Hypothyroid and Anemia

[MightyMay]

Good day to you all. I have a basic question . I would Iike to know if post menopausal women can also suffer from iron anemia.

[Jazzw]

Of course! There’s still a dietary requirement for iron in post menopausal women, it’s just a bit lower.

You can develop iron deficiency anaemia at any age and stage of life for lots of reasons—for instance, maybe dietary intake is insufficient, or there can be gut issues which make it difficult for your body to absorb iron from foods

[MightyMay in reply to Jazzw]

Thank you so much for your response. I will be asking my doctor to for blood work because I am having so many symptoms of iron deficiency.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Anaemia is extremely common with hypothyroidism, even after menopause

Are you vegetarian or vegan

Essential to do full iron panel test for anaemia including ferritin

Ferritin is often raised due to inflammation, so that’s why need iron panel test

[KristinCC in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon - which tests do you ask for specifically? I usually tell my doctor exactly what I would like him to run. I've had my ferritin checked, but I wasn't aware it could be raised due to inflammation. My hair is falling out, but ferritin is in range (or was last time I had it checked). It was around 70 - I can't remember exactly.

[MightyMay in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your response. I am not vegan. I suffer from hypothyroid and pernicious anemia. I will be doing the iron panel test for iron anemia.

[bookish]

Yes, I think it is fairly common, partly because so many have undiagnosed iron deficiency going into menopause. And coeliacs are often only diagnosed late, with low iron being an early sign. I'm working on mine and had tests done yesterday. Hope you can resolve it. Best wishes

[MightyMay in reply to bookish]

Thank you so much....will be doing test and hopefully resolve my issues.

[sue_b]

Hi, I would also ask for Folate and Vitamin D as these are constant issue for me: hypothyroid/postmenopausal. I have to supplement. Good Luck 🙂

[MightyMay in reply to sue_b]

Thank you for your reply. I was tested for both of these and I take 5000mcg D3/k2 and B12 sublingual with methylfolate. I'm also receiving B12 injections every 2 weeks as I have pernicious anemia.

[bookish in reply to MightyMay]

The PA will be why you are iron deficient. Without functioning parietal cells you will be without both intrinsic factor (for B12 absorption) and gastric acid - insufficient acid (hypochlorhydria or achlorhydria) affects ability to cleave B12 from food but also affects iron absorption and likely other vits and minerals as digestion compromised. People with PA are at high risk for iron deficiency (and your doctor should know that already!).