Hi all! Please could anyone advise me on my blood tests which were done as my hair is shedding like crazy. I have an underactive thyroid and about 8 weeks ago my GP increased my thyroxine to 200mcg as my TSH was 6 (she didn’t test anything else). Since the shedding has continued and I feel really tired I had the private bloods as in the photo attached. I should probably add that I used to take T3 but ran out and couldn’t source any more.
I don’t feel great at all, my muscles ache, I’m exhausted and teary. Whilst all this could probably be the peri menopause, any advice on my bloods would be appreciated.
Thank you so much 😊
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happykath
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So ferritin could be even lower as ferritin increases with high CRP
Request GP full iron panel test for anaemia
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
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.
folate is low are you taking a daily vitamin B complex
Thank you so much for your reply. Levi was increased a few weeks ago from 150 to 200mcg by my GP, to be honest I feel worse now than I did then! I always get the same brand of Levo, it is called Actavis and is just what Lloyds pharmacy send me!! My ferritin has been low in the past and I do eat a very iron rich diet, so I’m not sure why I’m not storing it.
Supplements wise I am taking Zinc, Omega 3 and Magnesium, no B vitamins as I didn’t want to start something before my bloods were back. I am desperate to stop the hair shedding, brain fog and tiredness though so will try anything at this stage. Is my T3 a bit low in your opinion? I’m not sure how to interpret it as I just wasn’t expecting thyroid results like that! 🙈
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
Thank you so so much, I have ordered the Thorne supplement and will ask my GP to check my iron levels. I did think 200mcg of levo might be too much for me so I will do 175, I have some 50mcg tablets I can use 👍
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