Help with latest results please.

[CarnelianT]

Hi.Just had my latest results and would be grateful for input.

Currently taking 100 micro of levothyroxine. Not taking any B12 supplements as I've not been able to tolerate due to stomach upset (tried Thorne B complex three different times and a sublingual one).

Fasting blood test taken at 9am. I normally take levo at bedtime and had meant to change to am day before but circumstances got the better of me and it was actually 31 hours from my last dose of levo by the time I had the blood test.

I have attached the results as a screen shot minus the Ferritin which is 42.9 range 30-150ug/L.

I don't have any changes in symptoms that I would associate with being over medicated. However, I am however awaiting CT scans for enlarged liver and pulsating whoosing sound in my left ear (I read somewhere that the whooshing could be due to over medication but I do have long standing tinnitus and a family history of brain tumours).

Many thanks.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you try a separate B12 and separate Folate

B12 drops

natureprovides.com/products...

Or

B12 sublingual lozenges

uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

B12 range in U.K. is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Start B12 first ….then wait at least 10-14 days before adding separate folate

Eg Jarrow Methyl folate

[CarnelianT in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you very much. Should I be concerned about the low TSH?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to CarnelianT]

Low vitamin levels results in poor conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

High Ft4 tends to lower TSH

Improving folate, B12 and especially ferritin should result in better balance between Ft4 and Ft3 and increase in TSH

What are you doing to improve ferritin

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

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

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

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...

Posts discussing Three Arrows as very effective supplement

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron patches

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...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Good iron but low ferritin

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...

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...

Inflammation affecting ferritin

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. ‘

[CarnelianT in reply to SlowDragon]

Forgot to say I have been eating chicken liver pate twice a week.

[CarnelianT]

Many thanks again. I will start reading the links and make a plan.

[seveneleven]

I have a dodgy gut as well and take Biocare nutrisorb methyl b complex and the methylfolate on top as well - they're sublingual drops, and I have no issue because it's only a few drops under the tongue. Much better absorbed than via the gut. Have also raised ferritin successfully with Three Arrows, as linked above, so worth trying once you've done an iron panel.

[CarnelianT in reply to seveneleven]

Many thanks

[crimple]

CarnelianT have you been tested for antibodies/TPO/ Hashimotos? Your T4 is 93% through range and you T3 51% through range, suggesting you are a poor converter.

I had the same issue and was able to get some T3 added. I am at my best with T4 65% through range and T3 about 75% through range. we all have a different "sweet spot" (Go to thyroid.dopiaza.org to work out the ranges.)

Before I had some T3 I used to get pulsatile tinnitus, varied in severity, now I very rarely get it, I say that must be the effect of T3

[CarnelianT in reply to crimple]

Hi. Sorry for the delay in replying. I had my thyroid removed due to cancer. Antibodies have always been fine. I've been trying to sort out my vitamins but it has been difficult to find supplements that I can tolerate. I'm having a CT scan in 10 days so if that is clear I'm going to do more homework to try and improve my health and investigate the pulsitile tinnitus. No point trying to get T3 at the moment as my GP and endo have been very unhelpful.

[crimple]

CarnelianT sorry to hear about the unhelpful NHS GP and Endo. Happens far too often. I only got better when I came to this site and educated myself, improved my Vits, and advocated for T3 having first tried some on QT . I felt in a much stronger position when I could say how my life had imrpoved with T3. Hope you can soon get on the same journey.

[CarnelianT in reply to crimple]

Hi Crimple. Many thanks for the info. I'm going to scroll through the numerous shortcuts on my phone saved from this group to see if I can find an endo to see privately. I'm so tired of it all to be honest. I've had 13 years of health struggles and have had to recently leave work to become a full time carer. Trying to fit my health around that is just wearing me down at the moment. I had adrenal insufficiency for 5 years due to withdrawal from steroids (for autoimmune disease) and was just recovering from that when I had the thyroidectomy. I finally have the autoimmune disease under control with immunosuppressants but not sure what is happening re cause of tiredness, mood swings, hair loss, whooshing pulsating noise and enlarged liver pain!!! LOL....send me to the knackers yard!

[crimple]

CarnelianT, so very sorry to hear how your thyroid issues are impacting your life an all too familiar scenario on here. Do all you can to get your vitamins optimal as per advice here and if you can’t find an endo amenable to think about T3 then perhaps you may have to think about sourcing that yourself, but that is another burden you can do without. Sending hugs and positive vibes.

[CarnelianT in reply to crimple]

Thank you