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.
Request GP do full iron panel test for anemia
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.
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.
Hi , thanks for your very comprehensive report ! I am not vegetarian but prefer to not eat a lot of meat ! I eat all the above that you have recommended and I still feel exhausted ! I have just checked my results and she did do a full blood count ! Not that I understand it ! I am seeing her tomorrow and I will ask her to explain the low ferritin , the Haemoglobin concentration is 132 g/L (115-165 ) ?
Your FT3 is high - especially considering that you left nearly 24 hours between your last dose of NDT and the blood draw. It's usually recommended to leave 8-12 hours.
BUT do you have Hashi's? If so, that could be the cause of your high FT3.
Real Thyroid contains seaweed and potassium iodine. Could that affect the free Ts? I was surprised to see FT4 levels that high as they are usually lower on combo treatment.
If it's NDT of cours it contains iodine because that's what thyroid hormones are made of: 4 atoms of iodine for every molecule of T4. But, seaweed? Seriously? That would be very strange. Does it say that on the label? I've googled it but can't find it. Is it NDT or just some sort of thyroid support thing? Because people with hypo should not be taking iodine and it could very well mess with your blood test results.
And we have no way of knowing how much iodine is in the seaweed, because it varies. Plus the 116 mcg she's getting from the thyroid hormones themselves, plus whatever she gets from her food! And the RDA is only 150. So, her intake is well in excess.
Sorry, Oliva1955 but taking this is a very bad idea!
That is what I suspected. Oliva1955 , do you have autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s)? I am asking because I think it is a particularly bad idea to take additional iodine in that case.
I do remember that I was diagnose with Hashimotos when I was in the USA. . What’s the difference betwee that hypothyroid? I thought they were the same ?
There isn't a difference, exactly, but Hashi's is the cause of your hypothyroidism. And, it's good to know if you have it because with Hashi's, levels can fluctuate a lot, and this confuses doctors. So, it's best if the patient at least knows what's going on!
You went from 3 to 4 in one go? That's not good. Increases should only be 1/4 grain every two weeks maximum. You need to give the body time to adjust after each increment before increasing again.
But, even on 3 grains the iodine content is just too much. This is a terrible product and could do you much harm long-term. You really shouldn't be taking it.
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LATEST BLOOD TEST RESULTS
My latest blood test is a surprise and my endocrinologist says I am correctly medicated but I still have the same symptoms, is this right?
Latest bloods 
Latest Blood Test Results - Comments Appreciated Please
My latest thyroid test results
