Not sure where to start so I'll answer some questions from the previous posts.
I haven't managed to go gluten and dairy free as of yet but I am aiming to do it because I believe it will make a big difference to my health
After my previous vitamin D test which came back deficient I was given a very high loading dose which i took for 8 weeks. I have continued taking a vit D supplement as drops a vit D3 25 ug + K2 20ug.
I am also taking vit B6, omega 3 fish oil, zinc, soluble vit C and liquid iron with added vit C and Magnesium at night.
I was taking folic acid but then stopped as I read it can mask a vit B12 deficiency but my sister in Law says the opposite so im confused.
I had a full iron panel test done on the 8th June.
The results were:
Serum iron 14.4 5.8-34.5
Transferrin 2.69 2.00-3.60
Serum TIBC 62.7 44.0-80.0
% iron saturation 23% 14-56%
Ferritin 35 13-150
Ive had other tests done by the the endocrinologists but Im struggling getting them to give me the results 😮💨
I live on a island and they keep telling me the tests are wrong. So the 1st endocrinologist sent them to Cambridge and the t4 came back at 8 something but was definitely low.
But in June I went to the doctors as Id been suffering with a migraine for 10 days. So she sent me for another thyroid test which came back normal.
So when I saw the next endocrinologist he sent me for more test which he says he will send to Cambridge and said the other endocrinologist didn't send it to Cambridge. Which i am very confused about. That was 3 months ago and I don't know the results. Im seeing them tomorrow.
Because they keep saying the test are wrong I paid for private testing again as im sick of them sending me for the same test. He did request an Mri which I had done on sunday and i don't know the results.
Should I ask for an ultrasound of my thyroid?
I feel awful all the time, aching, sore tight muscles, headaches, depression tiredness and bad brain fog. Also a bunch of other issues like digestive problems. I drag myself through the day. Ive been try to get help for 2 years now and i cant even actually remember when the symtoms started as its been so long,
I am massivly concerned its not the only thing going on and im just looking for an actual diagnosise of whatever is going on so i know the actions i can take going forwards will actaully help and have an effect.
I don't know if I can change endocrinologists as i live on an island. I just feel like im gping round in circles,
Thankyou for all the help and advice you have given me in the past. I hope this all makes sense.
The new private test results are at the top.
Any advice would be really appreciated.
Thankyou
MovieGeek
Written by
Moviegeek7
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I think they did a full panel ive put the results in the post. I think the endocrinologist did one as well but ive never seen the results. Im not vegetarian or vegan and im 40 so i could be pre menopausal. They don't want to put me on levothyroxine as my tsh isn't high and they don't think the test are right.
Tagging SlowDragon so she see's your question about how to raise ferritin ~ you have replied 'to yourself' so she won't have been alerted to your reply .
I'm doing some shameless early morning plugging of this thyroid research petition ~ (it's asking the govt to give some of the £84Million CMA fine from the price hike of Liothyronine T3 to thyroid research) .
Please consider signing and SHARING this petition if you haven't already done so .. if you have signed already THANKYOU
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
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
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.
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. ‘
also consider testing selenium and zinc
Ideally test copper and zinc together…if you can find a test. Often zinc is low and copper is high
Or if you can’t afford to test
you might consider eventually adding a selenium supplement 2-3 times a week without testing
And could do same with zinc ….but Don’t supplement copper.
BEFORE booking a private consultation…suggest you Retest thyroid levels 6-8 weeks after adding vitamin B complex …..
No it wasn't tested and was told once loading dose was finished to take 1000iu but it clearly isn't enough. I also got told it was nothing to do with digestion as its absorbed through the skin but ive been trying to get ou in the sun every day. Im taking a good dose of Magnesium every night as im hoping its going to help with the night sweats.
The 1st endocrinologist also told me vitamin D has nothing to do with the thyroid 😑🙄 its really hard to fight my case when they just shut me down on everything.
Vitamin D deficiency is frequent in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and treatment of patients with this condition with Vitamin D may slow down the course of development of hypothyroidism and also decrease cardiovascular risks in these patients. Vitamin D measurement and replacement may be critical in these patients.
Vitamin D insufficiency was associated with AITD and HT, especially overt hypothyroidism. Low serum vitamin D levels were independently associated with high serum TSH levels.
The thyroid hormone status would play a role in the maintenance of vitamin D sufficiency, and its immunomodulatory role would influence the presence of autoimmune thyroid disease. The positive correlation between free T4 and vitamin D concentrations suggests that adequate levothyroxine replacement in HT would be an essential factor in maintaining vitamin D at sufficient levels.
Our results indicated that patients with hypothyroidism suffered from hypovitaminosis D with hypocalcaemia that is significantly associated with the degree and severity of the hypothyroidism. That encourages the advisability of vit D supplementation and recommends the screening for Vitamin D deficiency and serum calcium levels for all hypothyroid patients.
Maintaining Vitamin D at good level reduces risk of developing autoimmune disease
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and add a separate vitamin B Complex after a week
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
Igennus B complex popular option too. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
Thankyou. The B12 result is 56.8 and folate is 8.89. The sister in law who has a diagnosis of pernicious anemia said that she thinks it lower and that i should take folate but not b12 as that will show the right result. As it better to have the injections.
It’s not your thyroid, it’s your pituitary that’s the problem. Your pituitary should see low levels of thyroid hormone in your bloodstream and respond by increasing TSH to get the thyroid to produce more t4. It’s not doing this. You need your pituitary tested. If that’s okay then they need to check your hypothalamus.
3rd point in 1st paragraph….Secondary hypothyroidism is a condition where TSH levels are inappropriately low or normal (or rarely raised), but FT4 is below the normal reference range.
And 3rd paragraph….Secondary hypothyroidism is caused by a pituitary or hypothalamic disorder.
The phrasing you need to use is along the lines of… okay, my results are wrong, but they’ve been checked by however many different labs, as my thyroid hormones continue to come back low and I have these symptoms which indicate an underactive thyroid, I want to trial replacement thyroid hormone therapy to see if it improves my quality of life. And then we can investigate why my pituitary is not responding to the low level of thyroid hormone when I’m feeling better. Let’s treat the symptoms (the low thyroid) to get me feeling well, and then figure out the cause.
Or words to that effect.
Though hopefully the mri may show atrophy of the pituitary or something, and the below range t4 has been confirmed by Cambridge. Good luck with your appointment today.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Bad depression after thyroidectomy 2 years later still crying every morning.
Blood test time - still no better
Nearly 4 years post TT and still feeling rubbish
Hypo Symptoms returned after 3 years
My latest test results, still not well
