Latest labs. Help pls.

[Emuflea]

Hi I've got my latest labs. Whilst some things have improved, I'm a way off of optimal. SlowDragon are you able to advise?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What thyroid hormones are you taking

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

Ferritin is extremely deficient

Take results to GP

You need full iron panel test for anaemia

Probably iron supplements

Are you vegetarian or vegan

Heavy periods?

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...

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

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

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...

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...

Shellfish and Mussels are excellent source of iron 

healthline.com/nutrition/he...

Heme iron v non heme

hsph.harvard.edu/nutritions...

Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidism 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ferritin range on Medichecks 

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: 

Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L

Female's: 16-60: 30-150

Both >60: 30-650 

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. ‘

[Emuflea in reply to SlowDragon]

Taking levo 100mcg/150mcg alternating daily AM.T3 BD 6.25mcg

Ferritin a work in progress and has improved slightly.

Followed all the rules for test taking.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Emuflea]

which brand levothyroxine

Suggest you increase dose to 150mcg 5 days week and 100mcg 2 days (get weekly pill dispenser so easy to remember which dose)

Retest again in 6-8 weeks

Approx how much do you weigh in kilo

Are you on absolutely strictly gluten free diet and/or dairy free diet

[SlowDragon Administrator]

come back with new post once you get full iron panel test results

humanbean can advise of iron supplements

[Emuflea in reply to SlowDragon]

As per previous conversations my GP will not do it.Yes gluten free. Have reintroduced dairy after AIP.

Levo brand is Accord.

We discussed weight before and in theory I could go up to 200mcg.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Emuflea]

So increase levothyroxine to 150mcg every day and retest in 6-8 weeks

Meanwhile

you need to test full iron panel privately

Stop iron supplements 5-7 days before test

Do test early morning and fasting

Don’t eat iron rich meal night before test

Medichecks iron panel test 

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Until ferritin is over 70 you won’t make any progress

If iron is as low as ferritin you might need/benefit from iron transfusion

Helpful info on iron infusion and supplements 

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...