Test results

[Catsrock23]

Morning, I got my test results from a private test. Can anyone advise if I need a levo increase? I generally feel well apart from hair loss which I've now read can be because my vitamin D is low. My ferritin has decreased after initially rising. No idea why as I'm eating pretty well.

[Catsrock23]

And vitamin results

Vitamin results

[J972 in reply to Catsrock23]

Hi, I’m not commenting on your results per se - someone far more knowledgeable will be along to do that! - but, I was wondering which testing company you used? I’m liking the inclusion of ‘optimal’ in the ranges column……Thanks.

[Catsrock23 in reply to J972]

I used randox. I'm quite happy with how they set the results out, I like having a clear picture! They charge 50 for thyroid and 69 for vitamins.

[J972 in reply to Catsrock23]

I’ve just ordered the thyroid test and it was only £29, including postage!

randoxhealth.com/at-home/Th...

[Catsrock23 in reply to J972]

Thats a great price! I went in to see their nurse as it's quite local to me but very resaonable even for a few tests a year.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to J972]

J972

I’m liking the inclusion of ‘optimal’ in the ranges column

Please don't get excited about their use of the word "optimal". Those are the reference ranges, pure and simple, there is nothing optimal about them, and the ranges are almost identical to every other testing company, ie usual FT4 range is 12-22 and usual FT3 range is 3.1-6.8. TSH is often 0.27-4.20 with private companies although that TSH range is the same as my GP.

Optimal is the exact place in the range where you feel well. Optimal is different for everyone, it's very individual.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to Catsrock23]

If those were my thyroid results I would be very happy and feel very well.

I cannot comment on the vits and iron results but I’m sure others can. Although Vit D looks low and you could do with a good supplement with K2

[Catsrock23 in reply to SarahJane1471]

Thanks, I do feel a lot better than 3 months ago but still up and down days. Just cant seem to get vitamin levels increased.

[SarahJane1471 in reply to Catsrock23]

Well I’m thinking if you improve VitD things could be even better. Try not to rush any increase in thyroid meds.

[Catsrock23 in reply to SarahJane1471]

Thank you, will get a good supplement and take it from there!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Ferritin is deficient, so not surprising you have hair loss

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.

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...

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...

Effective supplement 

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...

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...

Great research article discussing similar…..ferritin over 100 often necessary 

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

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. ‘

When hypothyroid it’s not how good our diet is….but how poor gut function reduces nutrient absorption

[Catsrock23 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for replying. I have really tried to increase ferritin by having a vit c drink, better diet and it had increased to 39 and now back down to 28. How do you know if you have absorption issues? Do I need the iron spray instead of a tablet?

[J972 in reply to Catsrock23]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

You might like to look at this post, it prompted me to purchase the Simply Heme iron from the US. They arrived yesterday so I’ve literally just started taking them. I bought 3 bottles to save money/delivery fees.

[Catsrock23 in reply to J972]

My head hurts reading that 😂 but sounds fab. Is it from the iherb website? I found a few different iron supplements but wasnt sure which one? I'm taking viviscal and they have 14mg iron but that clearly isnt enough as I've taken that level for a few months

[J972 in reply to Catsrock23]

No, it’s this website. Warning: you need a strong constitution just navigating the site!

threearrowsnutra.com/en-uk/...

[Catsrock23 in reply to J972]

Omg the links, kept bringing me further down the page! Which one did you go for? The plus? Do you have low ferritin levels as well? It seems to get great reviews

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Catsrock23]

The Plus contains B12 and folate. Considering that iron should be taken 2 hours away from other supplements as it affects their absorption, there may be no extra benefit if the B12 and folate isn't properly absorbed.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to SeasideSusie]

Is that still true of heme iron? I buy the simply heme as I already cover the others and it seemed pointless.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to TiggerMe]

I don't know to be honest, it's something to take into account if considering purchasing. However, if you need B12 and folate and think this supplement might replace the need for taking separate B12/folate or B Complex, it's worth noting that the amounts are very small with only 25mcg B12 and 50mcg folate.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes it seemed an unnecessary addition, like you say I prefer the separate B complex options

[Catsrock23 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Would I be ok to take this as well as viviscal which has 14mg of iron? I'm cautious of over supplementing but happy to take something to increase ferritin!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Catsrock23]

I don't know anything about Viviscal but the general rule is to take iron 2 hours away from any other supplement or medication (although some meds need 4 hours away from iron).

[Catsrock23 in reply to SeasideSusie]

It's just the iron content, I'm worried about too much as viviscal has 14mg and then adding in the heme iron but willing to try anything. Suppose all I can do is try and get tests done every few months.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Catsrock23]

Anyone supplementing iron should regularly monitor levels with a full iron panel to include serum iron, saturation percentage, total iron binding capacity and ferritin. One can have decent levels of serum iron and saturation percentage even when ferritin is low so it's essential to test every couple of months to ensure these don't go too high.

[J972 in reply to Catsrock23]

I went for the Simply Heme, I don’t need to supplement the others. I’ve had consistently low ferritin for years, been taking ferrous fumerate but it was upsetting my stomach something rotten. I’ll resend the website link to you via private messaging.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Catsrock23]

Try 'FRANKLIN' or hunt around for other 10% off words 🤗

It seems to have worked well for all of us that have tried it 🤞I only take 1

[J972 in reply to TiggerMe]

That’s interesting Eeyore100, have you always only taken 1 capsule or did you perhaps load up with more initially?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to J972]

Only ever taken one as my red blood cells were large and it takes about 4 months for them to replace so went for low and slow approach. Checked after the first 3 months and things were moving in the right direction, ferritin level had gone from 30 to 60

I think the loading approach is only any good if you have the ability to utilise which my blood levels didn’t

I’m due some results next week hopefully so I can feed back then 🤞

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to J972]

I've just had a thought, I'm post meno so I'm not losing blood/ iron every month which is obviously a factor when replacing 🤗

[J972 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks…..me too 🙃

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Catsrock23]

Another thing to look at is tannins in tea coffee, even herbal tea e.g chamomile and cocoa.

According to a report (somewhere in my posts history) if you drink these tannin containing drinks with or within an hour of taking an iron supplement or a meal containing iron rich foods, you reduce absorption by around 40-50%, with chocolate/cocoa it’s 80%

An hour before you take it is apparently fine…

Good luck with project ferritin, your results look to me like they describe in iron deficiency without anaemia which is a precursor to anaemia. It’s when all your other iron counts are well in range and ferritin the storage form of iron is low in range. Surprisingly common apparently can be linked to heavy periods or gut health issues. Symptoms are similar to anemia. If not caused by periods the report said a referral to Gastrointestinal expert should be offered to check for intestinal bleeding.

🌱

[Catsrock23 in reply to Regenallotment]

Wow this is interesting! I do drink alot of tea so will cut back on that. I have been eating cereals for breakfast then tea, so could be that. I just dont understand how ferritin had risen then decreased. I'm due to see my nurse on Tues so will mention results but last time I mentioned ferritin and hair loss she kept saying oh it's in range.. no it isnt!!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Catsrock23]

Its another plus for the heme supplement as it isn’t effected by food and drink 🥳

I’ve gone from having thin hair falling out by the handful to a rather thick shaggy mop 🙂 which I couldn’t have imagined last year!

I think the heme and full spectrum amino acids have been very effective

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to TiggerMe]

shaggy mop! 🤣 didn’t know that about heme absorption that’s very good!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Regenallotment]

Perfect for people who over indulge in chocolate too 😉

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to TiggerMe]

that’s me 😳 💕