What should I do with medication increase / change? Labs are below. Please help !!!

[Queenofwands1212]

EDIT: thank you all for the responses. What I’ve decided to do, since I’ve ran out of Armour anyway. So I’ve switched to nature throid capsules (that don’t have fillers in them.) my doctor friend sent me about 105 days worth of these so I mine as well try them and see if they work better than Armour, since Armour has fillers and has caused me to have hairloss. Another takeaway I got from your comments is to focus on iron, I do eat pumpkin seeeds everyday, and I will focus on iron to raise ferritin. So now I have increased my dose to 130mg of NT capsules (no fillers) . My body is basically an experiment, which is fine, because if I don’t try the NT capsules I won’t know if I can feel better. Once I run out of those in a several months, I can get my friend to write me a script for WP thyroid.

Post is below

I don’t know what to do anymore. I wrote a post a day ago about my extreme hairloss. My hairloss didn’t occur until I started Armour in October. I really do know that the Armour has caused the hairloss because the weekend before starting it, my hair was NOT falling out at all. It was an instant thing.

I’m currently taking 90mg of Armour. I’ve been on Armour since October 15. So a little more than 6 months. Hairloss has gotten worse and worse as being on Armour. I do have bottles of Naturethroid that I am thinking about switching to to see if the hairloss changes and if I feel better. I’m not sure if I should do that or just go up to 120mg of Armour and see if I feel better with that.

Recent labs were from March 21. The only thing that improved was TSH. It was down to 1.41 from 4 last time I got labs. But EVERYTHING else is still low. T4 is low, t3 free is low, t3 low. I’m attaching my labs here.

I feel like garbage. Fatigued. Weight gain. Insomnia. Hairloss. Inflammation etc. It’s also been a very stressful month. I had to move home because I couldn’t find an apartment in my city , then we had a sudden death in the family, stayed w family for that for a week. I’m living in a very triggering environment now. So stress is high.

I’m attaching photo of labs but I don’t understand how to attach multiple photos so I guess I’ll attach the others in comments ?

[Queenofwands1212]

Lab screen shot

Labs

[Queenofwands1212 in reply to Queenofwands1212]

Labs 3

Labs

[Queenofwands1212 in reply to Queenofwands1212]

Labs 4

Labs 4

[Queenofwands1212]

Ferritin and iron

Ferritin and iron

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Your results show you are under medicated

You need to increase dose Armour and retest in 6-8 weeks

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

As vegan you will likely need ongoing iron levels

Ferritin is extremely low

You need full iron panel test regularly 3-4 times a year when supplementing iron

High MCH

Suggests low B12 - very common if vegetarian or vegan

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

Causes of high MCH levels

High MCH scores are commonly a sign of macrocytic anemia. This condition occurs when the blood cells are too big, which can be a result of not having enough vitamin B12 or folic acid in the body.

High MCV

Similarly likely linked to being vegan

High MCV level

If someone has a high MCV level, their red blood cells are larger than usual, and they have macrocytic anemia. Macrocytosis occurs in people with an MCV level higher than 100 flTrusted Source.

Megaloblastic anemia is a type of macrocytic anemia. Deficiencies in cobalamin (vitamin B12) and folate (vitamin B9) are the most common causes of megaloblastic anemia.

Dietary and autoimmune factors

The following factors may cause vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vegan diet

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

Vitamin B12 deficiency may occur when following a vegan diet. This is because vitamin B12 naturally occurs in animal sources. A person can take vitamin B12 supplements or consume vitamin B12-fortified foods to alleviate symptoms.

Vitamin D is rather high.

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

Suggest you reduce your dose vitamin D

Aiming for around 40ng/mL (100nmol in U.K. units)

[Queenofwands1212]

Was taking vitamin d gummies so I guess I’ll stop doing that. I’m not vegan, I eat fish animal protein. I do take iron which is in my theralogix multi vitamin. It’s a very high quality multi vitamin. Interesting about the iron and you’re saying my ferritin is low even though it’s marked as normal lol. Thank you for your response. How much iron should I be taking then. Also… I know my b12 is not low. It’s been tested as well and she said it was actually very high. I was getting b12 shots and she said I don’t need to be taking b12 since my levels are already okay. So it must be the iron

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Queenofwands1212]

Previous posts you said you were vegan?

Multivitamins are never recommended on here

As nellie237 says ….can be low B12 or low folate

USA labs never seem to test folate levels

We need ALL the B vitamins together…..that’s why we always recommend a daily good quality vitamin B complex with folate in

[Queenofwands1212 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yeah but I’m not vegan anymore. I don’t eat dairy but I do eat fish protein and collagen.

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Queenofwands1212]

Iron is predominantly in red meat and offal, liver etc

Are you pre or post menopause

Heavy periods make it difficult to maintain good iron/ferritin levels

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 shows what you need to 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...

Good explanations of iron

theironclinic.com/iron-defi...

theironclinic.com/ironc/wp/...

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Queenofwands1212]

Come back with new post once you get full iron panel test done for anaemia

[Queenofwands1212 in reply to SlowDragon]

I did get my iron panel done . It’s attached

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Queenofwands1212]

humanbean or SeasideSusie may pop along and comment on iron and ferritin levels

[Litatamon in reply to Queenofwands1212]

Were you getting b12 shots from the doctor? Or you took them yourself for some other reason?

