I just got these results (picture attached). Until now I was on 5mg daily (although I have skipped one day a week ) and now I was advised to take 5mg 3x a week. My results in June were:
TSH 1.1 ( 0.465-4.68)
Free T4 8.3 (10-28.2)
Free T3 5.4 (4.3-8.1)
haemoglobin 121 (115-145)
ferritin 4.4 (10-200)
I’m a bit concerned about my tsh going down 🤔 In terms of my iron deficiency, I have been taking iron nano for past 2 months but it looks like I haven’t achieved anything. My gynaecologist diagnosed me with an adenomyosis post c-section which is causing heavy periods. He gave me an option of Mirena coil or a uterine ablation. I’m not keen on any of these. Any insights would be much appreciated.
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Kari55
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Am I hypo though? My period definitely varies and I had really bad ones in May and June but July one was a bit better. I will ask next time to check the other vitamins.
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.
Thank you this is very helpful. I’m not vegan or vegetarian but I don’t eat meat every day, my diet is mostly plant based but I’m trying to increase protein in each meal. I’m a bit worried about taking heme iron as it can increase cancer risk so sticking to plant based for now. Also, I was told to really avoid iodine so I’m trying to be careful with seafood. It’s really tough to be honest. I’m attaching my results from February. My ferritin was 10 then, now it’s 4. I think I was supplementing then. Now I’m trying iron nano as no side effects. My gynaecologist says my heavy periods are due to adenomyosis but I have definitely noticed that my period is affected by thyroid levels. When my Graves started I experienced light periods, then my thyroid got suppressed and levels were quite hypo, I got flooded. My levels are not lifting up a bit and period was quite ok. So I’m not sure if ablation is the answer to my issues.
As far as I’m aware I just have Graves at the moment. I think there are number of issues affecting my periods, I’m wondering whether to see a functional doctor 🤔
They are associated with Hashimoto as 80-90% people with Hashi have it but also 70-80% of people with Graves have it. The diagnosis of Hashimoto doesn’t simply rely on presence of TPO antibodies.
And bearing in mind that all levels can fluctuate all the time, making reliance on any one of those results unhelpful; and that TRAB can be present in Hashi's along with high TPOab/TgAB, without meaning that you have both Hashi's and Gravex'. Just as TPOab can be present in Graves' but lower levels. Although levels fluctuate all the time, making it more complicated - you just have to catch them at the same time. And they tend to be highest when FT4/3 are high, and TSH low, meaning that one is having a Hashi's 'hyper' swing. Which causes hyper levels of FT4/3 but lower than they would be if you had Graves'. And that is why I doubt you do have Graves' and are more likely to have Hashi's.
You also had high TPOab, if I remember correctly. And, as I keep saying, Hashi's people often have positive TRAB. Your thyroid hormone levels - again, if I remember correctly weren't really Graves' level high, more like the false 'hyper' phase of Hashi's.
I'm afraid that having a doctor diagnose you with Graves' doesn't actually mean you have it because they don't really understand the difference between Hashi's and Graves'. For the majority of doctors, low TSH equals hyperthyroidism, and hyperthyroidism equals Graves'. They often make mistakes, I'm afraid.
Hmm sounds very confusing sorry. I have run my results through Elaine Moore and also another lady who runs Graves group, they both were confident that I have Graves. But I’m keeping an open mind.
Just to add, my Graves was caught early because I had awareness of thyroid conditions after my husband’s ordeal. I’m wearing an iWatch and it’s alerted me about my elevated resting heart rate.
An elevated resting heart rate is not exclusive to Graves'.
Problem is, very few people know about the presence of TRAB in Hashi's, so if they see elevated TRAB, for them it has to be Graves'. I gave you a link to the relevant paper in your last post.
I’m tired but I don’t feel any other symptoms. I think I’ve got used to feel like this and I feel it’s normal. I think I’m going to double my dose of iron nano at least on the days when I don’t take carbimazole. Nobody ever suggested an infusion but I understand they are risky too.
