I have not posted for a long while ,, would really appreciate advice on blood test

[Val-55]

I have been doing fairly well for quite a long time . I have been taking thyroxine again after taking NDT for a year . NDT unfortunately made me feel very anxious and I had quite scary migraines . I take 75/ 100 thyroxine alternate days !

I had the flu / chest infection before Christmas and took a course of penicillin . After that and until the last few days I’ve suffered with really bad joint pain and sever fatigue .

I had a blue horizon test to see what was going on ..

Hs CRP 0.66 ; normal less than 5

Ferritin High 178. range 13-150

Cortisol random 353.0. 6am - 10am. 113-456

4 till 8pm 58- 278

Midnight up to 64

THS 0.60. 0.27-4.20

T4 total 136 66-181

Freet4 High 27.4. 12-22

Free T3. 4.78. 3.1 to 6.8

Anti Throid abs High 43. Rangeup to 34normal

Anti thyroglobin abs high 419 up to115 normal

B12 648. Reduce if over 569

Serum folate 35.60 8.83 to 60.8

I wanted to ask your opinion on my raised ferritin , I have had it for years along with constant joint pain . Is this caused by the inflammation of Hashi or couid I have iron over load that causes joint pain and fatigue ,,Not sure what to ask the Dr

Also what does the cortisol bit mean ? Best regards and Thankyou in advance

[beh1]

Hi Val. In my experience, your doc will be unconcerned about your high ferritin even though it might well be causing joint pain. Mine was much higher than yours and gp shrugged it off. However, I now keep it in range by donating blood regularly.

Other more knowledgeable people will comment on your thyroid levels, but your doc may well suggest you reduce levo as your t4 is over range. However, this could also reduce your t3, which is already not great. Your conversion seems poor. Others will advise what to say to doc I hope.

[Val-55 in reply to beh1]

Thankyou for your reply . Yes I was wondering if I ought to give blood again , I always used to . I’m 60 is that ok , do they not worry if you have high ferritin and thyroid disease . Do you suffer with joint pain from raised ferritin . Thanks again Val

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Val-55]

They won't allow you to give blood if there has been any change in your thyroid meds in the 6 weeks before donating - and my experience was that it was very embarrassing to be turned away!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As you have had antibiotics you might benefit from a probiotic to improve gut biome

When was vitamin D last tested?

Do you supplement vitamin D ?

As you have Hashimoto's..

Are you on strictly gluten free diet ?

Gluten is often cause of joint pain and extremely common with Hashimoto's

Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet




(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Slightly raised ferritin is common with Hashimoto's, due to inflammation

[Val-55 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou for your reply . I avoid gluten but have had a few slip ups over Christmas ....I had vit d tested over a year ago was sufficient then ,, but will have another test to see . Yes I will get some probiotics are there any sort that are best to take ?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Val-55]

Even minuscule amount of gluten can cause terrible joint pain

[Val-55 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ah could well be that ,, I had several non gluten things over Christmas I’m usually so careful !

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Val-55]

It's my prime symptom if I get tiny amount of gluten

More than that ....and I can end up being well acquainted with the loo for about a week

[BB001 in reply to Val-55]

VSL#3 is one of 2 probiotics that have been proven to survive the small intestine to get too the gut. Best source ive found is Revital. Cost £16.99 in oct 2019 when i last bought it. The other probiotic is really expensive. Sorry, I can't remember the name.

[BB001]

Fruit causes me joint pain.

[Bluedragon]

Hi, I would suggest your ferritin level is due to inflammation. If it was due to too much iron it would be nearing/in 4 figures. Then you would need to have blood removed.

Take probiotics after antibiotics and actually they help during an illness/infection too. Vitamin C too. Have you tried fermented foods for gut health? Digestive enzymes like those from Viridian or herbal bitters.

Your cortisol results don’t look complete- ranges but not the level? Could just be me.

Don’t aim for a lower B12! Sufficient Vit D doesn’t sound high enough and those in Uk need to supplement during winter anyway.

I’m taking a multi vit by Wild Nutrition at the moment. Seems good.

[Val-55 in reply to Bluedragon]

That’s interesting ,, I have arthritis I think and this could is causing the ferritin hike then do you think ! I have started on probiotics again though I don’t generally suffer with digestion issues . I was thinking of avoiding iron rich food ,would that help !

[Bluedragon in reply to Val-55]

I wouldn’t avoid iron rich food. Probiotics are there to replace good bugs that are nuked at same time as nasties with antibiotics.

Digestion is always a good place to start with anything. That and stress. X

[Batty1]

Maybe your medication for cold isn't playing well with your Thyroid meds.

[Val-55]

Oh ok , they are not too worried about a mild raise . I suppose the symptoms of pain and fatigue were more of the issue , probably still thyroid related . I’m going to get a vit d test again . Thankyou so much for your reply