Blood results- thyroid and iron levels. - Thyroid UK

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Blood results- thyroid and iron levels.

Hi all, I've had my blood test results back today.

I had stopped the vitamins that you're meant to stop before testing but unfortunately I forgot to not take my Thyroxine! Yeah I know!

So the blood was drawn at 12 noon, I had taken my Thyroxine at 11am, would that be a short enough space of time to not have been absorbed?

I was mostly interested in my haemoglobin levels, I was turned away at blood doning a few weeks ago as it was too low. (117). Since then I've improved my diet and recently started taking an iron supplement, the supplement was started after the blood test was done.

The doctors receptionist said the results are back and she's emailed them to me. She says they're all normal. I'm not convinced! I would appreciate some help and advice please. The results are as follows, I've not given them all as the list is very long. But please ask if you think its relevant.

Serum free T4 21.2 pmol/L range 12.00 to 22.00

Serum free T3 4.1 pmol/L range 3.10 to 6.80

Serum iron level 12.9umol/L range 5.80 to 34.50

Transferrin level 3.6 g/L range 2.00 to 8.60

Serum Ferritin 26 ug/L range 13 to 150

Serum vitamin B12 741 ng/L range 197 to 771

Serum folate 18.3 ug/L range 1.90 to 25.00

Haemoglobin estimation 132g/L range 115 to 165

Thank you everyone x

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25 Replies

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Sparklingsunshine3 years ago

Did you get your TSH result as well? unfortunately the time you had the test and the fact you took Levo an hour before have probably skewed the result. Admin always recommend testing before 9am in a fasted state, nothing to eat or drink except water and to postpone Levo until after the test.

How much Levo are you on and were you hoping for an increase? Are you feeling OK on your dose or do you have symptoms.

sueoathall• in reply toSparklingsunshine3 years ago

Sorry I missed out the TSH. It's 0.01 range is 0.27 to 4.20mu/L. Though I guess that is irrelevant as I had taken my levothyroxine. I didn't know you were meant to fast, that's helpful to know thank you. I'm on 150mcg at the moment. I don't feel great but some of that can be attributed you my low iron.

Sparklingsunshine• in reply tosueoathall3 years ago

Yes I know the low iron feeling and when you have multiple health issues it's hard to know which one it is. Hopefully if you improve your iron levels you might feel better.

sueoathall• in reply toSparklingsunshine3 years ago

Thank you

SlowDragonAdministrator3 years ago

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Your ferritin is still low. It takes many months to improve.

Important to do regular full iron panel 3-4 times year if taking iron supplements

Stop iron supplements a week before testing iron

Always test iron levels as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and avoid iron rich dinner night before test

B12 and folate pretty good

Need vitamin D tested

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Obviously Ft4 is false high

No TSH

Noon is poor time to test

Always test between 8-9am ….before eating or drinking anything other than water

Last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

sueoathall• in reply toSlowDragon3 years ago

Thanks for your reply. I do feel quite angry that I've been told my ferritin is OK, when it obviously isnt! Vitamin D doesn't seem to have been tested. I will look into that. Current vitamins I take are as follows;

Magnesium citrate powder 5.5g

B complex and iodine.

Vit D3 4000iu

Vitamin B12 1000ug

Vitamin K 90ug

Vitamin C 1000mg

Omega 3

Feroglobin liquid with 14mg of iron

Hope that answers your questions.

Smorzando• in reply tosueoathall3 years ago

In case you didn't know, you can buy Ferrous sulphate or Ferrous fumerate "over the counter" at pharmacies, or from online pharmacies, if your GP won't prescribe. The iron content of these is much, much higher than Feroglobin, which is unlikely to raise your iron and ferritin levels much. It took me six months of taking two of these a day to get my ferritin to mid range, and it's since fallen, so I'm trying to work out a "maintenance" dose. Previous to this I was taking Feroglobin liquid, and my ferritin levels were just 9, so it wasn't very effective, for me at least! Good luck.

sueoathall• in reply toSmorzando3 years ago

Oh that's interesting, thanks I'll get some.

