Reassurance needed re Low Ferratin

[ForgiveMeFather]

How long does it take to start feeling better again?

My level came back as 10 in last blood test.

I'd been feeling very dizzy and lethargic for several weeks hence asking for blood test.

The Pharmacist gave us a box of iron tablets - 200mg three times a day and I've been in those for almost a month now.

I do feel a bit better, palpitations not as frequent and I'm able to potter around at home but I still can't tolerate any physical exertion. I walked very slowly round the block today and came home with double vision, slurred speech, numb feeling all over, especially feet and just overwhelming exhaustion

I'm so fed up and starting to panic that there might be something else going on.

I have made some improvement since taking iron and have good days and bad but getting really impatient to be well again.

How long did it take you to start feeling like your normal self again?

[RockinD]

Forgiveme If you are hypothyroid and on treatment (thyroxine) your TSH should be around 1 and your FT4/FT3 should be in the top 25% of the range.

Many people who have hypothyroidism also have low levels of ferritin, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D and folate, which is a pain, because any of these being less than optimal can affect the efficiency of your thyroxine, apart from anything else.

There is a lot of crossover between symptoms of hypothyroidism and the various deficiencies - they can be notoriously non-specific.

I wonder if you need to start with your thyroid. A TSH as high as 3 suggests either that you are under-medicated or that the medication you are taking is not working properly.

[dottyaboutstripes]

My ferritin was 2 and I started to feel better, though not exactly great, after approx 10 weeks on ferrous fumarate.
My gp has given up on me. My levels went up to 16 ("oh! Normal!" He said) then back down to 5. They couldn't find a reason, so told me to take a multivitamin with iron for the rest of my life. Hmmmm.

[ForgiveMeFather]

RockinD I'm not on medication for thyroid and no one suggesting I have hypothyroidism - but do my results suggest I am and it's been missed?

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

TSH is fine at 3. My TSH has dropped to under 2 as my meds have been increased due to being pregnant. You also need to have FT4 and FT3 tested if they're querying thyroid.

[RockinD]

It's a difficult area Forgiveme - it might be worth you posting on the ThyroidUK forum on //www.healthunlocked.com. I'd say a TSH of 3 is not 'all right', especially as you have stubborn symptoms and other stuff going on that goes hand in glove with hypothyroidism.

Certainly the objective with people on treatment is to get TSH down to the bottom of the reference range and FT4/FT3 to the top, or just over. The range you have quoted is wider than most and many, many people would be very unwell indeed with a TSH of 6.9, myself included.

Pobble I'm pleased your TSH is now under 2 - that's where it needs to be if you're pregnant or TTC according to the NICE guidelines. This suggests that your doctor is on the ball with this stuff, which seems to be the exception in the NHS these days.

[ForgiveMeFather]

Thanks so much RockinD - will take a look xx

[Kewcumber]

They're not likely to have done a Vitamin D (I assume you meant that rather than A) test particularly as you don't have the right symptoms. Slightly surprised by no B12 as B12 and iron problems often go hand in hand. Mine do because they're both autoimmune and probably triggered by the same event but I believe even outside of my slightly unusual set of circumstances there's often deficiencies in both.

I would be very inclined to mention the numb feet to your GP and ask them to test your B12.

[PickledMoomin]

My ferritin was lower than yours is now. I felt terrible for a year- dizziness, tingling, numbness, muscle twitching, exhaustion. My B12 was fine.
I felt better quite quickly when they prescribed iron.
My ferritin still isn't that high, but the difference between very low and low is massive

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

I have a vitamin D deficiency as well as hypothyroidism.

[minifingers]

My ferritin was 4 last time it was tested. Haemoglobin was normal. I'm hypothyroid too.

Feel... Yup, knackered, but not so knackered since taking ferroglobin slow release. And vitamin d.

Don't know what my ferritin levels are ATM . They were 4 last year.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

The first thing I thought of when I read your post was hypothyroidism; you have many of the symptoms associated with this. Many GPs are not up to speed when it comes to problems with the thyroid gland.

Also TSH is too high:-

www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testing/interpretation_thyroid_blood_tests.html

[Kewcumber]

Just out of curiosity minifingers - if your consultant is struggling to get your levels up, why have they not infused you? I know that some consultants are reluctant to (luckily mine not) but as my ferritin levels only go in one direction (down!) and it doesn't start hitting my Hb until ferritin hits about 7, by infusing when I get to that point I just get symptoms of tiredness and occasionally in the last few weeks before an infusion breathlessness before I'm treated. Infusing iron has a near instantaneous effect.

I admit having a bad reaction to the new drugs wasn't great but it was worth for a whole year of not feeling tired.

[minifingers]

I've not been referred to a haematologist yet.

I've also had a low white cell count for many years.

I felt shocking for quite a long time but put it down to poor diet, depression, thyroid issues, menopause. I'm feeling better since starting to exercise more, supplementing with vitamin d and taking ferroglobin slow release tablets. I bloody hate going to the doctors so I'm going to carry on as I am for now.

[ForgiveMeFather]

quick question - I have a blood request form here to have a check up done in about 6 weeks time. G.P just ticked the box for Ferritin then dated it and signed it.

Should I also tick the box for TSH and get that done too (he gave the form to me so I can amend it).

I very much doubt that they'd be a change in my TSH levels though over a period of 6/8 weeks?

But what about the other thyroid tests you can have done? I'm not sure what they are T4 or T3 or something? There isn't any mention of these on the form, just TSH so how would I get these tested? Would I hand-write it in?

I know it's very naughty but I am desperate to get sorted, I'm self employed and can't afford to take too much time of work and my GP just seems totally uninterested

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

If you're looking at thyroid, there's no point looking at TSH alone, you have to look at T4 and T3 too. The thyroid uk website recommend this also.

I don't know if you can hand write, the forms where I work can only be computer printed with no hand written additions. Why not ask your GP?