RE: Iron studies blood test results - what does this mean?

[Guest guest]

Your Ferritin could definitely do better and I would recommend you start taking some form of elemental iron such as Ferrous Sulphate 200 mgs daily. As taking iron can cause constipation, I would also take high dose Vitamin C as well. Don't. however, take any form of iron anywhere near to taking thyroid hormone replacement. Take it at least 3 to 4 hours away. Anybody with low iron feels great benefit once their iron level is boosted.

Luv - Sheila

Here are my latest Iron Studies results. Sheila or Bob (or others), could you please comment on these results?ThanksPFerritin 47 ug/L (10 - 150)* Iron 7 umol/L (8-27)Transferrin 36 umol/L (25-50)Transferrin saturation 10% (10-35)notes: consistent with iron deficiency.

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[Guest guest]

Hi P,

I'll answer later today, I have some useful information difficult to

condense : -

eg ~

Another consequence of the quantitative conversion of CIP into DNIC

is the removal of the CIP. This results in a condition that is

essentially identical to cellular iron starvation, thus prompting the

activation of cellular iron homeostatic control, as has been

previously suggested (57). This iron homeostatic mechanism is

accomplished largely through the actions of iron-regulatory proteins

(IRP1 and IRP2) and their posttranscriptional effects upon iron-

responsive elements (IRE) in mRNAs of proteins involved in iron

uptake, storage, and utilization (58). Iron depletion (using

chelators) has been shown to be a potent method to accomplish the

activation of these proteins independent of •NO (7). The alternative

mechanism is that •NO directly reacts with and causes disassembly of

the iron sulfur cluster of IRP1 (cytosolic aconitase), but this

direct hypothesis has been challenged (59). In vitro studies have

demonstrated that inhibition of IRP1 aconitase activity requires high

concentrations of nitric oxide (60), and others have seen no effect

of •NO (61;62). Finally, IRP2 lacks an iron sulfur cluster and

therefore cannot be similarly activated, and has recently emerged as

the major iron regulatory orchestrating protein under physiological

oxygen concentrations (63;64). Another very consistent finding is

that •NO causes massive iron loss in chronic conditions (44), which

may also contribute to the state of cellular iron starvation. In

agreement, Watts et al. (11) recently found that exposure of cells

to •NO promotes active transport of iron and glutathione to the

extracellular space through the multidrug resistance-associated

protein (MRP1), presumably as small diglutathione dinitrosyl iron

complex. Watts et al also demonstrated that cellular DNIC are

virtually all macromolecule associated, but they suggest that there

is equilibrium between big and small DNIC. The latter would be

actively exported to the extracellular space explaining the well-

known •NO-induced loss of intracellular iron (65). Finally,

considering that the intracellular CIP concentration has been

estimated as being as high as 10 ìM (6;18), and " basal " •NO

concentration appears to range from low nanomolar to low micromolar,

the effects of •NO described here are more likely to be manifested in

cells chronically exposed to •NO, particularly under inflammatory

conditions. Prolonged exposure to high levels of •NO is probably a

situation faced in vivo during an acute or chronic inflammation, thus

an important phenomenon for both host immune defense and also for

host damage. In this regard, a major mechanism of host defense

against pathogen invasion and proliferation is iron sequestration,

since iron availability is quite probably the limiting nutrient for

pathogens in vivo (66).

http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/abstract/M707862200v1?papetoc

best wishes

Bob

>

>

>

> Here are my latest Iron Studies results.

>

> Sheila or Bob (or others), could you please comment on these

results?

>

> Thanks

>

> P

>

>

>

> Ferritin 47 ug/L (10 - 150)

> * Iron 7 umol/L (8-27)

> Transferrin 36 umol/L (25-50)

> Transferrin saturation 10% (10-35)

>

> notes: consistent with iron deficiency.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Have you been offered iron supplements?

Subject: Iron studies blood test results - what

does this mean?

Here are my latest Iron Studies results.

Sheila or Bob (or others), could you please comment on these results?

Thanks

P

Ferritin 47 ug/L (10 - 150)

* Iron 7 umol/L (8-27)

Transferrin 36 umol/L (25-50)

Transferrin saturation 10% (10-35)

notes: consistent with iron deficiency.

------------------------------------

Messages are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always

consult with a suitably qualified practitioner before changing

medication.

[Guest guest]

Goodness me Bob. I'm very appreciative that you are willing to look

at this and get back to me about it. At the moment, the information

from the medical journal article looks like it has been written in

Ancient Icelandic Hieroglyphics!!!!

P

>

> Hi P,

> I'll answer later today, I have some useful information difficult to

> condense : -

>

> eg ~

>

> Another consequence of the quantitative conversion of CIP into DNIC

> is the removal of the CIP. This results in a condition that is

> essentially identical to cellular iron starvation, thus prompting

the

> activation of cellular iron homeostatic control.......

