New test results

[Doublevision]

Can somebody kindly look at my results and give advice these were done on 2/3/20 first thing in the morning fasting and last dose of Levo 24 hours previously,im on 100 mcgs Levothyroxine daily.

I do have Hashimotos.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How do you feel?

B12, folate and ferritin all rather low

Vitamin D good

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

Are you seeing GP over low iron/ferritin?

As you have Hashimoto’s are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Getting vitamin levels optimal may enable you to increase levothyroxine a bit more

TSH is borderline too high

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Doublevision

TSH is on the high side, usually we Hypo are best when it's 1 or below. However, FT4 is 83.81% through range and FT3 is 60% through range so those are looking good and don't suggest an increase in dose is necessary.

Vit D is good and sits nicely within the range recommended by the Vit D Council/Vit D Society, which is 100-150nmol/L.

B12 seems to be on the low side at 324 but you haven't given the complete unit of measurement, is it pg/ml? If so then 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."

Folate is recommended to be at least half way through range and yours is 45.83%.

As for your iron panel, optimal levels according to web.archive.org/web/2018083...

Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours is low at 27.95%

Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours is low at 19%

TIBC: Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron - yours is just over half way at 57.78%

Ferritin Low level virtually always indicates need for iron supplementation - yours is very low at 4.39% through range

Did you also have a full blood count? If haemoglobin, MCV and MCH were done then this would indicate if there was any anaemia.

What has your GP said about this iron panel?

How do you feel?

Article about low ferritin/hypothyroidism -

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

Symptoms of low ferritin include:

◾Weakness

◾Fatigue

◾Difficulty concentrating

◾Poor work productivity

◾Cold hands and feet

◾Poor short-term memory

◾Difficulty remembering names

◾Dizziness

◾Pounding in the ears

◾Shortness of breath

◾Brittle nails

◾Headaches

◾Restless legs

[Doublevision in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou Seaside susie

I would say i have all those symptoms listed i have checked back at previous results from Nov 19 and can only find

Haemoglobin 133,gl (120-160)

Mcv 86-6fl(80.0-99.0)

Gp has not commented on iron levels at all.

I take Betterforyou vit D3

As for the Vit B12 level i have checked and all that is written is 324pg /ml with no range available.

What is the best way to up my iron levels ,I don’t eat meat or dairy but do have Fish now and then.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Doublevision]

Doublevision

Your haemoglobin and MCV don't suggest anaemia.

What is the best way to up my iron levels ,I don’t eat meat or dairy but do have Fish now and then.

You will need to speak to your GP. Iron is complicated and I can't suggest what you should do. You obviously need to raise your ferritin - don't let your GP say it's fine because it's within range. Point out how wide the range is and how low you are within it. Say that he would also say the result was fine if you were at the top of the range and that you're hardly likely to feel the same at that level. Also point out that your saturation % is very near the bottom of, again, quite a wide range. Give him a list of all the symptoms and emphasise how low your ferritin is.

Fish is unlikely to have enough iron to help.

[Doublevision in reply to SeasideSusie]

Okay thankyou for your speedy replies and help i will go and chat to my GP about the results.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Doublevision]

nahypothyroidism.org/deiodi...

Iron deficiency is shown to significantly reduce T4 to T3 conversion, increase reverse T3 levels, and block the thermogenic (metabolism boosting) properties of thyroid hormone (238-242). Thus, iron deficiency, as indicated by an iron saturation below 25 or a ferritin below 70, will result in diminished intracellular T3 levels.

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/Websites/...

[Doublevision in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for being so helpful.