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Ferritin

Hello!  I just recently got some lab results back that I had some questions about.  They took my ferritin levels back in September and the range was 10.0-291.0.  My results are a 40.0.  Is this on the low side?  I know that is says that it is in range but it seems low to me with that large of a range.  I know nothing about ferritin and am just recently looking into it.  He has also change my meds from levothryroxin 50mg to 75mg since then without retesting the ferritin levels.  Could this have changed these since?  I am just trying to make sense of this because even though my TSH levels are in the noraml range my symptoms have been debilitating.  My doctor just keeps trying to give me more anti-anxiety meds instead of looking into anything any further and I know that this isn't in my head since I've been through this once before and had to get my thyroid killed via radioactive iodine.  I finally made an appointment with an endo next month and I want to have all of my facts straight.  Thanks.
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1756321 tn?1547095325
In relation to your brown discolouration, this is most likely to be acanthosis nigricans.  Acanthosis nigricans is a skin disorder that causes velvety, light brown to black markings that can occur in any location but mainly are found in the skin folds of the neck, armpits, groin, and under the breasts.

Acanthosis nigricans has been associated with multiple endocrine disorders.  The common denominator appears to be insulin resistance.

Causes of acanthosis nigricans include:

Diabetes
Obesity
Addison disease
Disorders of the pituitary gland
Growth hormone therapy
Hypothyroidism
Oral contraceptives
Some cholesterol medications, including nicotinic acid
Genetic

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Avatar universal
Thanks guys!  I lost 4 and a half years to this crap last time before something was done other than anti-anxiety meds, and I've lost a year so far this time.  The anxiety and hot flashes have been unbearable and I'm sick of being dismissed as just having "anxiety" again.  I also have some brown discoloration that has appeared in my upper inner thighs.  It's very odd and it's not chaffing or a rash.  When I looked around on the internet some people associated this with adrenal fatigue related to thyroid disease.  Has anyone heard of this?
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Avatar universal
This may be low for you, since lab tests are nothing but Bell Curves and thus hypothetical. Anxiety and depression are common side effects of under-medication. Also,Xanax commonly has a paradoxical backlash effect and at higher levels can actually *create* anxiety. This happened to me, yet all symptoms of depression and anxiety ceased almost immediately with the addition of T3 to my T4 protocol.

Ferritin is an iron storage protein and in labs shows the amount of iron available for use in your bloodstream. Hypothyroidism can also result in lowered production of hydrochloric acid which can lead to malabsorption of iron, so it would seem that you don't tore a lot and are perhaps might have trouble using what you DO have. Anemia is often found with hypothyroidism. Low useable iron can interfere with the conversion of T4 to T3.

If you are having symptoms, you should be treated for them by adjusting your medication to appropriate Free T3 and T4 levels, as Gimel says above.
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Avatar universal
You MUST insist on getting BOTH the Free T4 and Free T3 tests.  TSH is just about completely useless.

Most people seem to get symptom relief when their FT4 (Free T4) is about mid range AND their FT3 (Free T3) is in the UPPER 1/3 of the range.

It is not uncommon for people to be within range but be below the mid range and upper 1/3 and many WILL still have symptoms and need more medication to relieve them of the symptoms.

It is also not uncommon, some say as much as 60% of the population can not convert the T4 into T3 well. And since the body ONLY uses the free T3 molecule, they can be and have all the symptoms of low (Hypo) thyroid even with their FT4 mid or even high in the range.

This is why it is so important to get BOTH the free T4 AND the Free T3 test.

NO one can adjust the medication levels by TSH.  It is impossible.  Most Dr's don't seem to know this however.  And you must be aware of Dr's who treat by the numbers (especially if ONLY TSH).  They will almost assuredly medicate you and keep you sick. Maybe better than before but still not correct levels.  The ONLY way to tweak the medication is by going by symptoms and their relief along with the FT4 and FT3 levels.  

Disregard TSH.  Especially on Thyroid meds which can artificially suppress TSH.

If your Dr will not do the FT4 & FT3 test. Try to find another who will!  If they ONLY use TSH find a new Dr ASAP!
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