Blood test help required: Hi all! Please could... - Thyroid UK

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Blood test help required

happykath profile image
5 Replies

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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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

increase from what to 200mcg ?

Which brand of levothyroxine

Do you always get same brand at each prescription

Ferritin is lowish and CRP is high (inflammation)

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

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.

folate is low are you taking a daily vitamin B complex

What about zinc or selenium supplements

happykath profile image
happykath in reply toSlowDragon

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! 🙈

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tohappykath

So increasing from 150mcg to 200mcg is too big an increase to tolerate for many people

You could reduce to 175mcg daily

Cut 100mcg into 1/4’s and take 3/4 daily to get 75mcg

Yes Ft3 is low

But Ft4 is also likely too high

Reducing Ft4 a little may improve Ft3

What were Ft4 and Ft3 on 150mcg

Suggest you start a daily vitamin B complex now

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule)

Thorne currently difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

Other options

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

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

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

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

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

Essential to have all four vitamins at optimal level for good conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

come back with new post once you get full iron panel test results

happykath profile image
happykath in reply toSlowDragon

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 👍

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply tohappykath

And cut in half to get 25mcg

I use sharp craft scalpel

Store spare half for next day in weekly pill dispenser

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