Thyroid and ferritin levels

[clarella]

Hi Ive been having a lot of issues which I'm now wondering are actually related to my back, possibly inflammatory arthritis. I'm waiting for a rheum appt. only 38 ffs!

Ferritin was 67 in nov and I've been eating extra iron in my diet s well as taking two spatone sachets but it's now 55.

I lost a lot of muscle and weight due to long term not enough thyroxine which I've now begun to recover so it could be this.

Gp was raising ferritin to see if it helped with rls symptoms in my spine and ribs before trying a medication.

So - what level should I encourage him to aim for? I know there's quite a few mns with similar experiences. I think he'll be prescribing iron tablets today. What might be best sort?

TI A

[clarella]

Tsh is now 0.22 which I'm happy with for now.

[RockinD]

Ferritin needs to be 70 or mid range, whichever is the higher, to support bodily processes, including the conversion of thyroxine (T4) to the active hormone (T3).

TSH looks good.

[clarella]

Thanks Rockin. Any tips to raise it? I'm not getting anywhere at the moment.

I'm going to rethink my diet a little.

[RockinD]

I have to say Spatone didn’t work for me either. I hit menopause in the middle of my ferritin problems (no-one had previously connected my 14 day periods and my very low iron stores) and that seemed to do the trick, but before I got to that point I found the NHS singularly unhelpful and frankly not very knowledgeable. Ferrous sulphate is standard issue. Ferrous fumarate is generally better tolerated. Take your prescription to the chemist and buy over the counter – they will be considerably cheaper than a prescription charge.

Low iron and low iron stores affect all sorts of biochemical processes in the body, so best keep and eye on this.

[idlevice]

The best way to take iron in supplement form (as in best absorbable) is a heme type supplement. They are more expensive though. They can be bought online. But ideally an iron transfusion would probably work best in your circumstances as it has a bearing on other health issues. Unless there is a contra-indication. Has your GP mentioned this? If not, perhaps raise it as a possibility given you have already been trying to get your levels up.

[clarella]

Thank you! I forgot to ask about infusion though gp is saying 55 is borderline, which I guess it is, and have some ferrous sulphate. I've been told to divide it up in the day eg breakfast then lunch. If it's an issue I'll try the other sort. I'm assuming it's a lot more than usual vitamins?

No prescription charges due to thyroid.

[RockinD]

You'd be surprised how many thyroidians are not getting free prescriptions because their doctors haven't mentioned it to them! It was my pharmacist that told me about it and basically told me to go into the surgery and demand a form. They'd never offered me one and I wasn't aware that I should have one as I don't actually have a diagnosis other than CFS.

Anyway the info may come in handy for anyone prescribed iron tablets and paying prescription charges.

55's not bad for a ferritin level, but it does need to go up a bit more. It's worth trying different supplements until you find one that works for you.

[RockinD]

PS - I don't suppose anyone has suggested that absorption will be increased if you take your iron with orange juice?

[clarella]

Wow Rockin, I'm surprised about the charges! Although, I'm not sure they had charges when I was first diagnosed, (or praps as I was at uni) and I think it was a pharmacist who told me.

You don't have a diagnosis of thyroid? I'm amazed as I've seen you post about thyroid things before and you certainly know your stuff!

Yes I've been very anal about absorption stuff, orange etc. developing a timetable of what has to be taken when at the moment!

I know 55 isn't bad, endo said it was a little low, gp said same but is happy to raise it to see if it helps with fatigue.