Iron supplement help

[Catsrock23]

Have made a few posts here about hair loss/ low ferritin. I have ordered the three arrows iron repair to see if I can increase ferritin. Can anyone tell me from my recent results, if one 20mg capsule a day would push my other results over the range? Or would it take a much larger amount? I also take viviscal with 14mg of iron in it. Thank you!

[meme]

what about your vitamin D?

[Catsrock23 in reply to meme]

Thanks for replying, I have been supplementing this for a month now and feel slightly better.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

humanbean is very knowledgable about iron/ferritin.

[Catsrock23 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Great thank you!

[humanbean in reply to Jaydee1507]

I've only just noticed I was mentioned a couple of days ago.

Catsrock23

Could you write out your results or post them again in a reply because I can't read the ranges, they are too blurry for me.

[Catsrock23 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you.. re-attached. I can type out if it's still blurry

Test results

[Catsrock23 in reply to humanbean]

Still looks blurry but the magnifying button thing brings makes it more clear.

[humanbean in reply to Catsrock23]

That looks much clearer, thank you.

Iron 45% through the range

TIBC 77% through the range

Transferrin 70% through the range

Transferrin Saturation 25.9%

Ferritin 17% through the range

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I'm using this link as a guide to optimal iron levels :

rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_...

Please note that it is common for people to have contradictory iron results.

I'm going to assume you are female.

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Serum iron

• 55 to 70% of the range

• lower end for women

Your result of 45% is a bit lower than optimal, suggesting that you need more iron - but probably not a lot more if you absorb iron well.

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TIBC (total iron binding capacity) or Transferrin

• Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron

• High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron

Your result for TIBC of 77% and Transferrin of 70% are quite high in range suggesting that you have the capacity and the need to absorb more iron.

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Saturation

• optimal is 35 to 45%

• lower end for women

Your result of 25.9% is quite a bit lower than optimal suggesting that you need more iron.

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Ferritin

There are various opinions on what is optimal for ferritin. There are suggestions of mid-range, 70 ug/L, 100 ug/L, 90 - 110 ug/L, and some others.

I would suggest that you aim for mid-range, which is 65 ug/L, but you need to keep tabs on what your other results are doing at the same time.

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When people take iron supplements there are several undesirable things that may happen.

1) Your ferritin could rocket upwards while leaving your serum iron very low and possibly getting even lower.

2) Your iron could rocket upwards while leaving your ferritin very low.

There are other possibilities too. See this link :

irondisorders.org/wp-conten...

As a result of the above, people need to get properly tested within 4 - 6 weeks of beginning iron supplements, just to see if either of (1) or (2) happens. If it does you should stop your iron supplements immediately and ask for further advice.

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Info on iron supplements available in the UK without prescription :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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If iron supplements cause constipation you should take them with vitamin C which, in high doses will cause diarrhoea. You'll have to experiment with your dose of vitamin C when taking iron.

If you end up with constipation increase the vitamin C dose.

If you end up with diarrhoea reduce the vitamin C.

Good luck.

[Catsrock23 in reply to humanbean]

Thank you so much! Yes I'm female. I really appreciate your advice. Still awaiting delivery of the three arrows but i was hoping to start one a day and re- test to see how it goes. That is very interesting about the ranges and the need for extra iron. Thanks again!

[Divii in reply to humanbean]

Very helpful

[Regenallotment]

I’ve started 3 arrows this week (it took weeks to arrive) I’ll be interested to compare notes 😊🌱

[Catsrock23 in reply to Regenallotment]

Oh I just noticed you replied, sorry! I've been taking one a day for 2 weeks nearly and I feel ok so far. My hair is still shedding but I know that will take time. Mine took 3 weeks to arrive (I'm in ireland), will have to be organised for the next batch! How do you feel and how many are you taking a day?

[Regenallotment in reply to Catsrock23]

1 a day too.

My hair stopped shedding after 12 weeks on B complex and extra folate, I’d been on Vit D 4000iu for 14 weeks at the time too.