You are not defeated but a woman taking back some control of her health and well being - and you are not being difficult or unreasonable -
and if this were a loved ones result - I'm sure you would feel it in your rights to question and ask what happens next medically when the result is dire and below the range -
We share knowledge - and are a sounding board for people lost and overwhelmed in the system -
knowledge is power - which in turn will enable you to become your own best advocate which is what this forum is all about.
Sending a couple of hugs as no one wants these sort of conversations but it would be remiss of the doctor not to do something.
Pennyannie, could i please ask why you suggested to do 2.5mg every day (1 day off) rather than taking 5mg on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays like Endo suggested
Just so your body gets a little dose nearly everyday - and naturally dovetails in with your own daily thyroid hormone production - no worries if you prefer every other day -
just think if they made a 2.50 mcg dose - you'ld have likely been prescribed that to be taken every day of the week.
Well any change in a dose takes around 6-8 weeks to ' show up ' in a blood test -
as blood tests tend to run a couple of weeks behind symptoms -
and since doctors need to base their decisions on facts as well as symptoms -
2 months is a sensible time frame -
How are you feeling in yourself ?
Just keep a note of how you feel yourself ' doing ' and I'm sure things will be fine - if anything untoward happens you can always ring and have your appointment changed.
I don’t feel too bad, obviously exhausted but I keep going (full time job plus 4.5-year old twins, no help from family). My stamina is not great, I’m struggling to lose weight despite of healthy eating (I guess I would have to trim my calories to be in deficit but i m struggling with hunger feeling ). Ok I will see him in 2 months unless I start feeling worse.
While in this phase of ill health it's pointless looking to increase stamina, loose weight etc - your metabolism is being controlled by the AT drug - and it will take some time to get back to your normal once even off the AT drug :
Stay eating healthily - your body has been through it's own trauma with Graves and thyroid hormones are not a quick fix - you need good fats and need to repair, replenish and restore your body - please don't start short changing yourself now -
and thinking more exercise and less food the way to go - it is not :
Just wish I lived nearby and could lend a hand with your twins.
P.S. When metabolism is running too fast as in ' hyper ' or too slow as in ' hypo ' the body struggles to extract key nutrients through food - no matter how well and clean you eat and non optimal levels of ferritin, folatem, B12 and vitamin D will compound your health issue further than necessary - so please get these run and let's have a look where these are in the ranges.
Aww bless you, so sweet of you! The twins are growing so I’m hoping I will be able to look after myself a bit better .
Yes, you’re right the main thing now is to restore my health but I think my main issue is that I’m in denial and I don’t accept my illness. It still bugs my how I developed Graves and how strange it is that my husband has it but I don’t have it running in the family.
Well - I can't help with that bit - it can simply come ' out of the blue ' -
no point driving yourself mad -
I was physically threatened and verbally abused by a man I employed as my assistant manager in a charity run coffee shop in the hospital !! and 3 months later diagnosed Graves - so I hang on to that +
I know now I was hypo from a child and living and dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety as I was dyslexic and left handed and shamed and bullied at school back in the 1950s -
I just thought I was normal and other people had similar issues - as we didn't talk openly about ourselves and the few times I was taken, or went to the doctors I was dismissed with laxatives or anti depressants.
Interesting Elaine Moore talks of dyslexia and left-handedness in her first book - Graves Disease A Practical Guide - and presumably within her now very thorough website - elaine-moore.com
I appreciate your situation isn't exactly what I try to explain in my blog, but the stop/start effect of alternate day dosing might not be very helpful. Most especially as you will have a two-day gap in there if you are taking three 5 milligram doses a week.
(I can't see why your doctor didn't prescribe seven doses over two weeks - if your endo committed to that sort of dosing level. Thus allowing alternate day dosing rather than "something rather short of alternate day dosing". The difference in total is slight but the difference in effect might be more significant.)
helvella - Splitting Carbimazole Doses
A short discussion about Carbimazole primarily focussed on splitting doses but containing some other information.
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