So…. For the last 11 years I have been back and forth to the gp with symptoms of weight gain, tiredness, low blood pressure, low pulse, thinning hair, thinning eye brows, swollen joints, recurrent sinusitis
I have had persistent low TSH sometimes out of the range, sometimes as today on the lower end 1.01 (0.27-4.4)
T4 - 14.8 (12-22)
I have attached a pic of my results over the years.
can anyone recommend as the doctors just say they are fine !
Certainly your older results look like central Hypo when your pituitary isn't sending enough signal for the thyroid to produce the goods
Worth getting a full thyroid panel to see where your fT3 (active hormone) is, do you have any results for folate, B12, Vit D and ferritin?
B12 was ok.
Ferritin 18 (13-150)
Vitamin D 49.1 (below 50 may be inadequate)
So certainly need to add a decent dose of D3 + K2... grassrootshealth.net/projec...
Ferritin awful have you a recent serum iron result?
How 'ok' is B12?... needs to be above mid range ideally
Thank you.
Surprisingly my ferritin has been recorded as ‘normal, no further action’
My b12 was 662 (197-771)
Do the lower levels of ferritin correlate to issues with thyroid? I feel at a loss, it’s like a losing battle with the GPs
Us Hypo's tend to suffer with low ferritin amongst other things, think it comes down to the low stomach acid so we don't tend to absorb things very well
B12 should be tested at same time as folate
No folate result?
Just testing TSH and Ft4 is totally inadequate
With LOW ft4 normally TSH would be higher
You could be looking at central hypothyroidism
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
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)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
Central hypothyroidism
academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...
ec.bioscientifica.com/view/...
Thank you for all of this information. My ferritin has been at the bottom of the range for years. Just tested again this week and is sitting result - 18 (13-150)
vitamin D - 49.1 (below 50 is ‘may be inadequate for some’)
My doctors surgery is very difficult to get to do other testing. I will definitely look into the private testing. I don’t seem to be getting anywhere and this has been ongoing for 13 years
I think your symptoms are more than likely your low ferritin (iron stores) and low Vitamin D…. Without testing T3 its not the full picture…
I would definitely start on some ferrous fumarate 320mg of iron tablets u can buy these over the counter at any pharmacy take with some vitamin C that’s a must! also I would buy the better you brand of vitamin D spray with K2 as sprays and drops get into the body easier by bypassing the stomach… and see how u feel in a couple of months… I think u will notice the difference for sure 😌
No one should supplement iron without getting FULL iron panel first
It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
My ferritin has been at the bottom of the range for years. Just tested again this week and is sitting result - 18 (13-150)
Any obvious reason?
Heavy periods?
Are you vegetarian or vegan?
Ferritin is deficient below 30
aim to improve to at least over 70
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
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
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
Great replies from @FallingInReverse. re ferritin and Three arrows
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......
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...
Iron deficiency without anaemia
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
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...
Really interesting talk on YouTube, link in reply by Humanbean discussing both iron deficiency and towards end how inflammation can also be an issue
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
And why GP should retest regularly
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Inflammation affecting ferritin
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Updated reference ranges for top of ferritin range depending upon age
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thank you for your incredible patience while you have been awaiting the outcome of our ferritin reference range review. We conducted this with Inuvi lab, which has now changed the reference ranges to the following:
Females 18 ≤ age < 40. 30 to 180
Females 40 ≤ age < 50. 30 to 207
Females 50 ≤ age < 60. 30 to 264l
Females Age ≥ 60. 30 to 332
Males 18 ≤ age < 40 30 to 442
Males Age ≥ 40 30 to 518
The lower limits of 30 are by the NICE threshold of <30 for iron deficiency. Our review of Medichecks data has determined the upper limits. This retrospective study used a large dataset of blood test results from 25,425 healthy participants aged 18 to 97 over seven years. This is the most extensive study on ferritin reference ranges, and we hope to achieve journal publication so that these ranges can be applied more widely.
vitamin D - 49.1 (below 50 is ‘may be inadequate for some’)
So how much vitamin D do you normally take
U.K. Government recommends EVERYONE supplement vitamin D at minimum October to April
GP should prescribe 1600iu everyday for 6 months
NHS Guidelines on dose vitamin D required
ouh.nhs.uk/osteoporosis/use...
GP will often only prescribe to bring vitamin D levels to 50nmol.
Some areas will prescribe to bring levels to 75nmol or even 80nmol
leedsformulary.nhs.uk/docs/...
GP should advise on self supplementing if over 50nmol, but under 75nmol (but they rarely do)
mm.wirral.nhs.uk/document_u...
But improving to around 80nmol or 100nmol by self supplementing may be better
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/218...
vitamindsociety.org/pdf/Vit...
Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.
Test twice yearly when supplementing
Can test via NHS private testing service
Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is very effective as it avoids poor gut function.
There’s a version made that also contains vitamin K2 Mk7.
One spray = 1000iu
amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Dlux...
It’s trial and error what dose we need, with thyroid issues we frequently need higher dose than average
Vitamin D and thyroid disease
grassrootshealth.net/blog/t...
Vitamin D may prevent Autoimmune disease
newscientist.com/article/23...
Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7
Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
livescience.com/61866-magne...
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium
drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...
Vitamin K2 mk7
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
healthline.com/nutrition/vi...
Too much Vitamin D is toxic
Test twice a year
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Thank you for such detailed responses to my concerns.
The folate level was recorded as normal (see above)
I have been on Vitamin D supplements a few years back and found that I was having stomach complaints, so I will definitely try the spray. Thank you
full blood count posted below
So ……very unusually…..folate and B12 look at good levels
Do you supplement?
No I don’t take any.
Everytime I’ve tested they have been within a normal range. The ones that are at a lower end are always TSH, T4 and ferritin.
My RBC are also above the high reference limit, albeit slightly l
Thank you that’s amazing. 🤩
Help Please...
Advice please 
Advice please
Advice on blood tests please
Advice needed please 
