Thyroid? Ferritin? I'm still so tired. Latest results attached for help please.

[MrsButler]

I'm not diagnosed. I've been monitoring my thyroid for a year now, my latest medichecks results are attached.

My vit d and b12 have improved but my ferritin and folate remain low. I've worked on diet (pate, pumpkin seeds, red meat) and after doing the stomach acid test, have been taking tablets to increase that (which has helped my digestion a lot).

My last FBC showed Hb at 137 (115-165) so with the above iron panel I don't seem to be anemic.

So why won't my ferritin improve? I've had a celiac test and that was negative.

I do have quite heavy periods every 3 weeks.

I've had elevated prolactin results (slightly up, have come down) but other hormones are ok.

I'm just fed up of being so tired, spotty and freezing cold!

Any thoughts would be welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Would suspect you may have autoimmune thyroid disease.....

Ever had ultrasound scan of thyroid?

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

I have details of London scan options privately

£150 approx.

PM me if interested in info

All your vitamins remain on low side

Exactly what vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Have you tried going absolutely strictly gluten free

Far more people are gluten intolerant, not coeliac

The only way to know if that includes you is to try strictly gluten free diet for 3-6 months

See if symptoms improve. If not reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

[MrsButler in reply to SlowDragon]

LookThank you.

I'm taking Better You Vit d spray and B12 spray. And I have the ingenus b tablets (not taken for a week before test) I was using an iron spray too for a while

I've had a scan for my other issue, a thyroglossal duct cyst, and that showed a couple of nodules but otherwise ok.

I want to feel better but not sure my thyroid results warrant self medication. My gp will not be interested that's for sure. They fob it all off as approaching menopause and " of course your tired if you have young children. I'm only just 40 and I can tell the difference between being tired from life and tired from the inside.

I haven't tried gluten free. I'm putting it off.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MrsButler]

NHS only obligated to treat vitamin deficiencies

your vitamins are within range

But Ferritin is currently very low

Are you vegetarian or vegan

Do you suffer from heavy periods, obviously this can make it difficult to maintain iron levels

Suggest you read many of humanbean replies to other members on low ferritin

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia

Improving low ferritin by increase in 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

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/Websites/...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.