Posted here before but not for a while. Have been slowly working on improving my thyroid function and iron levels while trying to conceive (I'm 41). After taking high dose iron bisglycinate my iron results are looking much better. Most recent tests was 8 Sept and results are:
Serum ferritin - 56 ug/l (13-150)
Serum iron level - 26 umol/L (6.6-26.0)
Seurm TIBC - 53 umol/L (40.8-76.6)
(test done having stopped iron supplements a few days before, and without eating anything that morning)
I can tell my ferritin should still be higher, but now my serum iron is top of the range (which I was so happy about - in June it was 12.5!) presumably I should go onto a maintenance dose of the iron bisglycinate I've been taking? I'm aware having too much is also bad. And that it could drop down again if I stop it altogether. Or should I keep going to raise the ferritin a bit further? And is the TIBC ok?
I'm not vegetarian and I've been eating more red meat, and chicken liver pate than before, and already eat a lot of lentils, spinach etc. Periods no longer so heavy or painful. Am also gluten free (for almost a year now). Stomach/digestive issues feel much improved. Stomach acid still low according to the bicarb test - betaine and pepsin didn't seem to do much.
Also, my folate results now come back as just >20, not a specific numberr. I've been taking extra high dose methylfolate as it had been very low. Should I stop this now? I do take a b-complex vitamin with 400mg of methylfolate - might I get too much?
As for the thyroid my Sept results were:
T4 - 17.2 (pmol/L) (12-22)
TSH - 1.1 mu/L (0.3-4.2)
I failed to convince the GP of the need to test T3 as well, grrr!
I'm presuming that without T3 these results are pretty meaningless. The reason I was able to get them was because I'd increased the dose of levo I was on from 100mg to 112 (taking 25 extra every other day) and I needed to get this dose authorised. I believe I will be able to do this now but am a bit dismayed that the extra 12.5mg didn't increase the my T4. When it was tested June 28th it was 17.2. Both tests done with no levo/food/coffee on the morning of the test and were done at around 9am, and having stopped any biotin supplement for 4 days before. Have I reached a plateau? I will probably pay for a full thyroid panel test but money is a bit tight at the moment. At least the TSH is low now and in general I've so much more energy - putting that down to the raised iron though.
Thanks very much for any advice anyone has.
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Becsf
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I've been taking extra high dose methylfolate as it had been very low. Should I stop this now? I do take a b-complex vitamin with 400mg of methylfolate
Yes suggest you reduce, then try stopping separate folate
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
Sure. It was vitality iron bisglycinate. 40g per tablet, with vitamin c as well. According to the marketing because it's chelated you don't have to worry about it affecting the absorption of other supplements but I always had it away from other things. I took two per day most days, since around April. It's not available on Amazon anymore but you might be able to find it somewhere else.
Gentle Iron Tablets High Strength, Iron Bisglycinate - Vegan Iron Supplements for Women and Men - Relieve Fatigue and Tiredness with Combination of 60 Iron and Vitamin C Tablets
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