8 week bloodtest

[catpurple7]

Hi all,

I've been on a reduced levothyroxine dose of 125mcg for the last 8 weeks and i stopped taking the iron tablets as my stomach was too painful, so for the past 7 weeks i've been using an iron patch.

My dr agreed to retest my iron as i didn't want to be wasting my time and money if the patches weren't doing anything.

I'm also taking a B Complex, probiotic, vitamin c and magnesium.

These are my results

TSH 0.01 mU/L 0.30-4.20

FT4 19.6 pmol/L 9.0-19.0

FT3 4.7 pmol/L 3-5.4

B12 563ng/L 180-900

Transferrin Saturation Index 34% 16-50

Serum Transferrin 2.61 g/L 1.8-3.6

Serum Iron 22.3 micromol/L 11-30

Folate 10.0 microg/L 3.0-20.0

Ferritin 75.8 microg/L 10-200

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Looks like you have capacity for a little more iron with your Transferrin Saturation mid range, also room for a little increase in B12 and folate.

Which iron tablets do you use?

[gabkad in reply to TiggerMe]

"for the past 7 weeks i've been using an iron patch." No tablets.

I didn't know there is an iron patch. Something new?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to gabkad]

I wondered which iron tablets were being used before that caused the upset... generally people get on well with heme and it is far more effective than the usual ferrous fumarate.... I'm waiting to hear how well the iron patches work for people 😏 Looks like OP has been struggling for a while to get iron levels up

Also I've just received Ferrochel which gets good reviews so I thought I might mix in with the heme...

[catpurple7 in reply to gabkad]

Patchworks iron patch

[gabkad in reply to catpurple7]

That is SO interesting. We can't get them here. What was your ferritin before using the patches and did you use for 8 weeks or longer to have the ferritin at 78?

I guess you will need to continue with the patches and have your ferritin tested again maybe in three months or so. That way you'll for sure know that any improvement was from the patches and not from the pills that you discontinued.

I looked up the other patches available.....fascinating. Even vitamin C in a patch!

[catpurple7 in reply to gabkad]

I've only been on the patches for 7 weeks but my ferritin was 59.3 last bloodtest

[gabkad in reply to catpurple7]

It works then. That's great. I've got the opposite problem. I need to donate blood which I haven't done since January 2020 before this Covid business got started. I have to get moving and get some of this iron sucked out soon.

[radd in reply to gabkad]

gabked

Following on from your DM .... u-buy.co.uk/product/2FPLM0Y...

[gabkad in reply to radd]

Out of stock.

[gabkad in reply to radd]

I thought you wrote that you use testosterone. Is this what you are using? This product is not testosterone.

[radd in reply to gabkad]

gabkad,

Details of my testosterone use here .. .. healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[gabkad in reply to radd]

I have to ascribe the lack of 'scope of practice' for a female physician to be a dose of inherited misogynism. If I would be male, I'm sure she'd be ready with the prescription pad for Cialis or Viagra or whatever else is out there to ensure that men get 'satisfaction' but for women? pfffft.

Yes I am unimpressed but I am determined to get what I want. I don't even know why the GP thinks I need to see a gynecologist. Wouldn't an endo or even a psychiatrist work out better? We are talking about hormones here after all. Including all the beneficial effects on mood, energy, mental stamina, libido.

[catpurple7 in reply to TiggerMe]

I was using ferrous fumerate 1 tablet a day

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to catpurple7]

I've found the Three Arrows Simply Heme really effective at raising ferritin levels but there is also the Ferrochel (which sounds like a delicious golden wrapped chocolate 😋) both kinder on the stomach and better absorbed than FF

[catpurple7 in reply to TiggerMe]

I was trying the patches 1st (as they're Vegan friendly) and if they weren't effective then I was going to get the three arrows 😁