Hey guys 👋🙂New here, I'm struggling with extreme tiredness that's getting worse.
My blood results showed
Tibc 23 umol
Ferritin 45 ugl
Iron 09. Umol
Does anyone know if this shows iron deficiency? Waiting on blood test for thyroid
Main symptoms tired eyes hurt cold brain fog
Thanks 🤗
Welcome to the forum Happyxx,
So we can offer better advice, can you tell us more about your thyroid condition, eg if/ when you were diagnosed, any current medication & dosage (if applicable).
When you have these, do share thyroid blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:
TSH
FT3
FT4
Plus any antibody tests.
Although you have had some of the recommended key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12), you need to supply the ranges for these blood tests, as these vary between laboratories.
Re eye pain, are they red, swollen, dry or do you have any blurred vision? If you have dry eyes use preservative free drops like HycoSan or Hyloforte and do see an optician if you have ongoing eye pain. I have Thyroid Eye Disease and early referral/ treatment is key.
Thanks for reply 🙂 Tibc 23 umol ( 48-84)
Iron 09.09 ( 6- 26)
Ferritin 45 ugl ( 14-150)
🤗
what’s your diet like
Ferritin is low
Very common with vegetarian or vegan diet
But also common with thyroid disease
Or with 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 hereÂ
rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-co...
Look at increasing iron rich foods in dietÂ
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
Links about iron and ferritin
irondisorders.org/too-littl...
davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...
Great in-depth article on low ferritinÂ
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 ferritinÂ
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 ironÂ
Medichecks iron panel testÂ
medichecks.com/products/iro...
Iron and thyroid link
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Excellent article on iron and thyroidÂ
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 symptomsÂ
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidismÂ
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Ferritin range on MedichecksÂ
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
We have received further information the lab about ferritin reference ranges. They confirm that they are sex dependent up to the age of 60, then beyond the age of 60 the reference range is the same for both sexes:Â
Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L
Female's: 16-60: 30-150
Both >60: 30-650Â
The lower limit of 30 ug/L is in accordance with the updated NICE guidance and the upper limits are in accordance with guidance from the Association of Clinical Biochemists. ‘
Thanks so much for replies 🤗😊I haven't been diagnosed with under active yet doctors waiting on results.
Only had those blood tests so far showing iron 09.09 umol tibc 23 umol and ferritin 45ugl.
Struggling mainly with tiredness and my eyes feel heavy and sort of ache feel like I'm weak and constantly tired and brain fog.
Hard as doctor so busy he just said think all ok my love tibc and ferritin but didn't offer anything then said check thyroid but that's in two weeks.
My diet quite balanced except don't eat breakfast.
I'm 36 normally well, have asthma but this tiredness and brain fog seems be getting worse
X
And forgot to say a bit of hair loss and get really cold hands and feet. Hard as do t normally bother doctor and he quickly said think all ok but I'm exhausted x
You need to click on blue reply button, otherwise other poster doesn’t get notification
If you regularly use asthma inhaler this can reduce TSH because inhaler contains steroids
ESSENTIAL To test Ft4 and Ft3 and both thyroid antibodies
Hairloss often linked to low iron/ferritin
Thank you new here so that's a great help. Do you know why tibc could be low? Thanks x
likely due to low iron …..and/or low B12
When my iron drops I take Thorne's Iron Bisglycinate. I take one before bed w/a tall glass of water. I usually begin feeling better in a few days. I continue taking them until "I know" I'm good, then I give it a break. By the time I begin wondering what my iron is, it's usually time for another lab check. I feel best when it's 2/3 or 3/4 of the range. Sometimes my iron drops very quickly and sometimes it drops slowly. Not sure why. But yes, take some iron - should help you feel better.
Thanks so much the tiredness is quite over whelming looking forward to seeing what next blood tests say for thyroid or diabetes. Just keep feeling so tired behind my eyes x
Our body needs iron to utilize thyroid hormones, whether we have a thyroid issue or not. If iron is low, (a major culprit of tiredness) and your lab results are proof that you are low in iron, then that should prompt you to start taking iron right away. It takes some time to build up, so you can't just take a little here and there, you gotta keep at it daily. Some see only after a few days a relief. But don't stop, keep going. Thorne also has a capsule of my favorite type of iron, as well as some B vitamins to assist and VitC to help absorption. It's called Ferrasorb. Not sure how long you have to wait for your thyroid/diabetes labs, but in the interim, you should def begin taking iron now.
My 17yo daughter was feeling so tired, and I was so fearful she may have a thyroid issue like me and my older daughter, so I tested her with all the labs that people here recommend. She was fearful she'd have a thyroid issue because she knows what we go through. Thankfully the only thing out of line was iron, ferritin, and Vit D. I gave her some iron immediately and she was feeling so much better in just a few days. She takes VitD once a week. She was so happy and back to feeling good in no time.
Best to you!
Wow that's great she felt so much better 
that's the confusing part Dr on phone just said no iron is fine but seems low and ferritin and he said don't take iron tablets till get rest of results.Thyroid and diabetes blood tests isn't for two weeks.
Do you think just start the iron as so hard being so tired.
And my concentration getting worse.
It so hard as understand doctors are busy and I hate bothering them but when you're feel tired and my results are low strange be said seems ok let's wait till next bit done.
Thanks for a your help
Do you know what tibc could be low I don't seem have any other illnesses just asthma xx
Low TIBC mean you have lots of room for more iron. The higher your TIBC, you're running out of room and can cut back on iron.
Not sure how far off you need to be off iron before labs are done, but in the meantime, yes, if I were you, I'd take some. I can only vouch for the Iron Bisglycinate that I use, as there are many types and brands. But if you have access to Thorne in a store, I'd start today.
I can't stand when doctors delay labs to fit their schedule. It's like saying just go ahead and suffer for a couple weeks and then make another appt later and I'll let you know the results. It's absurd. This is why I buy my own labs and get them drawn whenever I want. Get my results mostly the next day!
I've asked three mainstream doctors to add an iron panel to labs I was given. ALL three gave me labs for a CBC, one added Ferritin. I didn't argue w/their stupidity and just bought my own.
I know so frustrating as doesn't help the next two weeks being so so tired and maybe getting worse.You've helped so much. The low tibc seemed to concern him the most but be said iron and ferritin normal yet both seem low.
Just hope in the two weeks he may know if thyroid but worry if all that's ok still stuck with feeling so weak. Fingers crossed.
Low thyroid seems to run in my family.
Yes great idea with the iron thank you.
I did think might go private with bloods all takes so long.
Absolutely. Def go private, because unfortunately, you have a doctor that is just so out of touch. So simple to advise you to take some iron to bring it up. I like doctors who like to help! Took me a while to find one, but I did, years later she retired and when I ran into trouble the new person was not good, but understood somewhat. She was new, a NP. Now she left and there's another new one and he's an MD. I'll see him next year. I hear he is great. Hoping! No sense feeling so bad, take some iron. Can only help.
I'm going to get the iron so least I'm trying to help myself in-between waiting and I'll see if thyroid if not I'll get tests done private or second opinion. Hard as GPS only get ten mins and on phone seems less but so hard when you're genuinely struggling 🙈 thanks so much.
Kim
Nature throid and tiredness
Decreasing iron levels despite taking iron 
Ferritin Extremely Low 
Extreme hypothyroid... It's not all bad!
