Help with iron panel results please

[Northlondonmummy]

Hi, I had an iron panel done in July following years of trying to get iron levels up with Ferrous Fumarate, without any luck. Results attached. On consultation with my GP we agreed for me to try a Mirena coil. However leading up to the date for inserting this I freaked about the actual procedure and also side effects and decided this is not what I want. I cancelled the appointment but obviously need to do something to sort my low levels… I eat red meat, pulses lots of green veg etc. Would hugely appreciate if someone could give me some guidance as to what I should do as my levels seem really quite low. My main symptom is shortness of breath, which dr’s have been brushing off as anxiety…

Thanks so much reading 💜

[SlowDragon Administrator]

FT4: 16.7 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 47.00% through range

FT3: 4.5 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 37.84% through range

Was test done early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Results show you are not on high enough dose levothyroxine

Most people when adequately treated will have Ft3 at least 50-60% through range and usually on just levothyroxine Ft4 will need to be 60-80% through range

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

When were vitamin D, folate, B12 last tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[Northlondonmummy in reply to SlowDragon]

thanks for your response! I should have said that I’ve managed to get an increase since this test so now on 125 mcg 3 days a week and 100 the rest. I’m retesting at the end of this month. Testing done before 9 o’clock without food or drink. I’m pre menopause with heavy periods.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Northlondonmummy]

Anaemia often results in heavy periods….as does being under medicated thyroid wise

Getting iron levels improved by prescribed iron supplements should help

Request vitamin D, folate and B12 testing

Are you currently taking vitamin D and vitamin B complex?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ferritin is deficient

Iron is deficient

See GP for prescription for iron supplements or push for iron infusion

Are you pre or post menopause

Heavy periods?

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.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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...