Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
4274823 tn?1388529098

Reduced iron stores but no iron panel

Today the doctor said an iron panel isn't necessary because although my iron stores are "reduced" my hemoglobin is OK. He doesn't think an iron supplement is needed. I read that iron is important to thyroid function. I'm a lacto-ovo vegetarian.

I have to wait until January, 2015 for bloodwork regarding my hypothyroidism.
80 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
4274823 tn?1388529098
My conventional doctor (GP) tends to do the thyroid tests every 6 months.

Yes, I still have some hypo symptoms, but they aren't as severe since I have been drinking the adrenal tea from the ND and taking the liquid iron supplement from the natural health store.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
I know your health system is different from ours... can you only get the thyroid blood work once/year or can you get it more often?  

If you forget about all the numbers and how do you feel?  That's the most important thing.  You had some hypo symptoms last year; do you still have them?  For me, after this amount of time, they would have to be completely gone, in order to forgo thyroid medication...
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
The last time I had bloodwork done for my thyroid (TSH, Free T4, and Free T3) was January 16, 2015 through my conventional doctor. This was covered by my health card.

Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
When can you get your thyroid hormone levels tested again?

How are you feeling?  
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
Thanks for your reply. My last two periods started March 15 and April 22. I had the iron panel on April 1. My periods have been fairly regular.

Yes, I continue to take my liquid iron supplement daily.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Your ferritin level is still too low, as are your iron and saturation levels, even though they are in the reference ranges.  Are you still supplementing with the full dose of iron?  It doesn't seem to be increasing your levels very much.

Hypothyroidism can also cause periods to be late/become erratic, extra heavy, etc.  When was your last period in relation to the iron test?
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
It is important to note that I am still menstruating. My last period started 1 week later than I expected it to. I'll have to see if a pattern develops as I am 46.
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
Further to my previous post I decided to pay for the iron panel because I disagreed with my GP who thought it was unnecessary because my hemoglobin was OK even though my iron stores were reduced.

Here are the iron panel lab results from the bloodwork ordered by my ND that I received by e-mail ahead of my next appt at my request:

Iron 17
Reference range 6 - 27 umol/L

TIBC 59
Reference range 45 - 77 umol?L

Saturation 0.29
Reference range 0.20 - 0.50 / l

Ferretin 30
Reference range 12 - 125 ug/L

Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
No, not at this time as I had to pay for this testing out of pocket.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
Will look forward to the results. Were there any other tests included, such as thyroid, B-12, etc?
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
FYI I will receive results of iron panel from my ND on April 15.

Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
Today I received a lab requisition from my naturopathic doctor for an iron panel. I hope to get there for the bloodwork before this long weekend.
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
OK, thanks.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
It's more important to separate calcium and iron supplements from thyroid hormones, which you don't take, than it is to separate them from each other.
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
My ND will consider orderin an iron panel in April. She said it will cost $45 Canadian. I started 1/2 dose of Floravit (liquid iron with Vitamin C) Nov. 6/14 and full dose Jan. 28. There is nothing on the box or bottle that mentions having to avoid calcium/dairy.

Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
My ND thinks that I shouldn't have to worry too much about whether I consume dairy with my liquid iron supplement. She thinks it's more of a concern with other forms of iron. I'll check with the Vitamins & Supplement forum.
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
My dental hygienist said that I should avoid eating dairy when I take my iron supplement. I didn't realize this. I know you said you need to do this with conventional thyroid medication.
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
I think I forgot to mention I'm taking a NutraVege Omega-3 supplement.
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
Mid 2015 through GP unless I choose to pay for tests out of pocket through the ND sooner.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
It's entirely up to you, whether or not you take thyroid hormones or whether you continue trying to coax your thyroid into producing minute amounts of hormones (note that your FT4 went from 13 in July 2014 to 14 in Jan 2015 - both are inadequate and your FT3 went down) on its own, when ultimately, it's probably going to fail anyway.  

I wish you the best of luck... When will you be having thyroid blood work again?  That's what I'm interested in.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
If you have lingering brain fog and insomnia from hypothyroidism, your medication dosage isn't adjusted properly.  From the research I've done, Vitamin B5 hasn't been proven to effective for either insomnia or the brain fog.  I suggest you talk to your doctor about increasing your thyroid hormone dosage.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Has anyone taken B5 for insomnia and lingering brain fog who is on thyroid medicine?  If so, what mg did you find helped you?
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
I continue to see modest positive change with regards to symptoms such as my scalloped tongue and feeling cold. This gives me hope.
Helpful - 0
4274823 tn?1388529098
Thanks for your reply. As you noted I have had modest positive change with 3 months of a half dose of liquid iron. I believe it is possible I could see more improvement with a full dose of liquid iron. Why start taking thyroid replacement hormones until I am absolutely certain my body cannot produce what it needs on its own if it is further supported to do so? If the iron supplement hadn't made any difference at all then I'd be considering the conventional medication at this time.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community

Top Thyroid Answerers
649848 tn?1534633700
FL
Avatar universal
MI
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.