Could someone please comment on my iron results? Nothing looks low, but I still feel very bad.
Ferritin: 70 (20 - 120)
Iron: 14 (10 - 29)
Iron Saturation: 25 (14 - 51)
Iron Binding Capacity: 56 (45 - 72)
After the covid vaccine, both times my thyroid levels dropped. Two weeks after the second covid shot, results are:
TSH: 0.01 (0.27 - 4.2). I'm central, so TSH is meaningless.
FT4: 17.2 (12 - 22)
FT3: 5.63 (3.9 - 6.7)
I was on 120mg NDT - still am. Question: How long for levels to go back to pre-shot levels? I wasn't feeling at all well before the covid shot, but definitely feel worse now.
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Evej13
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Question: How long for levels to go back to pre-shot levels? I wasn't feeling at all well before the covid shot, but definitely feel worse now.
I don't think anyone can answer that. It's such a new thing and something new is being learned all the time. How a person reacts is very individual. I've had two thyroid tests since my vaccinations (I've had both jabs) and neither time were my thyroid test levels affected in any way, nor did I have the slightest reaction to the jab.
Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours is 14 (10 - 29) so it's on the low side.
Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours is 25 (14 - 51) so again on the low side.
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC): Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron - yours is 56 (45 - 72) which is 41% through the range so nearing the mid point.
Ferritin: Low level virtually always indicates need for iron supplementation; High level with low serum iron/low saturation indicates inflammation or infection; High level with high serum iron and low TIBC indicates excess iron; Over range with saturation above 45% suggests hemochromatosis - yours is 70 (20 - 120) which is 50% through range.
Thank you so much SeasideSusie . I will supplement even though GP says iron levels are fine. First jab, I ended up going to ER where they did thyroid panel 24 hours after the jab. My FT3 dropped from 6.38 to 4.57 (3.9 - 6.7) and FT4 went from 16.9 to 14.1 (12 - 22). So the drop was significant for me. The second jab, test was done at about the 2 week mark. FT3 had dropped from 5.95 to 5.63, but FT4 increased from 15.6 to 17.2. No change in meds either time.
If you are going to self supplement with iron, it's important to regularly do an iron panel to keep an eye on your Serum Iron and Transferrin Saturation levels. I wouldn't leave it any longer than 2 months between tests when taking iron. Unless you tell your GP that you are supplementing it's doubtful whether he will test for you. You can get an Iron Home Blood Test from Medichecks (it's a fingerprick test) which is the iron panel.
These are dire and suggest iron deficiency. Everything points to her needing to supplement iron. Has her GP said anything about them? Maybe even an iron infusion is called for.
Has she had a full blood count? That would show whether she has anaemia. You can have iron deficiency with or without anaemia.
Definitely discuss with GP and do not self supplement in this case.
The high ferritin could be due to inflammation. Does she have any medical conditions? Any autoimmune conditions?
She is supplementing and has been for over a year.. The iron level does not budge but ferritin has increased while supplementing. The last note from her GP said "stable" -- believe it or not!
Here are her blood counts. Am I missing anything?
Hemoglobin: 141 g/L 110-160
Hematocrit: 0.414 L/L 0.330-0.480
MCV: 87.6 fL 79.0-99.0
MCH: 29.9 pg 27.0-32.0
MCHC: 341 g/L 320-360
Erythrocyte Distribution Width (RDW): 13.2 % 11.5-15.0
Her FBC doesn't show anaemia so she has iron deficiency without anaemia.
Her results may be stable but being below range is not a good result and shows a problem. If her GP is satisfied with those results he should maybe find another job, there's a shortage of lorry drivers I believe!
If iron tablets aren't improving her levels then further investigation is necessary. I would see another doctor and get things moving in the right direction. If the doctor doesn't suggest an iron infusion then your daughter should suggest it herself.
Are there any medical conditions or medication going on?
Thanks SeasideSusie! She has been checked for celiac (negative). Other than that, nothing has been checked. Her morning cortisol is low as well. We have another appointment with the same GP on the 14th. I'll ask about an infusion. She feels like crap -- and no wonder!
She has hashimotos and is on desiccated thyroid, plus the iron and B12. Her thyroid levels seem ok.
Erythrocyte Distribution Width (RDW): 13.2 % 11.5-15.0
Platelets: 236 x10e9/L 150-400
MPV: 8.3 fL 7.4-10.6
She is supplementing and has been for over a year.. The iron level does not budge but ferritin has increased while supplementing. The last note from her GP said "stable" -- believe it or not!
She has hashimotos and is on desiccated thyroid, plus the iron and B12. Her thyroid levels seem ok.
With below range serum iron and above range ferritin (iron stores) your daughter appears to have a classic case of Anaemia of Chronic Disease (ACD) also known as Anaemia of Chronic Inflammation. This is discussed in these links :
There are many possible causes for ACD. You've mentioned your daughter has Hashi's which can often lead to inflammation, which then leads to ACD.
There are other causes of inflammation (which could then lead to ACD) many of them associated with poor gut function and/or poor diet e.g. low levels of basic nutrients, low stomach acid, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (which includes Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and is not the same thing as Irritable Bowel Syndrome - which may also be an issue)
Other causes of inflammation are lung diseases and joint/muscle conditions.
Giving up gluten is an essential experiment for everyone with thyroid disease. Try it for 3 months, and if there are no obvious benefits then start eating gluten again. Restarting gluten could make it clear there is a problem.
The same experiment may be necessary with lactose - but far fewer people need to try this - it depends on the person and their symptoms.
Coming back to iron again...
Someone with ACD who takes iron could be making their ACD worse. The likelihood is that iron will stay below range or very low range and ferritin will just get higher and higher. Adding to high levels of ferritin (iron stores) isn't a good idea.
What type and dose of iron supplement is your daughter taking?
...
Has your daughter had her vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D tested? If yes, what were the results and reference ranges? Could you post them if you have them. I see you mention her taking B12, but what exact type and dose is she taking? Has she had her folate measured? The body can't make much use of B12 unless there is adequate folate.
Her ferritin was 104 (20 - 120) before she started supplementing iron. It's only gone over reference since supplementing. She is taking Ez Fer E=Hematinic - 2 pills every second day. Each capsule has 150mg polysaccharide-iron comples + 250mg ascorbic acid).
B12 was 340. Nobody here will test folate unfortunately. It just gets cancelled by the lab unless you are pregnant. D was 47.5.
Complement C3 1.45 g/L (0.90-2.00)
Complement C4 0.26 g/L (0.15-0.45)
C Reactive Protein; High Sensitivity 4.3 mg/L (0.0-7.0)
It's difficult to get doctors to test antibodies and vitamins here, so not likely. My thyroid antibodies are always just over the top of reference. B12 is good. D is ok - unfortunately she will NOT test D very often. I did just get B12 tested. It was just over 700.
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