More blood results

[Lilacsocks]

Hello!

Here's my next bunch of bloods 1/2 from NHS and a few questions..

I am 6 weeks postpartum, I suspected low iron as I was low in pregnancy so I added in iron supps a couple of weeks before this test and feel much better for it, but still not 100% myself and lingering hypo symptoms. I also taking vit d, b12, probiotics, omega three and a food source pregnancy multi as I am breastfeeding.

t4 12.8 (7-17) 58%

TSH 0.35 (0.2 - 4.5)

so it seems to have dropped since my last private test, same dose, 25/1

t4 20.5 (12-22)

t3 4.8 (3.1- 6.8)

TSH 0.02 (0.27 - 4.2)

Vitamins 1/2/21

Serum ferritin 24ug/l (5-85) 23.7%

vit d 89nmol/l (50-250) 19%

B12 690 (145- 910) 71%

folate 20.5 (3-20)

We also did a full blood count but not sure if it is relevant.

Questions

Any idea what has caused the thyroid hormones to dip? Could it just be discrepancy in different tests? Both taken early morning before food or medication.

What am I aiming for with the iron?

I have a higher dose vit d which I will take.

Should I stop taking b12?

Folate is in the pregnancy multi which I was planning to take until we finish breastfeeding, here's a link, scroll down for nutritional info.

wildnutrition.com/products/...

Thanks for reading!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Lilacsocks

I've had a look at the ingredients of your multivitamin. It contains Biotin - did you leave this off for 7 days before the test? Biotin can give false results when it's also used in the testing procedure (which most labs do). Yours is only a low dose of Biotin but I don't know if it will make a difference.

vit d 89nmol/l (50-250) 19%

Forget percentage through range with Vit D test. That top of range limit increases the risk of Vit D toxicity.

The Vit D Society and Grassroots Health recommend a level of 100-150nmol/L. This should be your aim.

Ferritin is recommended to be half way through range.

Iron tablets should be left off for 7 days before any iron test, and the test should be done after a 12 hour fast (water allowed).

It's not a good idea to self supplement with iron tablets unless you've had an iron panel done. If your serum iron and transferrin saturation are already good then taking iron tablets may take your levels too high and too much iron is as bad as too little.

You can help raise your level by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet

apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

Your multi contains iodine and calcium both of which should be tested before supplementing. Iodine solution used to be used to treat hypERthyroidism before the introduction of the current treatment of radioactive iodine. It can make hypothyroidism worse.

[Lilacsocks in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Susie,

Wow, okay thanks for you're reply, I've learnt a lot there.

So.. yes, I stopped the multi 7 days before testing.

Looks like I'm not to far off for vit d so I might continue on the dose I have.

Ferritin has a way to go to be half way through range from these result, however it I did not know that I had to stop supplementing before the test, how would this affect the result? I also cant find serum iron or transferrin saturation on my results, I think the dr was just looking at serum ferritin and haemoglobin.

I was told to supplement iron in pregnancy because haemoglobin was low and I have been bleeding since so I thought it was a fairly safe assumption that I might be low in iron but looks like I should retest. I do feel better for taking it though so that's reassuring! I changed from vegan to in my last pregnancy but liver and black pudding are probably a step too far from me.

I understand iodine is really important for pregnancy and breastfeeding for infant development so I guess I have to balance the two?

something called serum calcium is on there...2.27 (2.2 - 2.6)

Thanks!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lilacsocks]

Lilacsocks

however it I did not know that I had to stop supplementing before the test, how would this affect the result?

I think the dr was just looking at serum ferritin and haemoglobin.

I can't say for sure but it might have come back a bit high.

Haemoglobin will be for anaemia.

[Lilacsocks in reply to SeasideSusie]

If you are iron deficient would you not be anaemic?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Lilacsocks]

Lilacsocks

Not necessarily. You can be iron deficient without anaemia, there is also iron deficiency anaemia.

From patient.info/doctor/non-ana...

Iron deficiency is a reduced content of total body iron. Iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) occurs when the iron deficiency is sufficient to reduce erythropoiesis and therefore the haemoglobin (Hb) level falls. However, problems related to iron depletion can develop before this stage. Globally, iron deficiency is the most common cause for anaemia[1].

Also oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...