Hello everyone,
Everything is in range, but is there anything on here that I should be taking notice of?
I’m not medicated and diagnosed with ME/CFS only.
GP doesn’t care because blood is good.
Fed up feeling rubbish and weight gain that won’t budge.
I always come back to a thyroid/ hormonal issue and am so grateful for extra eyes and any advice.
Thank you
Olivia
Your ferritin is too low. It should be 75 - 100 to feel well. The NHS ignores this and their reference range is too wide.
Thank you
My ferritin was 269 ug/L is that too high then?
You haven't given the range but it does seems so. My GP phoned me same day when I had a high Ferritin result but it was only as I had recently had an infusion so not an issue. Best speak to your doctor.
Your ferritin is much too low. You need a full iron panel to try and find out why.
Your TSH is too high and suggests your thyroid is struggling to make enough hormone.
Thank you. I’ve been taking large dose iron daily for just over 3 years. Yikes. BetterYou liquid supplement has boosted my b12 very well, is their iron a better supplement than what I’m currently taking? Or can I just not absorb it?
I’ll try to fix my ferritin before making any decisions, but if my thyroid is struggling yet in range and GP is a choccy teapot, is that the time to consider going it alone and medicating myself?
There's a lot more experienced people on here but taking some form of vitamin C at the same time can help absorption. So food sources or vit C tablets.
There may be a different type of iron that you respond to better also. Again, hopefully someone else can advise.
In the end I got an iron transfusion privately after I lost a lot of blood during an operation and obiously my situation had gone from bad to worse. It was expensive but worth it in my book. You might be able to persuade your GP to give you a transfusion if you've been supplementing this long but that hinges on the fact they think you need it which they may well not.
Thank you. I take 1000mg effervescent vit c daily along with the 500mg in the iron and obvs daily food intake.
I can see my GPs face now when I suggest an iron infusion. :/
I’ll do some research on it. Can I ask where you went for yours?
There's a private GP practice not too far from me that offers various IV vits and iron. Think they are linked to a centre in London that was even more expensive.
themewspractice.com/priceli...
After I paid for that, I was then diagnosed with a sleep condition that as part of the treatment the requirement is Ferritin at 75+ so my GP has agreed that I can get an infusion on the NHS next time mine drops below that level!
It really shouldn't have to be this way. I'm sorry.
Thank you. It’s unfortunate that you had to be diagnosed with something else before they would recognise it as an issue. Tsk. I’ll see what my GP says, but she unlikely to waiver from her position that I am the picture of health and I’ll have to seek something private.
That interesting what sleep condition is it associated with and how was it diagnosed?
The condition is Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. Restless Legs Syndrome also has a requirement for good in range Ferritin. I had an overnight polysomnography test at an NHS sleep clinic.
OliviaJ
I’ve been taking large dose iron daily for just over 3 years.
In that case I would urge you to do an iron panel that includes serum iron, transferrin saturation percentage, TIBC and ferritin. When supplementing with iron we should regularly check these levels, you can have low ferritin but very good iron levels and by supplementing you can take your serum iron and saturation too high and this can lead to toxicity.
Medichecks do a fingerprick home iron test for £49, currently on offer at £39 (you can't you any discount code with this as it's already discounted), and this seems to be the best value home test that includes the full iron panel:
medichecks.com/products/iro...
Thank you. That’s good to know. I’ve ordered the medichecks iron profile you have suggested.
Not a good idea to take iron without having your iron tested first. Which is why I suggested a full iron panel that tests more than ferritin, your stored iron. You could be one of those people that have high iron, but don't put much into storage.
But I agree, it is essentail to take a high dose of vit C with the iron.
No point in boosting your B12, either, if your body can't use it. And it won't be able to use if if you don't have all the other Bs optimal. So, when you took the B12 did you also take a B complex with it?
You don't need to take thyroid hormone replacement at this point - self-treated or otherwise. Your thyroid could recover when your nutrients are optimal. Or, you could find that having that low ferritin could be causing your TSH to stay low, and it will rise if you raise your ferritin. So, it all comes down to getting that iron panel done. 
Thank you. I had my bloods done during pregnancy and was advised to take a high dose supplement as my ferritin was at 11, but they didn’t seem particularly alarmed and suggested that labs during pregnancy couldn’t really be relied on anyway 🤷♀️ And I’ve just continued.
Now I’ve written that I realise it sounds ridiculous…..
I haven’t taken a b complex, but will get on it now.
Thank you for your advice. I’m taking everything on board and ordered the iron panel.
You have absolutely no need to consider thyroid hormone replacement at this time. Your levels are perfectly acceptable for someone not on medication for, and with no diagnosis of, hypothyroidism. You are unlikely to have Hashimoto's as both antibody tests have come back within range. Given this scenario, self-medication will do more harm than good. What does need addressing, as others have said, are the issues around iron, and getting your Vit.D to the top of the range, where most people feel at their best. Getting vitamin and mineral levels optimal will support effective functioning of the thyroid, and can prevent the development of hypothyroidism.
Thank you.I am only interested in improving my health so I am going to concentrate on improving my levels and complete the coeliac testing.
