I have just received some blood test results, having had an iron infusion in October 2023, I would love advice please, bearing in mind my serum ferritin is still over reference range. I have not taken iron tablets since the iron infusion.
Serum folate 5.5 ug/L (ref. range 3.0-20.5)
Serum ferritin 338 ug/L (ref. range 30-250)
Serum iron level 14 umol/L (ref. range 9-30)
Serum transferrin 1.91 g/L (ref. range 1.8-3.82)
Transferrin saturation index 28% (ref. range 15-50)
Serum total 25-OH vit D level is 66 nmol/L (ref. range 50-200)
I have recently increased vitamin D to 75mcg per day from 37.5mcg per day
I am alternating 100mcg and 125mcg Levothyroxine every evening and this feels better than taking in the morning.
I have struggled with Igennus super B-complex tablets in terms of stomach irritation but am wondering if this is related to something else, given that I have chronic atrophic gastritis. Have other members identified stomach irritation with this supplement?
Many thanks in advance for your advice about supplement recommendations and perhaps advice on when to take these. I have an 8 hour window from 12 noon to 8pm when I cannot take any supplements as they would be compromised by existing medication. Thank you.
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yorkshiregirl4
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Thanks for your reply SlowDragon, I inject B12 daily and my GP added a B12 blood test recently without telling me and it came very high. I did wonder if the B12 element of the B Complex was a problem for me. I will try the Jarrow Methyl folate 400 and thank you for your excellent advice.
If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test
If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
Iron level is already dropping
Look at increasing iron rich foods in your diet
Vitamin D, aiming for vitamin D at least over 80nmol minimum. Between 100-125nmol may be better
SlowDragon, Many thanks for your reply. I am 4 weeks into alternating 100mcg/125mcg levothyroxine every night (increased from 100 mcg daily as you suggested) and will retest in a further 4 weeks. Thanks to your recommendation re. blood test regime for thyroxine I did exactly as you suggested. Thank you. I already have the Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You and will start to use it immediately. How many sprays would you suggest when I am currently taking tablets of 3,000 mcg daily?
I am wondering if I need to start taking iron tablets again, after having very low iron levels for decades (without knowing that was the case) and prior to my first iron infusion last Autumn. I have always had trouble absorbing iron from my diet and also from daily tablets. I am confused by the above reference range of ferritin though (338 ug/L with a reference range of 30-250). At a fairly recent Gastroenterologist appointment I was advised to start taking a number of iron tablets, along with vitamin C, when my iron levels drop, rather than daily. However I do not want to take iron tablets if that will raise my ferritin levels too. What would you suggest ?
I am fortunate that my current Pharmacy does keep to the same brand of levothyroxine medication. I do need to give further thought about the timing of magnesium supplements too. As I seem to have gastric irritation from the Igennus super B complex would you suggest any other individual B vitamins, as well as the Jarrow Methyl folate 400?
Sorry to pose so many questions but many thanks in anticipation for pointing me in the right direction.
that’s interesting about the Igennus B complex possibly causing irritation… I’ve been having signs of gut irritation lately but never thought of that, which I started taking about 2 months ago, being the culprit. I’ll be interested to see if anyone else comments on this. In my case, I was thinking it might be magnesium as I’d read recently that magnesium citrate can irritate the gut
Hello CatsofCatford, I made the mistake of starting Magnesium and B complex at the same time. Having virtually resolved gut irritation it all started up again and like you thought Magnesium was the most likely culprit. I stopped both and started the magnesium a few days later and seem to be okay with it so have not re-started the B complex. I obviously now need to sort out B vitamins individually. Good luck sorting this out.
ah that’s really interesting. It’s great the way we can help each other on here isn’t it? If you find a better B perhaps you could let me know? Likewise if I have a breakthrough I’ll let you know x
Hellon CatsofCatford, I don't know if it is this particular make of B complex or one ingredient of these. It would be interesting if someone else posts who has identified one particular ingredient or an alternative make of B complex that has not produced similar difficulties. My problem is that I already inject B12 because I have Pernicious Anaemia and the B complex also contains a pretty high dose of B12 as well, but I need the injections anyway because I cannot absorb B12 from tablets. We'll have to wait and see if anyone else responds. Help and assistance on this forum is fantastic and so useful because it comes from a position of personal experience.
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