Hello all, I would be very grateful for some advice on my latest results as below...a few comments added to help clarify the picture too...thx
Inflammation CRP HS - 1.8 mg/l (Range: 0 - 5) - no significant change here
Iron Status Ferritin - 61 ug/L (Range: 13 - 150) - this has increased from 37 ug/L 3 months ago. I have been taking 2 X Solgar 20mg gentle iron tablets since then - seems there is still scope to increase these levels, so presume this needs to continue for now?
Folate - 16.8 ug/L (Range > 2.9) - This has increased from 4.2 three months ago when I added 1 X Jarrow methyl folate 1000mg as recommended, should I continue this? Is there an upper level, or what symptoms should I be keeping an eye on here?
Vitamin B12 - 125 pmol/L (Range: 25.1 - 165) - this has increased slightly from 114 three months ago. No change to supplements here, still taking 1 X Thorne Basic B complex.
Vitamin D - 104 nmol/L (Range 50-200) - no change here. Taking 3000iU drops daily, and vit K alongside.
Free T3 - 6.0 pmol/L (Range: 3.1 - 6.8) - decreased slightly. Have reduced thyroxine dose from 150mcg daily to 125/150 alternate days to humour GP who is being fairly supportive
Free Thyroxine - 20.7 pmol/l (Range: 12 - 22) - decreased slightly. Probably also due to reduction in levo dose.
As to symptoms, I am getting quite tired at the moment, but also struggling to sleep at times... any advice here? Would any of my results explain this? Or am I just getting used to my baby sleeping better and still waking up for him!?!
I've actually lost some weight which is encouraging...not without trying mind you, but have been stricter on the lifelong dieting game...
As per notes re thyroid levels, I have had a slight reduction in my levo dose to humour my GP who is being supportive, but as usual worried about the surpressed TSH...he said to come back if symptoms return and he'll increase back to 150mcg so I'm wondering if this could help energy and sleep?! Not like my levels are way out...but I am always best with t4 and T3 at the top of the range...
My T3 dose remains the same at 12.5mcg per day.
Would be very glad of any comments. Thank you 😊
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Molly161018
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Iron Status Ferritin - 61 ug/L (Range: 13 - 150) - this has increased from 37 ug/L 3 months ago. I have been taking 2 X Solgar 20mg gentle iron tablets since then - seems there is still scope to increase these levels, so presume this needs to continue for now?
Have you done an iron panel to check serum iron and saturation? If not I would do one. If these are already at a decent level then taking iron tablets may take them too high and too much iron is as bad as too little. Medichecks to a home iron test for £39 which is the complete iron panel and can be done by fingerprick.
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
Folate - 16.8 ug/L (Range > 2.9) - This has increased from 4.2 three months ago when I added 1 X Jarrow methyl folate 1000mg as recommended, should I continue this? Is there an upper level, or what symptoms should I be keeping an eye on here?
The range is 2.9-14.5. You don't need a separate folate supplement. The 400mcg methyfolate in the Thorne Basic B is enough to maintain your level (it may even increase it).
Vitamin B12 - 125 pmol/L (Range: 25.1 - 165) - this has increased slightly from 114 three months ago. No change to supplements here, still taking 1 X Thorne Basic B complex.
Just continue with 1 x Thorne Basic B as a maintenance dose. If you find B12 and folate are too high next time you check then just take 1 capsule a few times a week as maintenance.
Vitamin D - 104 nmol/L (Range 50-200) - no change here. Taking 3000iU drops daily, and vit K alongside.
Are you also taking magnesium? It's an important cofactor of D3, the body requires magnesium to convert D3 into it's usable form. If you are already taking magnesium and if you want to increase your level (recommended level is 100-150nmol/L) then maybe add an extra 1,000iu during the winter then retest at the end of March.
If you feel generally well with those doses of thyroid meds then as your results are within range then there's probably no need to change anything.
Thank you seasidesusie, in answer to your questions...
Yes I've had an iron panel, see results here: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu.... Would be glad if you could have a quick look at this - I had one response and it seemed as though I had some scope to increase my levels, but would appreciate your comments...
Re folate, thank you this is helpful - I was previously advised by another member that the ideal range was between 15-20. Obviously my previous level of 4.2 was rather low in the range - I'll go back to just taking the B complex and keep an eye on it.
I think it's unlikely that taking the b complex alone will make my b12 and folate too high, as I've been taking it for 1-2 years now and it has brought my levels up gradually, but hasn't made a dramatic difference.
Re vitamin D, yes I do take magnesium too. Perhaps I will increase my dose a bit as I am feeling quite tired at the moment (whih definitely seems to have hit with the winter) and perhaps this would help.
Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours was 22.68%
Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours was 24%
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) or Transferrin: Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron - yours was low in range
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 was low
I have no idea why your TIBC would suggest no capacity for addition iron when serum iron and saturation clearly did. In those circumstances I would go with the serum iron and saturation results.
It's always important to look at CRP as well as ferritin. CRP being an inflammation marker and if inflammation is present this would raise ferritin as well.
CRP ideally would be as low as possible, your current result is fairly low in range so I assume your ferritin level isn't far out. I can't comment on whether you should continue with your iron supplement without a further iron panel. When taking iron then an iron panel should be done regularly, I'd say no longer than 3 months. If your serum iron and saturation have improved to recommended levels then I would drop the supplement and just try and raise ferritin with iron rich food.
I was previously advised by another member that the ideal range was between 15-20.
This depends on range. Ranges differ quite a lot and Blue Horizon's range is 8.83-60.8 and as folate is recommended to be at least half way through range then with a BH test you'd be looking at 35 plus. So we must always look at the range that comes with the test. However, when the range just says >2.89 or >3.89 we suggest double figures.
As for Vit D, it's usual for this to fall during the winter as we can't make any naturally from October to March so many of us may need to increase our dose in the winter.
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Please can you help with confusing test results?
Help with test results please?
