I've had my annual thyroid blood test. I have the results on Patient Access:
Serum TSH level 2.6 mu/L (0.5-4.4)
Ft4 not tested this year.
Serum ferritin 17 ug/L (25 - 350)
Vitamin D 43 nmol/L (50 - 200)
Calcium 2.17 mmol/L (2.20 - 2.60)
An admin called me from my GP's practice. I was told that my TSH was fine and that I should buy some Ferrous Sulfate 200 mg tablets and take them with orange juice. I don't know whether I'm supposed to buy just one pack of 28 or more than that. No mention was made of my Vitamin D and calcium results. I've been taking Vit D supplements every day for a year and it is still below normal.
Any comments or suggestions? I'm on Levothyroxine: 75 mcg daily.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I feel tired most of the time. I often become breathless when I walk anywhere. I also have intermittent joint and muscle pain. The pain is worst in my hands/fingers and feet/toes.
I think you need to communicate the symptoms you've described here to your GP, and request an increase to 100mcg levo. When you've been taking the increased dose for around 6 weeks, you may see some improvement in your pain and stamina. Also, at this stage, your thyroid levels should be tested again.
I would suggest a FULL Iron Profile be done as LOW Ferritin does not always reflect low serum iron. Saying that Ferritin needs to be around 70 for your T4 to convert into the Active hormone T3. Your result for T3 last year was quite good so in spite of low Ferritin you seem to be converting well.
How much h VitD are you taking ? Your level has dropped and would be better around 100. Co-factors were suggested last year too. Have a read through last years replies for more info.
Another increase of Levo would/should improve matters ...
Eating liver and black pudding once a week can help raise Ferritin ...
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range
NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.
Your vitamin levels are extremely low, probably because your results suggest you are under treated and on too small dose of Levothyroxine
See GP and request a 25mcg dose increase in Levothyroxine
Also ask for full iron panel test. Your Ferritin is well below bottom of range. So low you may be better having an iron infusion. If not an infusion then likely ferrous fumerate 2 or 3 per day. Iron and ferritin should be retested after 6-8 weeks
Vitamin D is far too low. 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. Frequently when hypothyroid we need higher dose than average
Suggest you get vitamin D mouth spray and try at least 2000iu per day
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