Thyroid test

[Tiroide]

Hi guys,

I have attached my last thyroid test.

I have asked to be checked for the T3 but I was declined, non sure why.

Apparently my antibody are raised.

No idea what does mean.

Can you please feedback?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post shows you had Graves’ disease and RAI

Are you still on 100mcg levothyroxine

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each

Was test done early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

FT4: 15 pmol/l (Range 9 - 19) 60.00%

Obviously you really need Ft3 tested

Many U.K. patients forced to test privately

cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Also essential to test vitamin D at least annually

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Are you currently taking vitamin D supplements?

[Tiroide in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon Re:Previous post shows you had Graves’ disease and RAI,

Yes

Are you still on 100mcg levothyroxine

Yes

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each

Yes

I took the blood test at 1pm without taking levothyroxine

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tiroide]

TSH is at its lowest at 1-2pm

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ferritin is extremely low/deficient

Request GP do full iron panel test for anaemia

Are you vegetarian or vegan

Or heavy periods?

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating 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

An article that explains why Low ferritin and low thyroid levels are often linked

preventmiscarriage.com/iron...

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

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.

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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...

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Tiroide in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Yes I am vegetarian

I take vitamin D

I will do some additional tests as suggested

T3 and Vitamin D

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tiroide]

So you need to explain to GP you’re vegetarian

Likely to need iron supplements

Also explains low B12

As a vegetarian you should be taking daily B12 supplement

[Charlie-Farley]

Hi Tiroide 👋😊

NHS rarely test for FT3 EVEN if doctors request it. More down to financial constraints or just the general ignorance in the medical profession than anything else.

We end up going private for the full picture. When you get a Full thyroid panel makes you realise how ‘bald’ and inadequate the NHS test is. No good complaining- waste of energy and won’t change anything. I am successfully working round them with only minimal interaction as necessary to keep the scripts coming.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

academic.oup.com/nutritionr...

The present review of the literature regarding B12 status among vegetarians shows that the rates of B12 depletion and deficiency are high. It is, therefore, recommended that health professionals alert vegetarians about the risk of developing subnormal B12 status. Vegetarians should also take preventive measures to ensure adequate intake of this vitamin, including the regular intake of B12 supplements to prevent deficiency. Considering the low absorption rate of B12 from supplements, a dose of at least 250 μg should be ingested for the best results.3

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B or Jarrow B Right are recommended options that contains folate, but both are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

If serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a B12 supplement as well as a B Complex (to balance all the B vitamins) initially for first 2-4 months, then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

B12 sublingual lozenges

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthline.com/nutrition/me...

[Tiroide in reply to SlowDragon]

B12- I have ordered the one from Amazon, thank you SlowDragon

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tiroide]

Has GP prescribed iron supplements yet

Going to take many months to improve low ferritin levels

Most people on levothyroxine find its important to have ferritin at least over 70 minimum

[Tiroide]

I have finally been referred an endocrinologist appointment from my GP, hurray! So I have prepared a list of questions and blood test requests including anemia/iron and Ferritin;meanwhile I have purchased B12 tablets suggested by your link which I will start as soon as possible. Thank you for the suggestion always grateful of this community

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tiroide]

Have you bought both vitamin B complex and separate B12

Ferritin is deficient

GP should be prescribing iron supplements.Have they done so

[Tiroide in reply to SlowDragon]

I have bought that one from Amazon in the link you suggested ( see picture) My GP stated Iron no action!(😏) but I will discuss this with the endocrinologist hopefully soon.

👍

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tiroide]

As well as B12 you need separate vitamin B complex as detailed in reply above

Thorne Basic B on offer on Amazon

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Will tag humanbean and SeasideSusie

As vegetarian and ferritin at 21 you need to work on improving low ferritin

First step is to get full iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

[humanbean]

There are lots of iron supplements available and the main difference between them is their iron content and whether they are liquid or pills. If people can't tolerate one product they can try another with a lower iron content.

Note that liquid iron supplements can stain teeth brown, pills don't.

All iron supplements blacken stools, although the effect is probably more obvious the higher the iron content of the product being taken.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Nobody should take iron supplements without good reason. The body can't get rid of excess iron and when it is at levels which are too high in can deposit itself in organs such as brain, heart and others.

Determining whether someone needs iron should be dependent on both ferritin and iron, since ferritin can be low while serum iron is high, or vice versa, and different combinations tell you different things about the person's health.