Any advice/ guidance would be appreciated!- Hypo/ low ferritin

[binxboo]

Hi All.

At the end of Nov I suddenly felt dizzy/spaced out, no energy and no appetite lasting a week putting me in bed. I assumed it was viral, but after a week of feeling drunk (no alcohol consumed) I visited GP who ran lots of blood tests.

My ferritin was found to be low at 13 (ref >20). I have started taking Ferrous Fumarate every morning., and gone back on the contraceptive pill to reduce bleeding. My previous ferritin in 2019 was 81, so a noticeable reduction over the years.

My TSH level came back at 7.4, my T4 came back 'borderline' no numerical result recorded. My TSH in 2019 was 0.5, this vast change in TSH is worrying me. I got sent a text from the GP saying it may be hypothyroidism.

All other bloods (U&Es, full bloods, bone profile, coeliac screen, B12, Folate) came back normal.

The GP has said nothing is to be done as of yet, and to repeat ferritin and thyroid in 3 months. The problem is I feel awful most of the day, no energy or motivation and honestly a shell of a person I was about 6 weeks ago. I'm only 28, healthy weight, doing my masters training to be a dietitian, and was in a really good place until this hit me out if nowhere.

Just looking for any advice, guidance, someone who has had similar and how it went for you? Even any tips of things to make myself feel better would be greatly appreciated.

My past medical history is a diagnosis of IBS (doesn't really bother me anymore) and rosacea, both on my face and in my eyes.

Thank you

[SovietSong]

TSH should ideally be 1 or under.Really need the levels and ranges for both T3 and T4 to give a fuller picture.Could be worth doing a private test from home where TSH, T3 and T4 will be tested.Others will be better placed to comment on vitamins but I do know hypo can trash core vitamins.

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

repeat ferritin and thyroid in 3 months

You need FULL thyroid testing in 6 weeks…..not 3 months

That’s TSH, Ft4, Ft3 and BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies

what time was this thyroid test done?

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

B12, Folate came back normal.

Please add actual results

Meanwhile get vitamin D tested ……if not been done

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

My TSH in 2019 was 0.5, this vast change in TSH is worrying me. I got sent a text from the GP saying it may be hypothyroidism.

Autoimmune hypothyroid disease (aka Hashimoto’s) frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results (TSH 0.5) as cells break down under attack and release excess thyroid hormones

After each attack the thyroid becomes a bit more damaged and hypothyroid

Starting levothyroxine - flow chart

Two abnormal tests with TSH over 5 …..

gps.northcentrallondonccg.n...

Rosacea associated with autoimmune diseases including Hashimoto’s

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/268...

Conclusions: Rosacea is associated with T1DM, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, respectively, in women,

researchgate.net/publicatio...

Have you had coeliac blood test?

Coeliac and Rosacea

link.springer.com/article/1....

IBS is common with Hashimoto’s

[Greekcastle92]

Hey Binxboo,

I also got hit out of the blue this June with a drunkiness feeling. Like being slightly tipsy (so not really dizziness not vertigo) as I would describe it. I was taken aback as well as I have a active lifestyle as well and eat reasonably well. Im just starting my Thyroid journey as well so I can’t give you much advice as many others on this forum. However your wording of feeling drunk all the time is what I felt and still feeling so you are not alone.

Another lady told me she had the same feeling and described it as having a microbrewery in her head. A great analogy I felt. Anyways my feeling has slowly been improving but it’s a slow process which can be frustrating.

[RedApple in reply to Greekcastle92]

You may already know of this, but in case not, there is something called Auto-Brewery Syndrome. The following article says it's rare, but I suspect it's more common than they think. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Dr Myhill also has an article on her website drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Ferment...

[gabkad in reply to RedApple]

Fascinating.

[Mixteca]

You need a full iron panel doing for an overall picture with ferritin level that low.

[Rosie2m]

I had what was originally diagnosed as labrinthitus but when it didn’t go away as expected the diagnosis was then changed to vestibular migraines which all started before I was treated for my thyroid, once adequately treated all symptoms went away. My work colleague had exactly the same symptoms again all went away once treated. I would say it’s definitely directly related to thyroid, I would be on the phone harrassing the gp saying you feel awful and can’t function as you are please can you have the tests sooner as it’s affecting your quality of life.