pls advise on results xxxx

[Freddiestar1234]

my Results

[Freddiestar1234]

I'm feeling wiped out due to anemia I'm 4 but I'm unsure of the reading of 6 is that low n something I should be worried about as I'm not feeling great n been bleeding on period since 28 sept till now brown spotting then 4 days ago heavy red blood 🩸?

[Buddy195 Administrator]

From previous posts Freddiestar I can see that you had Graves, RAI and are now hypothyroid.

Your thyroid readings 8 months ago were

TSH 0.03 [00.3 -4.2]

fT4 17.7 [12-22]

and your GP wanted you to reduce from 150mcg Levo to 100mcg, although forum members advised that any reduction (if at all) should be slow and not by 50mcg in one go.

As tattybogle rightly stated at the time …..Your TSH say's "you're taking a bit too much", BUT your fT4 says "you're only half way up the range, so not taking too much at all, might even need to take a bit more"

What dose of Levothyroxine are you taking now? Do you have any recent thyroid bloods to share?

You also asked about HRT in your last post. Are you taking any medication/ supplements to help with peri menopause?

You were given advice on improving ferritin by humanbean and others in your last post. I’m sorry that your anaemia hasn’t improved & hope that members with more experience in this area will be able to advise.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

what are your most recent thyroid results….TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

Inadequate thyroid hormones frequently results in low vitamin levels

You need full iron panel test for anaemia

Likely to need iron infusion if iron supplements are not working

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

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 

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Iron and thyroid link

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Excellent article on iron and thyroid 

cambridge.org/core/journals...

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...

Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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...

Excellent reply by Blearyeyed about iron in this post

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

No vitamin D result

How much vitamin D are you currently taking

Test twice yearly via NHS private testing service when supplementing 

vitamindtest.org.uk

Folate is terrible

B12 …do you supplement?

Suggest you start taking a daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) 

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid 

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) 

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement

Get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing redone in 6-8 weeks

all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery