low Ferritin and hypothyroidism

[Gratefuld]

I have long-standing hypothyroidism following a sub total thyroidectomy when I was in my twenties. I am now 71 years old. I had a goitre and was told that I had "Woody's thyroglossal disease" (an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto's). I take 125mcg of thyroxine a day. I now suffer from very low ferritin but cannot take iron orally because I have inflammatory bowel disease. I am waiting for an iron infusion.

Does anyone else have a similar pattern of symptoms?

[pennyannie]

Hello Gratefuld and welcome to the forum :

When metabolism is running too fast as in hyperthyroid or too slow as in hypothyroid the body struggles to extract key nutrients through food - and if not optimally medicated when hypothyroid there will likely be a need to supplement the core strength vitamins and minerals as we tend to have, low stomach acid to break down the food we eat, and a slowed digestion and bowel motility.

The issue to contend with is that no thyroid hormone replacement works well if the core strength vitamins and minerals - those of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are not maintained at optimal levels.

In my research when my ferritin was down at 22 - I read no thyroid hormone replacement works until ferritin is over 70 - I now aim for 100 - folate around 20 - active B12 125 ( serum B12 500 ++ ) and vitamin D up at around 125.

So my concern is that maybe your thyroid hormone replacement hasn't been working all that well and it might make sense to get a full thyroid panel run so we can see if anything else is amiss.

Ideally we need to see a TSH, Free T3 + Free T4 reading and range + inflammation, antibodies, and the 4 vitamins and minerals listed above.

It's around 10/11 biomarkers and if your doctor isn't able to run this there are private companies listed on the Thyroid UK website who can- thyroiduk.com - and its referred to as an advanced/ full thyroid panel to include vitamins and minerals.

and then you simply start a new post with all the results and ranges and you will be talked through your next best steps back to better health.

I think between them Medichecks andBlue Horizon offer the option of a nurse home visit to draw the blood for you - best to arrange an appointment by 9.00am - o a Monday or Tuesday and then the results are back by Friday and the blood sample not left unattended over the weekend.

Stop any supplements you are taking around a week before the blood draw - so we measure what your body is holding arather than that just ingested - and take your daily T4 - after the blood draw - so having left around a 24 hour window from your last dose.

Sorry - I seem to have gone on a bit from your initial question -

so yes there are people who are hypothyroid who need to have iron infusions -

for the reasons mentioned above and have to have regular monitoring of their thyroid hormones T3 and T4 in order to be as well as they can be with their health and well being restored.

[bantam12]

I have very low ferritin and IBD so I also can’t take iron, I can’t actually take any supplements so a bit of a problem.

I’m not keen on having an iron infusion because of all the potential side effects, once it’s in then nothing you can do if side effects are bad.