Further to my post of 24.10.22
Endo increased my Levo to 75 mcg daily and advised TSH to aim for 0.5-2.5, when I mentioned low ferritin she looked at the blood test and said everything is within range? Said my symptoms of brain fog, swimmy head, heaviness and tinitis are unlikely related to thyroid disease although further optimisation of levo dose is possible. Said if ongoing symptoms I could be a candidate for a trial of T3 and T4 combination if GP is able to prescribe, that would only address the brain fog. She said she is unable to prescribe T3 and if it was thought to be necessary she will need a re-referral with written confirmation that prescription would be provided by GP.
GP confirmed that she is not able to prescribe T3. So neither of them can prescribe T3. I am aiming at getting my ferritin level up and hope this might help with my symptoms.
I am now taking 75mcg daily, in two half doses because it took me a while to get going in the mornings when taken in one evening dose.
I'm still taking B12, Vit D and K2 and Thorn B complex on alternate days.
THYROID TEST 9.1.23
Component Your Value Standard Range
Free T3 5.0 pmol/L 3.5 to 6.5 pmol/L3.5 - 6.5 pmol/L
Component Your Value Standard Range
TSH 1.86 mU/L 0.35 to 5.50 mU/L0.35 - 5.50 mU/L
Free T4 15.0 pmol/L 10.5 to 21.0 pmol/L10.5 - 21.0 pmol/L
Component Your Value Standard Range
Vitamin B12 475.0 ng/L 211.0 to 911.0 ng/L211.0 - 911.0 ng/L
Folate 16.92 ug/L >4.12 ug/L>4.12 ug/L
Please note new folate method and cutoff:
Probable deficiency - <4.13 ug/L
Indeterminate 4.13 - 6.13 ug/L
Replete >6.13 ug/L
If the patient cannot be fasted be aware that a folate rich meal, eaten less than 3 hours prior to venesection, may increase serum folate concentrations.
I finally got an Iron Overload Study done, it took some persuading to the GP for authorisation , she kept saying my levels are within range. I feel like I'm dragging lead around with my body, swimmy headed, tinitis and brain fog. The Endo report said the increase in Levo would help the brain fog but not the other symptoms and referred me back to the GP who is going to refer me to Ear, Nose and throat specialist for investigation into the tinitis, I think they will advise getting a hearing aid as I'm down on hearing on one side. I can live with the tinitis, the swimmy head and heaviness doesn't seem to figure in their solutions and these are the two symptoms I feel iron supplements will help.
I told the GP that NICE revised the range for Ferritin last November, and that anyone with levels under 30 are iron deficient. Cambridge labs still use the lower level of 10, with a note stating that - 'a normal ferritin may not exclude iron deficiency if levels are a the lower end of the normal range or in the presence of inflammation' - but the GP's seem to ignore this.
I am going to get some iron supplements, and the GP has noted this, said I will need a blood test in three months to check levels again. I would like some advice on the different types of iron supplements please. When I took ill in 2019 I was prescribed liquid iron (this was in Kenya, they seemed to be more on the ball regarding this than the UK GP's) This liquid didn't suit my digestive system and I wondered if there are more choices here.
Can you please interpret the other readings on this blood test taken on 9.1.23
Component Your Value Standard Range
CRP <4 mg/L 0 to 9 mg/L0 - 9 mg/L
Please note change of method and reference interval. For further information please contact the Biochemistry Duty Doctor.
Ferritin 23.5 ug/L 10.0 to 291.0 ug/L10.0 - 291.0 ug/L
A normal ferritin may not exclude iron deficiency if levels are at the lower end of the normal range or in the presence of inflammation.
Serum Iron 11.4 umol/L 9.0 to 30.4 umol/L9.0 - 30.4 umol/L
Please note change of method and reference interval. For further information please contact the Biochemistry Duty Doctor.
Transferrin 2.65 g/L 2.50 to 3.80 g/L2.50 - 3.80 g/L
% Saturation 19 % 16 to 50 %16 - 50 %
Confusing iron panel results
Some help with interpreting iron panel please. 
Ferritin, Iron & Iron Binding - Haemochromatosis / Iron Avidity / Iron Overload - Blood results
Low Ferritin and raised Iron 
Ferritin levels & iron supplements 