Hopefully, as others have said, this should improve my baseline.
After the info I’ve been given self medicating is off the radar now.
When my results came back with everything within range (I also had the doctor comment on my results - everything ok) I almost didn’t post as I thought I may be wasting peoples time..!
I am so so glad I did, the information I’ve been given is simply invaluable.
These are the iron supps I take.
Those tablets are very high dose. How many are you taking per day?
And referring to Folic Acid, please read these links :
takecareof.com/articles/ben...
chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...
I’ve been taking 1 a day alternating each day between each type. Cannot believe what I’ve just read 😳
Thank you.
One a day might be fine, as long as your serum iron is not rising dramatically while your ferritin is staying low.
Iron is complicated. Whereas you can raise zinc by supplementing zinc (for example) you can't assume that ferritin (iron stores) will rise just because you take iron - your serum iron might rise instead. Nor can you assume serum iron will rise just because you take iron - your ferritin might rise instead. Unless testing is carried out you won't know what your body is going to do with the iron you are taking. It might do exactly what you want it to do, but without testing you won't know.
This thread might explain it better, and the replies are very useful too :
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
If you want to know about other iron supplements available in the UK then this reply to another member might be helpful :
What’s your diet like, are you vegetarian or vegan
On gluten free diet or dairy free diet?
Balanced diet, no restrictions.
So if eating plenty of red meat and liver once week iron levels should be good
Do you have Heavy periods?
Could you be coeliac?
Ever had coeliac blood test
Get test before considering trialing strictly gluten free diet
Unexplained low ferritin, folate or B12 can indicate gluten intolerant
NHS will treat thyroid is TSH over 5, especially if had high thyroid antibodies
But your antibodies are negative at moment
Eat plenty of red meat, probably not as much liver as I should.I've not considered coeliac to be honest. My mum was gluten intolerant so knew what to look out for and I've not seen anything that would lead me to that, but as you say my low ferritin may actually be a symptom.
I've looked at test going from 12 quid up to 230! What should I be looking for as a benchmark for testing?
Yes, my periods are pretty bad. Like clockwork, but heavy and painful. I have ovarian cysts also and have polyps/fibroids in the past.
Thank you for your help.
Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test
Alternatively there’s test around £20
Eg Lloyds pharmacy
If test is positive, you will need endoscopy while still on high gluten rich diet
Assuming test is negative you can start trial strictly gluten free diet 6 months minimum
You might be amazed
PCoS and Hashimoto’s often linked
PCos and gluten intolerance may be linked
In your shoes Id also boost your vitD level up. Its best around the 100+ mark. Yours is a bit low.
I hope you get your iron sorted..... poor dues that GP hasnt referred you through....
Re TSH level.....the nhs wont treat until it goes over 10. You may well find that if you manage to sort your iron issues, not easy I know, this sorts your thyroid too.
Thank you Im taking the betteryou vit d spray 3000iu daily. I did expect my D to be much higher actually.
I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that unless it's falling off and messing up her surgery my GP won't touch it. Even when I managed to scrape myself up and slopped myself through her door at my very worst - I could barely keep my eyes open - she brushed it off and told me to get a good night's sleep. 😂 it's so bad it's laughable.It's only now reviewing all this that I'm realising I need to change GP. They can't all be like mine.
Theres a lot of them about am afraid.....lol. I think you need a higher dose than you are taking vit D. Id be inclined to raise it to 5000iu for a course and then retest in three months. You can buy soft gels -these are great as vit D is best in a little oil. Failing that take you vit D tablet with something fatty, like cheese, milk etc... That is unless you are planning a holiday where its very sunny and you can sit in the sun sunbathing? 🏖
Hi oliviaJ I’m sorry to hear you are feeling so awful.
Perhaps give your gp some references to encourage them to take your iron more seriously. Both of these links below from the royal college of nursing and nice guidelines state that ferritin below 30 is absolute iron deficiency.
The RCN guidelines are pretty helpful.
If CRP is greater than 5 then you can still have deficiency up to ferritin 50. Your CRP isn’t at 5 but it’s not far off and I doubt it’s a switch at 5 - there is probably some impact as you move closer to 5. (Although I am not medically trained)
rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-co...
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...
Also, the iron protocol group on Facebook gives SO much information about how iron works. I found it very interesting and helpful.
Thank you so much. I will read through and pluck up the courage to book an appointment.
If you can’t get an appointment, write a letter to your doctor with a copy to the Practice Manager outlining your problems, listing the links to the guidelines. I find you get more attention that way.
I’m following you because your post and lab results are similar to mine. Thanks for posting! I’ve struggled with my ferritin and iron too. Some of my tiredness improved when my ferritin and iron increased. I can’t decide if I have a hormonal/thyroid issue either. After asking my doctor a few times, he’s put me on a trial of levo and so far8 haven’t noticed much difference but I’m going to raise to 100 mcg next week.
Have a look at my profile if you want to, I’ve posted my labs as well!
results from Blue Horizon
Blue Horizon Results
Blue Horizon Results
Blue horizon results.
Blue horizon results?
