I am low on ferritin and zinc and I am now getting vitaminB injections. I cannot absorb ferritin or zinc through my stomach (I am well medicated with thyroxine and levels remains stable). I keep asking for an iron infusion but keep getting refused because my 'numbers' are within normal range -ferritin 18,
Zinc.Nil!....but a huge amount of hair has fallen out = very distressing = I have an uneven heartbeat. I get very occasional bouts of tachycardia, sometimes I get tired quickly.......
my doctor gave me some liquid iron but test results show it's not being absorbed, neither are zinc supplements. I am due to speak to a gastroenterologist in december but am appalled at the lack of treatement I'm receiving. I have found some iron/vitamic C patches online. Using for 2 months - 2 high strength patches every day for past two months - this has only raised my ferritin from 15 to 18.
Thoughts anyone. why isn't the NHS concerned about my situation?
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fiftyone
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I don't know if it will help you, but I lost a lot of hair through being hypo then it became much worse from taking prednisolone for PMR. I tried various things but using Biotin Shampoo and conditioner has certainly slowed the hair loss. Good luck.
Unfortunately as you are finding, the NHS is pretty hopeless for all things vitamin. Its extremely common for hypo people to have poor vitamin absorption and I also see that you are taking Omeprazol which will make it even harder for you to absorb them.
If you want to begin to get anywhere you will have to supplement yourself. Iron is notoriously difficult to raise and can take a good 18 months once you have found a supplement that works for you.
Many members have found a good heme iron has raised their levels well. Take it with orange juice or anything containing vitamin C and 4 hours apart from your Levo.
If heme iron has to go through my stomach that is no good. don't absorb through my stomach! Been taking zinc citrate powder two capsules daily for two months. current blood test level. Nil!!
Am having B12 injection every eight weeks. folate was low, now risen. haven't had vit D tested though I since beginning of October I take vitamin D tablet.
I have, in t he last few days changed from 2 .omeprazole to pantoprazole cos acidity in my stomach was getting bad. My T3 is about 6.3 (top quarter of range). My T4 is about six points about the range and my TSH is about 0.0005. This has been stable for years and suits me well.
How long have you been trying to raise iron and how many different types have you tried?
I'm not surprised the acidity in your stomach is low, it will be virtually non existent with your hypothyroidism AND a PPI of any description. Have you tried going without the PPI lately? It seems to be making a bad situation worse.
You could try taking vitamins with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. This would help raise the acidity level of your stomach and aid absorption.
Are you taking the zinc away from the iron? Iron can block absorption of other things taken at the same time.
How has your folate risen? Did you supplement?Especially as you are injecting B12 its recommended to take a good B complex to help keep all the B's in balance. I will list some at the end.
How much vit D are you taking? K2 should also be taken to help direct the vit D towards your bones.
Its not great to have FT4 above range. Do you have exact blood results with ranges? Its posssible that once you raise low vitamin levels you will need less Levo and will be able to manage at a lower dose with FT4 within range.
I know its terrible that the NHS dont pay much attention to vitamin levels but this is where we have to take over the responsibility and make sure things are taken care of ourselves for our own benefit.
There will be a way for your stomach to absorb things better.
Have you been tested for coeliac and have you tried a strictly gluten free diet?
A lot of questions but the more that you can answer the more help you will get.
no. acidity in my stomach is too high. I was diagnosed with gastritis some years ago and prescribed omeprazole to reduce stomach acid. I have also more recently been diagnosed with acid reflux...which I never notice myself, except recently my stomach has felt very acidy.
My thyroid levels are fine. Everyone is different. My T3 is exactly where it should be. If I reduce my thyroid meds I feel ill within about 10 days. I have asked about T3 med but have been told NHS cannot supply. Metabolically I feel well with my current med level and I have to keep telling doctors not to change anything cos if I see a new doctor they go into fits when they see my thyroid test results. I have to reassure them that nothing should be changed.
Thank you for all your suggestions I will now look carefully at all them and see which ones I might benefit from, though I do already follow some. Appreciate your interest and advice.
I know that it might appear that your stomach acid is too high due to the reflux but hypo people find that they get this when their stomach acid is too LOW. This is something that main stream medicine does not recognise and they then compound the situation by putting people on PPIs which make a bad situation worse.
All the time that you have low vitamin levels your thyroid hormone wont be working well. Sort out the vitamin levels and other things will fall into place.
yes, I've heard this about stomach acid, but of my stomach acid is low why have I felt better for many years taking omeprazole?? My underactive thyroid was diagnosed nearly 40 years ago. what vitamins should would rectify a 40 year old problem?
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