Iron panel test result

[notpink]

Just had results of a medicheck iron panel test:

CRP HS 0.39 mg/L (Range 0 - 5)

Iron Status: Iron 31.5 umo/L (Range 5.8 - 34.5)

TIBC 48.3 umol/L (Range 45 - 81)

UIBC x 16.8 umol/L (Range 24.2 - 70.1)

Transferrin Saturation x 65.2% (Range 20 - 50)

Ferritin 57.4 ug/L (Range 13 - 150)

Had iron panel checked with local GP practice about 2 years ago and Transferrin Saturation was 59% (note at bottom of test was "consider Haemochromatosis if over 50% (female)" - GP said all was fine.

Just wondering if anyone thought I should contact GP to ask about this result. Am almost 78 and get the feeling anything I mention is automatically labelled 'old age'. Am on 50/25 levo. alternate days + 20 mcg T3 daily (5 mcg just re-instated, after being removed about a year ago because of continuing TSH suppression!! Feeling a bit more energetic with the T3 increase but still got cognitive symptoms (cannot find words, etc.). Libido completely disappeared. Lost 1½ stone in 2019 and remain around 7 stone in weight. PS. am also Scottish which I've read makes it more likely for someone to have Haemochromatosis. Any thoughts would be welcome.

[radd]

notpink,

Your transferrin saturation (T/S) is raised and this maybe so in Haemochromatosis but has to be in conjunction with elevated ferritin, which raises to prevent excess iron from being free (which is toxic). Neither your ferritin or serum iron levels are over-range so your labs are not indicative of Haemochrmatosis.

T/S is only a calculation of various iron labs and yours is elevated due to too little transferrin (protein transporters) to bind & transport iron in relation to your good serum iron levels. There are also many reasons for low level transferrin and unfortunately old age does wear things out but that's not to say I don’t think we should keep trying to improve. I love that you mention libido at age 78 😁. Hope I'm like that at 78!

All in all serum iron levels are good but ferritin could do with improving as iron levels will drop quickly without adequate stores (ferritin) if intake isn’t maintained. Being sufficiently replaced with thyroid hormone will help improve iron usage and the whole euthyreosis process. What about Vit B12, folate and Vit D levels?

[notpink in reply to radd]

Thank you so much for your detailed reply....very helpful. I am adjusting to my senior years creeping up. Trying not to put everything I notice (healthwise) as 'not quite right' and should be fixed! Thanks again Radd for your help and wisdom.

[Redporti]

I don’t know much about your bloods but I would like to ask you what happened when they dropped your T3 dose due to suppressed TSH. Did your TSH rise? I too have a suppressed TSH but from what I understand that is a normal response to adding T3 medication.

[notpink in reply to Redporti]

Hi Redporti. My TSH remained suppressed even after dropping the 5mcg of T3 a year ago. I have never understood why GPs/Edos. don't accept the evidence and research out there. Paul Robinson writes on this which might help to clarify.

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/is-...

[Redporti in reply to notpink]

I’m in the position now where my endocrinologist wants a MRI of my pituitary gland as she wants to rule out secondary hypothyroidism!!! She doesn’t understand that FT4 levels will drop and TSH too when you increase T3. I have read Paul Robinson’s books and his posts and he explains why this happens really well. Shame my endocrinologist won’t read his books too. I’m now in a dilemma because if I don’t have the MRI she will stop my T3 medication.

I am currently on Levo 25mcg and Liothyrinine 40mcg split into 3 doses. If feel good on this dose and no symptoms of secondary hypothyroidism.

[malena65]

Helli! Take levo early morning hours like when get up to pass water anytime after after 4 am because body has gone through digestive process etc then have breakfast at your normal time at 7 or so! Try it! Hope it helps!

Malena

[notpink in reply to malena65]

Thanks malena65. I do take my T3 early and leave 1 hr before breakfast - 2 more throughout the day and take the Levo at bedtime. Trial and error, but this seems to suit me best.

[Petgirl2]

Hi notpink.I'm possibly the worst person to answer here.

I have nothing but trouble, no faith in doctors , hate synthetic drugs, also starting to see synthetic supplements are also dodgy.

I can't actually see a solution, depression is creaping back.

I'd really like to get t3 only, as people with similar problems to me seem to have benefitted.

But as the docs won't even test t3, I'm not holding my breath .

So sorry not pink.

[notpink in reply to Petgirl2]

Thanks for your comments but am sorry to hear you're not feeling so good. It's a long, weary road sometimes and if there's no good rapport with GP it does get you down. This site is so good though...lots of valuable advice and information. A lot of people get their thyroid tested privately. I got mine done that way (with Medichecks) and then sourced a private endocrinologist, who put me on a T3 trial. Eventually got an appointment with NHS endocrinologist via GP, and he continues to prescribe T3. He's a diabetic endocrinologist and doesn't have much expertise with thyroid problems and continually focuses on suppressed TSH! Testing your Vitamin D, B12, ferritin and folate levels is also recommended. Worth asking GP if you can have this done. Hope things improve for you and you make some headway with GP.....or another one?