Lab Results - Iron and Thyroid

[Andyb1205]

Hi. I recently had my iron levels checked. It's quite confusing, I am wondering if I should maintain my iron supplementation dose or decrease it.

July 16, 2019

Ferritin N/A (yes, they did not run this)

Serum Iron 9.9 (10.6-33.8)

Transferrin 2.51 (2.00-3.30)

Saturation 0.16 (0.13-0.50)

In Summer 2018 my Serum Iron was barely in range at around 11 but I did not start supplements. The doctor had incorrectly suggested I was fine because of my Ferritin.

September 9, 2019

Ferritin 100 (24-444)

Serum Iron 53% in range

Transferrin 44% in range

Saturation 62% in range

I got these tests done by an Internist that I had a follow up with. My thyroid therefore got checked prematurely, I am seeing my Endocrinologist later on. I am sure it is quite inaccurate but I wanted to get your thoughts. Vitamin D results didn't return yet, most likely in range (I supplement regularly). B12 was not checked but has been fine for the past year.

TSH 0.03 (0.32-5.04)

FT4 17.1 (10.6-19.7) 71% in range

FT3 3.77 (2.60-5.80) 36.5% in range

That is 18 days on alternating 125mcg T4 and 137mcg T4. I have no idea what the heck I was doing, life was just very stressful. Perhaps I wanted to see if my body would better convert T4 to T3 with Synthroid alone, as I was now raising my iron levels. I can tell I've been having some hyper symptoms, my body probably requires less T4.

My prescribed dose is 100mcg T4 and 10mcg T3, which I will be going back to. Will need to stay on it for 6-8 weeks I guess before seeing the Endocrinologist.

Are the above thyroid tests indicative of poor conversion or are they next to useless given the short time on the dose? Most importantly I'd love to get your advise on the iron levels.

Thanks. This forum has always been so helpful!

[Andyb1205]

Hey sorry it appears my post may have just gotten lost in the background! Would really love some input! Thanks!

[humanbean]

I'm rather confused by the results you've given.

The first set are dated July 2019. Then you refer to summer 2018, and the final set of iron results are from September 2019.

Are the September 2019 iron results the latest you have? Have you been supplementing iron or eating more food with iron in or done anything else that might raise your iron in recent months?

The July 2019 and September 2019 results for serum iron are so different it is startling, unless you have been supplementing.

Another possibility is that improving your thyroid and nutrients may have helped your gut in some way and you are absorbing iron from your food better. Can you give any more detail?

[humanbean in reply to humanbean]

The other thing I'm confused by is when you were supplementing, what you were supplementing with and what dose you took.

[Andyb1205 in reply to humanbean]

I hope the additional information helps. Only other thing I can think of that I didn’t fast. But I only had a glass of milk and a slice of toast with peanut butter, a couple hours before the test.

My iron saturation appears higher than the optimal range I’ve read on this forum. Though the serum iron is good but with room for improvement, and the Ferritin is around the same as it’s usually been before.

Because I did the test in the late afternoon and I didn’t fast, on top of only being on that dose for 18 days, the TSH is obviously inaccurate. I assume the FT4 didn’t have enough time to convert to FT3 yet, but does the large difference still hint at conversion problems?

Vitamin D came back as 133 (75-150).

[Andyb1205 in reply to Andyb1205]

So I’ve read that iron saturation is the most sensitive measure of iron status, compared to even Ferritin and Iron Serum. Supposedly my iron is therefore high? I have discontinued iron supplements.

[Andyb1205]

Hi. First time I had serum iron checked was Summer 2018, did not supplement.

Test done two months ago was in July. Began supplements. Proferrin 3 tablets daily. It’s heme iron, better absorbed, minimally affected by food, Vitamin C not required for heme iron.

According to here it raises iron faster than equivalent elemental iron. My calculations suggest 3 tablets would be like ~100mg elemental iron.

badgut.org/information-cent...

[Andyb1205]

Would greatly appreciate some advise. I’ve been feeling just horrible.