Anyone who needs b12 shots because of absorption issues, needs them for life. It is not a "good level now" vitamin like other vitamins, most who need the shots and take them will have very high levels. In fact, there is not a reason to retest after testing after loading doses. And a lot of doctors erroneously think they need to and often stop shots when the absorption issue still remains. And that choice can destroy a life.

Of course vegans and vegetarians need b12 supplementation, and might stop - or take a break - when their levels get high. A different reason for being low. ***However, a former or presently vegan/vegetarian can have an absorption issue as well and need the shots for life.***

[Queenofwands1212 in reply to Litatamon]

I was just getting them because they were free at my doctors each month. But now I’m not living in that city and I don’t have access to the free b12 shots. So are you saying I SHOULD continue to do b12 weather it’s shot or supplement? I’m confused by the contradiction comments here

[Litatamon in reply to Queenofwands1212]

No I was simply inquiring why you were taking them to begin with? And letting you know they are crucial in some situations.

Did someone note you had an absorption issue? Or low numbers?

[Litatamon in reply to Litatamon]

If one has low numbers, and you eat food with a good amount of B12, one has absorption issues. And you do not stop taking the b12 shots. No testing levels is needed if you have pernicious anemia and other reasons for absorption issues. You need the shots regardless.

(And once again a vegan or vegetarian can have low B12 due to diet only BUT it does not mean that they do not have the possibility of absorption issues too. I know you now eat fish just educating others reading along.)

But I am not understanding why you took them to begin with, at this point. Besides being free - is there another reason? Low levels?

[Queenofwands1212 in reply to Litatamon]

I was feeling tired and fatigued which was probably more thyroid related but I had the option of b12, zinc, vitamin c injections monthly for free at this place I was affiliated with.

[Litatamon in reply to Queenofwands1212]

But without levels taken before supplementation?

I know that I might be coming off snarky, I assure you I am not.

I only want you to be aware that some people have pernicious anemia/absorption issues and in that case you do not stop taking the b12 shots.

I am surmising it is a *who knows* with you. Is that fair? A la no before supplementation numbers available?

[Queenofwands1212 in reply to Litatamon]

I don’t think my b12 has ever been marked low in the past no. I was just getting the injection once a month or every other month for about 6 months to help with energy levels. I guess I’m an idiot and shouldn’t have ever done that, but I don’t have access to it anymore anyway

[Litatamon in reply to Queenofwands1212]

Let it be known idiot did not come to my head. Laughing.

All the best to you figuring it all out Queenofwands.

[shaws in reply to Queenofwands1212]

Request GP to give you a blood test that either confirms you have Pernicious Anaemia or not.

There can be very serious consequences for those who have Pernicious Anaemia who are not diagnosed and therefore not getting regular B12 Injections.

[nellie237]

Just thought I'd nip in and say that when I've had macrocytic anaemia..........its been due to folate (not B12) levels for me.

[Queenofwands1212 in reply to nellie237]

Okay good to know. Thank you

[anna_conda]

In my experience, the only time a GP will prescribe a trial run of B12 injections is when he's tried everything else to no avail and the patient already has one foot in the grave.

So you received a couple of injections (which always send the blood levels sky high; but are meaningless as far as the amount of B12 that actually reaches the cells.)

After seeing

your "fabulous" test results the good doctor completely stopped your injections because he felt you were good to go, eh?

NO WAY, JOSE!

You must educate yourself about the dangers of B12 deficiency and Pernicious Anemia because nobody else will!

Fortunately, there is a wealth of reliable information available on the internet if you know where to look.

Start here: b12deficiency.info

Good luck and God bless!

😘

[shaws in reply to anna_conda]

Before anyone supplements with B12 they have to ensure it is not caused through having Pernicious Anaemia.

My mother was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia and began 3 monthly B12 injections.

No internet then but after several years she was told that her bloods were good (B12 too) and she didn't need any more B12 injections.

Due to that GPs advice my mother eventually developed stomach cancer and both my sister and I had to request more pain relief as Mother was in an awful predicament by then and she died.

If someone has Pernicous Anaemia they have to have B12 injections for life.

My GP told me I can have as many injections as I want. I now have monthly injections.

[Litatamon in reply to shaws]

Heartbreaking to read. I am so very sorry shaws.

[Batty1]

I wonder if you had a bad batch of AT .

[Queenofwands1212 in reply to Batty1]

Could be. But regardless, I ran out of armor and I’ve switched to nature throid capsules that don’t have fillers in them. I have about 3.5 months worth of these so I mine as well try them and see if they work better than Armour

[Batty1 in reply to Queenofwands1212]

Sounds like a plan

[JAmanda]

I don’t know your full history but you look awfully under medicated. Up to you what to take - more armour or add in Levo or T3 but you’re feeling rotten and your levels are terrible, so more meds will surely help.

[Queenofwands1212 in reply to JAmanda]

Yeah. All my levels are low. I can’t do the synthetics. I tried them for years and they make me feel worse. I’ve upped my dose to 130mg of NT capsules -

[JackieVest]

Be aware that if you have the MTHFR gene mutation, B12 levels can be misleading as it may pool in your blood. For example, my B12 is deceptively high (1260) but is actually low in terms of what I absorb.