SlowDragonAdministrator• in reply tosueoathall3 years ago

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.

It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

sueoathall• in reply toSlowDragon3 years ago

Unfortunately I can't afford to keep paying out for blood tests. Thanks for the info. I've had another blood test at GP, should get the results today or tomorrow. Will post them when I get them

Cheekycharlie1981• in reply tosueoathall3 years ago

Why are you taking iodine? This can cause additional stress to your thyroid. You already take Levo? And maybe add selenium to support your thyroid.

sueoathall• in reply toCheekycharlie19813 years ago

I'm sure someone on here recommended the iodine. I'll look into selenium, thanks

SlowDragonAdministrator• in reply tosueoathall3 years ago

Iodine use to be used to treat hyperthyroid patients

Never supplement iodine unless tested and results show you are deficient and must be managed extremely carefully under care of an iodine specialist

Levothyroxine contains all the iodine you need

Come back with new post once you get vitamin D result

Aiming for vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

db163 years ago

Good Morning. Apologies for the slow response. Since returning to the UK twelve months ago and having two sets of bloods done, my UK doctor says I do not need Thyroxine (yet). I have put on two stone since then. As for your blood tests, I'm pretty sure that you took your medication too close to your blood tests for a accurate result. Unfortunately I'm just not upto the knowledge you will gain from the many clever people on this website, who I know can help you better. Good luck.

sueoathall• in reply todb163 years ago

Thank you

pennyannie3 years ago

Hello Sueoathall :

I found this amazing forum when researching for myself why my ferritin was at 22 :

I read that ferritin needs to be at least over 70 for any thyroid hormone replacement to work effectively.

I was prescribed Ferrous Fumarate 3 tablets x ( I think ) 322 mcg a day :

I couldn't tolerate these tablets so had to source my own supplements and it does take time for ferritin to build and I still do now need to maintain both ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D at optimal levels to support my body to convert the T4 into T3 which is the active hormone that runs the body, much like petrol runs a car.

Solgar Gentle Iron, or in fact any iron bisglycinate might suit you better, and I ate liver twice a week, took Spatone liquid iron, all and everything trying to match the strength of iron I had first been prescribed.

I started feeling better when my ferritin crept over 45 - if that's seems an easier number to try to reach first - and then it's needed to be double - but once you can feel that bit better and know you're one the right course it shouldn't be so daunting.

sueoathall• in reply topennyannie3 years ago

Thank you for your reply. I'm eating Spinach, like Popeye! Lol also liver, kidneys, turkey etc. I know I messed up my thyroxine levels before the test and they didn't test for Vitamin D for some reason. My doctor's are fairly useless! I'm continuing to come here for advice as it's so much better. Plus I'm fed up with having to spend out on private blood tests. I am starting to feel better, got a bit more energy. Thanks for your reply x

pennyannie• in reply tosueoathall3 years ago

If your metabolism is out of sync which is generally a " given " when hypo - you may also have low stomach acid and so no matter how well you eat - even a ton of spinach - it will be difficult for you body to extract the vital nutrients from your food.

I did the Bicarb of Soda test and didn't burp so now before my main meal I take a teaspoon of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar diluted in water to start my stomach digestive process.

Can't remember the exact details of the test but think I found the instructions on the internet reading around hypothyroidism.

sueoathall• in reply topennyannie3 years ago

Thanks for your reply, but I have acid reflux so I don't think low stomach acid is a problem. Unless I've got the wrong end of the stick?

pennyannie• in reply tosueoathall3 years ago

I think you'll find when you research this area properly the medications prescribed for acid reflux are not long term in your best interests.

pennyannie• in reply tosueoathall3 years ago

Is your reflux due to low stomach acid, common when hypothyroid or high stomach acid ?

sueoathall• in reply topennyannie3 years ago

I've no idea, I didn't know that was a thing

SlowDragonAdministrator• in reply tosueoathall3 years ago

Low stomach acid is extremely common when hypothyroid

It causes virtually identical symptoms as high stomach acid