Blood test results

[Deepatee]

Thanks to the forum for the wealth of information you armed me with... my GP is considering upping my levo dosage and agreed to test for deficiencies. I have been feeling unwell for some time.

My recent test results are below, I'm not sure what the outcome will be as I'm in the process of following up GP with call to discuss.

My GP also included a tiredness screen which looked at full blood count, kidneys, liver, diabetes (runs in my family) etc. So again, a massive thanks as I felt I was listened to.

Test 4 August 22 (last week): TSH 3.5 miu/L

Range (0.2 - 4)

Previous test April 22: TSH 4 miu/L

Serum vitamin B12 >2000 ng/L (211-911)

Serum ferritin level 24 ug/L (10-322)

Serum folate level 10.6 ug/L (5.4 -24)

Serum total 25-hydroxy vitamin D level 69 nmol/L (50-100)

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

TSH is far too high for someone on levothyroxine

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

TSH should always be below 2 on levothyroxine

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

You need 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine and bloods retested in 6-8 weeks time

Ferritin is extremely/low deficient

You need full iron panel test for anaemia

Vitamin D is too high for GP to prescribe

Self supplement to improve to at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[Deepatee in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks Slow Dragon, yes the test was done at 8am, no food or drink passed my lips and my last dose of levy was taken 24 hours beforehand. I imagine my GP will increase my medication based on this. I'm not vegetarian, but typically eat chicken, tuna (less red meat).

Re iron deficiency, I've also had a full blood count and the only thing that is below the reference range is my mean cell haemoglobin . Currently 26.2 pg (27-32). Having done some quick research, this could indicate iron deficiency anaemia. Hopefully my GP will speak to me about this.

I take fish oil, B6, NAC, magnesium, whole food zinc (with vit C), Agnus cactus. I have stopped taking multivitamins since my last post a month ago. All the supplements I take do not contain Biotin.

I'll start supplementing vit D to increase it to 100nmol.

Thanks you for all the information as always!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low ferritin

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

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

Also See page 7 on here

rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-co...

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

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ferritin frequently low when under medicated for thyroid

On levothyroxine when adequately treated TSH is usually around or under one

Ft3 should be at least 50-60% through range

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...

Heme iron v non heme

hsph.harvard.edu/nutritions...

Good explanations of iron

theironclinic.com/iron-defi...

theironclinic.com/ironc/wp/...

Excellent reply by Blearyeyed about iron in this post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...