Feeling good I think, but have some new symptoms that I’m not sure I can attribute to it or not. Whole body aches ( have also been very busy at the allotment) . And afternoon thudding heart beat, but pulse isn’t particularly fast, about 10 beats a minute higher than usual for everything, resting, walking. Having an office day today to see if my poor carcass needs a rest. 🌱

[Starseed56 in reply to Regenallotment]

Hi and to Catsrock23 as you’ve both been taking three arrows a while now how’s it going? I started nearly two weeks ago, taking 1 and then after a week I upped to two. Wondering if that’s too much tummy bit troubled last day or so. I’ve emailed three arrows twice before my iron arrived they never replied! I bought what I thought was a three month supply but each pot contains 90 capsules? Thanks for any helpful feedback. I’m taking as my ferritin is 28.

[Regenallotment in reply to Starseed56]

Hi sorry for the slow reply. TiggerMe got me into it.

I took 1 a day and it took my ferritin to 140 within 2 months. At this point I either had a Hashi flare or the raised ferritin caused fabulous conversion as I went over range. I sorted that quickly dropping T3/T4 doses carefully and I’ve since tried a vegan biglycinate and 4 months later ferritin back down to 70 and my thyroid bloods are showing slight room for improvement. I can really feel it too. So I’ve re-ordered. I’m taking 1 a day for 2 weeks and then will only take it twice a week at most. Wow 28 is low, I hope it helps you recover quicker too. I’ll be honest I think one a day of this stuff is enough. It’s supposed to be gentle on the tum but chances are your digestion isn’t the greatest if you are here anyway so take it slow. When I became over medicated one of the signs was loose bowels, didn’t realise at the time, thought I had yet another food intolerance. Let us know how you get on 🙏🌱

[Starseed56 in reply to Regenallotment]

Thanks it seems it was one or two bad days but I’ve reduced to1 a day after reading what you and Catsrock23 both said. In desperation I probably went at it too fast. I’m pinning a lot on this iron Hope I’m not wrong. Today am testing my thyroid levels again if I can warm my fingers up enough for a blood flow! And will readjust that if necessary as I suspect I’m still not on optimum Erfa. This really requires so much attention doesn’t it I’m realising now and quite angry and nhs played it down for 22 years and I believed it! Ah well knowledge is a great thing. Thanks again for your input much appreciated and thanks TiggerMe for picking up the thread 🤗

[TiggerMe in reply to Starseed56]

Silly dance, hand in warm water, stab with a twisting action and I used the side of my thumb last time and it worked a treat!!... I do find the stabbers from MMH are more vicious than some of the others 🤗

I'd love to update on my iron levels but... thought I was booked in for all the useful tests last week and came away with nothing but TSH!! All the others were in range last year so no test allowed 😱

[Catsrock23 in reply to Starseed56]

Hi! I'm still taking three arrows just every other day now. I was every day back in June and then I suddenly started to vomit blood and was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer. It scared the life out-of me and I'm pretty sure it could have been linked so I easednoff and I've been OK since. Not saying that would happen to everyone but I have had issues with reflux before. I haven't got round to checking my ferritin from April so must do that. I'm still shedding hair and had my thyroid checked few weeks ago but they won't increase my levo. I need to shift some weight so think I will try that. My ferritin was a similar level to yours.

[Starseed56 in reply to Catsrock23]

Goodness me the things we have to deal with … thanks for your help. I will keep it at one a day, slow but sure and test my ferritin if/when I start to feel more energy. Hashis does seem to affect our digestion doesn’t it? I often get symptoms of reflux and apparently have a sliding hernia. Must say arsenicum helped that a few years ago so I may revisit! Good luck keep us posted 💜

[Catsrock23]

I will try to get a test sorted after christmas, i do want to know if my ferritin has increased, i feel better but hair is still an issue for me, I have recently had appendicitis too and couldn't face anymore needles for a while lol. Honestly so much going on with hashis, it's not as straightforward as the GPS say!