. But, it's much better now. I no-longer have to have the windows open 12 months of the year. But, I still don't like the heat.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

That sounds strangely reassuring.

I hope when i eventually do get started on medication then i hope it improves.

The only house in the street with windows wide open in the winter.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

I'm sure it will improve.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Thank you 😊 I really hope so too

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Iron is quite complicated. If it's just a case of low ferritin then eating iron rich foods, particularly liver, can be the best way to improve levels.

Before taking iron tablets, it's best to do a iron panel. If that shows serum iron is good then taking iron tablets would be wrong as it would take the serum iron level too high.

When the body needs iron, it takes it out of the iron store (ferritin) so the level becomes low until it is replenished. A bit like going to your pantry and using the last tin of baked beans, that shelf stays empty until you stock up on baked beans again!

With your ferritin level now at 32.9, even though it's in range and will be "fine" according to your GP, I'd point out how much it's dropped since May, despite eating iron rich foods, and ask for an iron panel and full blood count. Maybe something will show up there.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi yes i think that's what i read on here. It's not the serum iron that's low. Just thr ferratin. To be honest i'm a bit reluctant to go back to my gp about it.

Previously my ferratin was 15 with a range of (15-200)

Even then I was told it was a good level.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Previously my ferratin was 15 with a range of (15-200)

Even then I was told it was a good level.

That was just plain ridiculous. Low ferritin suggests iron deficiency anaemia. Your GP should have done an iron panel and full blood count at that time. He was negligent.

How did you raise it from 15 to 56.7?

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

I know but they don't seem.to know much and if it's 'in range' it's fine.

That's the odd thing. I wasn't doing or eating any differently. Or much iron rich foods. So i don't know how it went back up to that.

And now I am making an effort with foods it's gone down.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you currently on any Levothyroxine?

If your TSH has risen and FT3 or FT4 dropped...then you are more hypothyroid and it becomes harder to keep vitamin levels optimal

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi sorry no. Not hypothyroid yet. I have been advised from you that i have hashimoto's. Also ferratin should be at least 70. Just a bit disappointed it's gone down and not up even a little

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

So it's important to retest thyroid levels, regularly, especially if been improving vitamins

Often as vitamin levels become optimal, TSH rises

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)

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thank you. Do you have any other tips to help boost it?

The foods i have been eating are red meat, liver pate, broccoli, asparagus, black pudding and snacking on Brazil nuts and pistachio nuts.

I know my ferratin needs to rise to try to increase tsh. Is there any reason it's gone down over the last 2 months, with eating lots of iron rich foods

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Many need to take actual iron supplements

But it's always essential to do full iron panel regularly before supplementing and to retest regularly

It's possible to have low ferritin and high iron. So you can't assume low ferritin equals low iron

Personally I have reverse problem....very high ferritin....but low iron! Inflammation of Hashimoto's can cause high ferritin for some people

Iron is complicated

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thank you. I will look into a full iron panel.

It does all sound so complicated. I was just a bit disappointed and confused as to why it went down after trying hard to boost it with the foods.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Would suspect you are now more hypothyroid and in need of starting on Levothyroxine

Retesting thyroid levels regularly recommended

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)

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for the reply. I had planned to retest again in 3 months. I worry now that if I can't increase my ferratin levels then my tsh may not rise more. Might this be the case?

I have purchased some liver to add to my meals. To see if that helps any. What was the recommended weekly amount again?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

About one full meals worth of liver per week

Liver is very high in vitamin A so supposed to limit amount you eat

When I was severely iron deficient I craved liver and orange juice and ate it far more than once a week!

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

OK. Thank you. It's about 500g so i was just going to add some to different meals as i can't eat it on its own. Would that be enough per week or would i still need to continue with the other iron rich foods?

Apologies for all the questions

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Chop up and hide in shepherds pie, chilli, etc

You can buy desiccated liver tablets I think ....look on amazon perhaps

I have had reverse problem for last ten years.....very high ferritin....more unusual, but not rare, problem linked to inflammation of Hashimoto’s

So I don’t know much about what’s available and what works best

It’s all trial and error what works for each individual

Medichecks can do a full iron panel test .... but really GP should do this

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks again for your advice.

I'll follow that with the liver and maybe re test in 2 months?

I'm wary to ask the gp as it's within the range so they will say it's fine. I'll do the private tests myself.

Also my cholesterol was slightly high at 5.6 (0-5) not sure if that's significant to anything.

I did see on the link for hypothyroidism symptoms. High cholesterol is listed.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

High cholesterol is linked to being hypothyroid. Before invention of (often flawed) TSH test, high cholesterol was main test for hypothyroidism

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

This helpful to know. Thank you.

If only the Dr's were as knowledgeable as the members on this forum

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Hidden

200g liver maximum per week due to high Vit A content. You can portion and freeze raw liver successfully.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for the reply. I must worry now that if i can't increase my ferratin levels to around 70 as recommended. Then my TSH may not rise enough for treatment

[Hidden]

Thank you for that very detailed reply. So informative 😊

I'm going to carry on eating the iron rich foods along with adding liver to my diet. Re test again in a few months and see if it's improved any. I do take vit c along with it to improve absorption.