I give up

[Pastelart]

My latest ferritin results are normal!

I took iron tablets for 3 months, so it has increased slightly, but pu- leez!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Words fail me (a rare occurrence for me). They are so ignorant 😞

Are your iron tablets prescribed? Have they done a full iron panel or just ferritin?

[Pastelart in reply to SeasideSusie]

I asked if I should be taking iron and the doctor replied “If you want and stop if you don’t get on with them “ She prescribed ferrous fumarate. I have begged them to do an iron panel, but am told that it’s not indicated! I’m going to post a link to an Australian paper, just wish I could get the doctor to read it. I’m going to try at my appointment tomorrow.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Pastelart]

I have begged them to do an iron panel, but am told that it’s not indicated!

So iron deficiency hasn't been confirmed and I don't suppose a full blood count has been done either to see if you have anaemia. I wonder what they learn at med school? Or perhaps your GP had that day off 🙄

[Pastelart in reply to SeasideSusie]

I did have an FBC and was told that it was normal. Perhaps I should post the results for a more trustworthy report!

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

A shocking reflection on how vitamin levels are ignored. Please keep taking your iron suppement!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

see you previously had iron infusion in 2020

Do you eat red meat?

Liver once week?

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...

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.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...

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

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

GP needs to do FULL iron panel test

Just testing ferritin is inadequate

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...

Here’s absolutely excellent reply by @humanbean

on iron and ferritin panel test results for another member 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Good explanations of iron 

theironclinic.com/iron-defi...

theironclinic.com/ironc/wp/...

Helpful info on iron infusion and supplements 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Pastelart in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you, as always. I do eat meat, but not too keen on liver.

I found an Australian paper on low ferritin without anemia, which states that the cause should be investigated and in the list of symptoms, they mention that ferritin need to be at least 100 to support thyroid replacement.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pastelart]

which is absolutely correct

On levothyroxine minimum levels for ferritin is 70 and around 100 is better

With optimal ferritin levels you would likely see TSH increase too

NHS not obligated to treat unless deficient

Suggest you get full iron panel via Medichecks

Come back with new post once you get results

Do iron panel test fasting early morning and don’t eat iron rich dinner night before test

If/when taking iron supplements stop week before test

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

[humanbean in reply to Pastelart]

in the list of symptoms, they mention that ferritin need to be at least 100 to support thyroid replacement.

The level you should be aiming for depends on the reference range. I suspect that the suggestion that your level should be 100 is probably based on a reference range of 13 - 150 which is the most common range in use for women.

With a range of 13 - 150, a result which is roughly 50% - 70% through range would be something like 82 - 110, which obviously includes the suggested level of 100.

With a range of 10 - 300 a result of roughly 50% - 70% through the range would suggest an optimal level of 155 - 210.

Note that the range you were supplied with, 10 - 300...

The lower level of the range being only 10 is truly absurd. Nobody would feel well with a ferritin result of 10 particularly if they had thyroid disease.

[Pastelart]

I’m talking 125 mcg.

Levothyroxine

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pastelart]

always the same brand levothyroxine?

Can you add FBC result