still no ferritin infusion

[Pennypingu]

over a year now since ferritin was found to be low, can’t tolerate oral iron, tried everything. As said before can’t have infusions until HB below 100. So unwell now don’t leave the house alone.

Recent bloods are:T4=15.1(9.1-17.6) , TSH=1.6(0.35-4.9), T3=3.7(2.4-6)

B12=471(187.0-883.0), Ferritin =8(5.0-204.0), Folate=6.2(3.1-20.0) Vit D=85(50-200),

HB=114(115-160) below low reference

Mean cell volume =80.9(84-102) below low reference

Mean cell Haemoglobin =24.5(27-38) below low reference

Mean cell Haemoglobin concentration =303(300-350)

RDW-CV= 15.9(11.15) above

All these indicating iron deficiency, I can see they’re only just out of range but my past experience is I only need to be the slightest bit out of range and it can make an impact on how I feel.

Really at a loss what to do , can’t afford to go private, it could be months before HB drops below 100. Having 2 monthly HB and Ferritin bloods, 6 monthly TFT’s

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you tried Three Arrows iron

Many, many members have had great success with this

Are you eating red meat daily and liver once a week

How much levothyroxine are you taking

B12 and folate need improvement

Are you taking B12 and vitamin B complex

[Pennypingu in reply to SlowDragon]

yes tried three arrows, yes eat plenty of iron rich foods , 75 mcg of mercury pharma levothyroxine, yes to B12, B complex no.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pennypingu]

Have you tried taking B complex

once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

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

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

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) and continue separate B12 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pennypingu]

Free T4 (fT4) 15.1 pmol/L (9.1 - 17.6) 70.6%

Free T3 (fT3) 3.7 pmol/L (2.4 - 6) 36.1%

Shows poor conversion rate

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Presumably you are seeing Haematologist

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/too-littl...

davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...

Great in-depth article on low ferritin

oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

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.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Posts discussing Three Arrows as very effective supplement

Great replies from @FallingInReverse

re ferritin and Three arrows

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Great reply by @fallinginreverse

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ferrodyn supplement

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Iron patches

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Pennypingu in reply to SlowDragon]

No not seeing haematologist, referred to a general health care for older people consultant who is denying me the infusions, she’s referred me to gastroenterology consultant due to all my intolerances, rapid weight loss etc, waiting on that

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Pennypingu]

Have you had coeliac blood test

Are you now on gluten free and/or dairy free diet

[Pennypingu in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes coeliac negative, not totally gluten or dairy free, have done food diary ready for gastroenterology appointment

[humanbean]

As said before can’t have infusions until HB below 100.

I think this requirement is torture. You have my sympathies.