Hi I've been taking 100mcg levothyroxine brand accord for 3 months before my blood test which was in December. I was on 75 mcg before that. Been on accord brand consistently. So my GP today said i need to go back down to 75 mcg. But think I might get a second opinion. I was gluten free for 3 months but I couldn't stick to it.
I'm not sure what weight I am in kilo. I know I'm not far off 12 stone.
Serum b12 585 ng/L (180-900) I had been using the better you b12 spray from Holland and Barrett.
I take three arrows heme Iron 1 capsule a day .
Vitamin d and k2 4000
Magnesium glycinate
I'm taking a probiotic
Yes test was early morning. Well about 10am. Only drunk water and last dose levo 24 hours before.
Didn't have cortisol tested last time but it was raised before.
Regarding the Three Arrows did you calculate your dose according to your body weight? Seems a bit low to be taking one a day. There’s a dose calculator on their website. (I was taking two twice a day).
Gussy, one a day can definitely be enough for many people. Some take less than that and maintain sufficient and safe levels. Since iron is toxic at high levels, the only way to safely manage is based on initial full iron panel, and methodical dose changes based on regular full iron panel testing on an individual basis. We are all very different when it comes to iron absorption.
Yes that's what I tried to say to the go yesterday maybe it's going to bring it down too much again going back to 75mcg a day. It's not the usual doctor I see I was suppose to have been seen by someone else. Think I'm going to try book in with my usual GP again and suggest this thanks . As for my other levels from tests do these seem OK?
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose and may need 2 per day and/or may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 5-7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg)
Serum ferritin 53 ug/L ( 15- 300 )
Ferritin has got better with three arrows heme Iron but not sure if could be better?
Serum Iron 14 umol/L (10 -30)
Serum transferrin 3.1 g/L (2.0 -4.0)
Transferrin saturation index 18 % ( 20.0 -50.0)
Yes keep going….perhaps increase to 2 per day
Will tag humanbean and FallingInReverse to comment
Total 25 hydroxyvitamin d level 71 nmol/L
Vitamin D still on low side
How much has it improved on 4000iu per day
You could increase to 5000iu per day
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.
Sorry with late reply. It takes a while to get my head into replying. Not sure if that's to do with my autism. I'm not gluten free anymore but I was for about 4 months and stopped in December. I just couldn't stick to it. It was not long after I come off the gluten free diet i had my blood tests done. I'm not dairy free.
That's great advise as I didn't realise my folate was a bit low. GP never mentioned a thing about that. How much better does folate need to be ?
That's very interesting about mthfr gene variation. Can I ask can this be linked to autism? How do I find out if I have this gene variation ?
Is it OK to take b complex in the morning because I take my thyroid meds in the morning?
Thanks for the advise. I'll keep going with the three arrows. I think I'll see if it's improved anymore with my next blood test before deciding to increase maybe.
I do feel more fatigued at the moment but I had a bad bout of flu that lasted a month or so and now I've got another cold literally after getting over the last one about 2 weeks ago. Can't say I've ever had so many colds so close together before.
Please share your last full iron panel results with date and what iron intake/supplements you were taking at that time and for how long.
Provide a date for when you changed your iron dosing (presumably to 1 three arrows, unless that preceded the last test) so we can see how long you were on that dose before the test above.
And then provide a date for the iron panel above.
Lastly, let us know how long between last supplement dose and both those tests, and confirm you didn’t eat any iron rich foods the day/night before the test.
Hi I can't find my last test but here is one from July 2024. Serum ferritin 46 ug/L
Serum Iron level 15 umol/L. (10=30)
Serum transferrin 3.2 g/L (2.0=4.0)
Transferrin saturation index 18.7 % (20.0=50.0)
I was taking three arrows for around 3 months. I was taking one of the three arrows every other day I think and after the July test started taking one every day.
Before that I was taking what the doctor prescribed which wasn't much good. Ferrous sulphate 200mg.
Date fir the iron panel above is back in December 2024
Agree with SlowDragon … keep going with that Three Arrows.
If you were at 1 a day, eyeballing your results it maintained but didn’t really increase.
Go to 2 a day and test again in 3 months.
Target iron is 55-70% through range, which for reference is 21-24 in the range of your test.
Remember to stop supplements 5 days before the test and no iron rich foods the day before. Be consistent test to test.
Saturation % minimum result should be 25-30% never more than 45%. Think about this one like train cars that carry iron around your body, and how full (saturated) they are with iron. To oversimplify, you have train cars hoping to pick up some iron passengers, but there’s not enough iron so the cars go empty and your body doesn’t have enough iron to function.
So we aim to get your 18% up to at least 25% and no higher than 45%.
Your low and slow approach to Three Arrows will protect you from iron toxicity even if progress is slow, there is no other way to do it.
Keep us posted and feel free to tag me if you post follow up results in a few months.
Caveat - I’m not a doctor, just sharing my own experience and how I approach my own iron.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Blood test readings sent 
GP wants to reduce my dose
Iron levels -test results
My latest thyroid test results
Interpretation of blood tests
