Can someone help me make sense of my blood test results?

[TrueWierdness]

I went to the GP recently because I'm tired all the time, losing hair, feeling achy, clumsy and my mind felt muddled. I consider my periods to be heavy too.

Blood test results have recently come back and B12 is ok and I haven't got diabetes. My Vit D level was 25, and my ferritin level was 4. The GP said my thyroxine levels are normal but that the hormone that stimulates the thyroid is low. How bad is this and does it explain my symptoms?

So, I've just started on ferrous fumerate and Vit D (2000 iu) and my thyroid will be monitored.

I've had another heavy period and I feel like I've been hit by a bus - extremely achy, headache and fatigued and I've had to take time off work.

If I remember rightly anything below 12 isnt good I have been 9 or 7 before and felt awful. I also have an underactive thyroid, asthma and another health condition. Just rest as much as possible, take the tablets, eat the best balanced diet that you can, drink plenty of water and ask for help if you need it with shopping, cooking or with children if you have them.
If you want further clarity contact your GP again for advice.
Take care 💐

The hormone that stimulates thyroid should be low if all working well. Mine is high when body if trying desperately to kick start some thyroid activity. (Under active thyroid here)

Thank you for your quick reply and your kind words. I wish I'd gone to the GP sooner, rather than just struggling on!

That’s an incredibly low ferritin. It will take a while to increase it to a reasonable level. You could ask for an iron infusion but I’m not sure how likely it is you’d get one on NHS.
If you phone your GP reception and ask for a print out of the exact results, you can post them on:
healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk
for advice from other patients.

Goodenoughwife, the GP said that the thyroid is producing thyroxine without the hormone to stimulate it. So my thyroid is a bit overactive. It made sense at the time of the phone consultation but these things always lead to more questions!

Thank you AuntyElle, I'll do that.

Your low ferritin level could easily be causing all your symptoms and throwing everything else out of whack.

Also, while you are trying to raise your ferritin, it could be worth trying to reduce your heavy periods. You could ask the GP about tranexamic or mefenamic acid to reduce flow a bit.

GrockleBocs, yes you're probably right. I must admit, I was expecting to be told I had an under active thyroid - it never crossed my mind that I was anaemic.

Heavy periods can also also mess with your magnesium and potassium levels. Defficiencies in them would leave you with some of those symptoms. Try taking a mineral and vitaminsupplement daily and if you cant find one with at least 60% of the recommended amount of magnesium, take a multi and top up with extra magnesium and eat a banana every day.

You probably have several things going on at the same time, so keep pushing for help with your thyroid levels and ferretin too

Also, that vit D is pretty low, take 2000 iui of vit D every day for 6 weeks

An underactive thyroid can cause all the symptoms you describe including the heavy periods and low ferritin. You need proper treatment from an endocrinologist rather than solely the GP and you need to be monitored carefully.

If your TSH is low ( below 0.5) but your T3 and T4 are normal too have non clinical hyperthyroidism ( b different to hypo ) .... that would trigger everything your describing inc low ferritin if I remember .
Ask for your actual results ?
If it is below 0.5 perhaps a repeat and if it's still low as for an endocrine referral .
TSH should rises and fall to work correctly that's its job .... but not below certain levels . You jane symptoms as well which need taking into account .
Hope you feel better soon x

SeaToSki - I've got myself some effervescent tablets to give me a multivitamin boost, thank you. I'm on Vit D for 12 weeks (have a to have another blood test in 4 weeks to check calcium).

AuntyElle, I'm not sure either that I'd get an iron infusion on the NHS. Worth asking if it's going to take a while to get my ferritin levels up with the supplements. I'll mention the medication too.

I've been so lacking in energy that I've been drinking a lot of coffee, which obviously wasn't not helping things!

Tinkerbellx, so just found out that my TSH level is 0.04, and my T3 and T4 is within the normal range. The GP wanted to review my thyroid again in a year. Ugh, feel like I'm being fobbed off!

I would return to the GP and ask to be referred to an endocrinologist.
You certainly should not be left for another year.

www.thyroiduk.org/index.html is a useful website.

What’s your haemoglobin?

Thanks for everyone's replies - it has been so useful. I've got a phone consultation with GP next week, I now feel more clued up!

I didn't get a specific result for my haemoglobin - just told that it has been affected (by the ferritin levels???)

With a low TSH and FT4 and FT3 'within range', but symptoms of hypothyroidism and co-factors like low ferritin and vitamin D, you could be looking at secondary hypothyroidism. I'd start by getting a copy of your results and seeing where in the reference range your FT4 and FT3 are.

Ferritin is low enough for you to ask for an infusion. It could take years to raise it to an acceptable level taking tablets. Also, if you look online at the vitamin D protocol for your area, you will probably find that you need a loading dose rather than the dose you have been given.

Another vote for ThyroidUK or their forum on www.healthunlocked.com, but best to start with that print out, before your telephone appointment and then come back and post your other results.

timeistight, is there much chance of getting an iron fusion in the UK, unless you happen to have a GP particularly switched on about ferritin? Mine has been between 6 and 30 for decades.

The thyroid results are confusing, Id ask for either a referral or antibody testing to check if you've got the start of Graves.

FWIW there was a bit in a recent inside health on R4 about raising my iron levels more quickly with less iron - iirc about 60mg every other day rather than the 200-400 everyday they usually prescribe. Something to do with what the guy can actually absorb. I'd chat to the gp first though and a transfusion would ideally be better. I agree heavy periods really won't be helping

Your ferritin is really low. Mine was at about 7. I've had endometrial ablation to stop my periods and it's made a huge difference. My ferritin has been low but with an iron rich diet it's increasing as the iron tablets made me so poorly.