[Guest guest]

Hi , Not yet. My next doc appointment is at the end of the

month. Can you believe it? The doc is so busy that if I wanted to

see her close to home, I would need to wait until July!!! I can see

her in her rural practice, but it means a 1 hour drive. At least I

can listen to my music and enjoy the scenery on the way!

P

>

> Hi,

> Have you been offered iron supplements?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila, not that I really want to discuss my bowel movements on the

forum, but I'm already having problems with constipation and I take 2

x 2g Vitamin C every day. Thanks for the thumbs up re taking the iron

supplements at least 3 to 4 hours apart from taking thyroid hormone

replacement.

You mentioned that anybody with low iron feels great benefit once

their iron level is boosted. What sort of benefits Sheila?

P

" sheilaturner<sheilaturner@...> wrote:I would recommend you start

taking some form of elemental iron such as Ferrous Sulphate 200 mgs

daily. As taking iron can cause constipation, I would also take high

dose Vitamin C as well. Don't. however, take any form of iron anywhere

near to taking thyroid hormone replacement. Take it at least 3 to 4

hours away. Anybody with low iron feels great benefit once their iron

level is boosted.

[Guest guest]

Bob, can you believe it? I was only joking when I made up the term

Ancient Icelandic Hieroglyphics, however I just checked online and

they really exist!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi P,

Do you have any signs of either haemochromatosis or copper deficit?

I'll get onto the paper published today in a while.

Best wishes

Bob

>

> Bob, can you believe it? I was only joking when I made up the term

> Ancient Icelandic Hieroglyphics, however I just checked online and

> they really exist!!!!!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi P,

This is from the Wiki on PCOS...

[[...Specifically, hyperinsulinemia increases GnRH pulse frequency,

LH over FSH dominance, increased ovarian androgen production,

decreased follicular maturation, and decreased SHBG binding; all

these steps lead to the development of PCOS. Insulin resistance is a

common finding among patients of normal weight as well as those

overweight patients.

PCOS may be associated with chronic inflammation, with several

investigators correlating inflammatory mediators with anovulation and

other PCOS symptoms.[9][10]

....]]

I was going to ask if you had any signs of infection or

inflammation...based on the paper above....??

best wishes

Bob

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Bob,

Haemochromatosis - no signs. My iron levels were low, ferritin was

within range and Transferrin Saturation was within range, so these

tests (that are normally also used to test for haemochromatosis) all

came back indicating that the condition is not an issue for me.

I'm not copper deficient. I was just re-tested for copper levels.

They are smack bang in the middle of the reference range. If

anything, my copper levels were a little on the 'higher' end of the

reference range before.

P

> >

> > Bob, can you believe it? I was only joking when I made up the

term

> > Ancient Icelandic Hieroglyphics, however I just checked online

and

> > they really exist!!!!!

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Gee whiz Sheila. I really really hope that things will improve. Can

you imagine that for all this time I might have been feeling like poo

because my iron levels were low? I hope that it is something as

simple as this. Might be a dumb question, but can iron

supplementation help with memory retention? I have a shocking

memory.

P

>

> Quite simply - that your thyroid hormone replacement will suddenly

start working better than it did before as it will be more easily

absorbed by the body. Some people (occasionally) actually find after

their iron level has been boosted, they can manage with less thyroid

hormone. You will KNOW when you feel better - your skin, hair,

everything about you.

>

> luv - Sheila

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

What sort of memory problems did you have? I'm getting to the point

where I want to be referred to a neurologist / memory clinic or

something like that because I can't retain instructions, I forget

important things, repeat myself, etc. My daughter says it upsets her

because she told me that we'll chat about something and then I'll

repeat myself soon after. Even now, I wonder if she is exaggerating,

because I honestly don't remember doing it. Or perhaps that is the

problem!!!! I used to have quite responsible positions at work. I

don't feel able to work because of the memory problems and the

lethargy/exhaustion + other symptoms. Scary stuff, especially since

I'm only in my very early 40's. My dad died from the effects of end

stage dementia, so I find it quite scary. It is such a cruel

condition - I don't think that too many people know what happens.

I'm not sure if I have a 'valid' memory problem or whether the memory

stuff is a result of the thyroid hassles. I guess the other thing is

that everyone thinks that memory problems are JUST because of

dementia / alzheimers, however memory can be affected in all sorts of

ways if particular parts of the brain are damaged, etc. I just wish I

knew why I can't remember things )0:

Not working is upsetting me as I don't feel like I am pulling my

weight with my partner supporting me, however I would be a hopeless

employee at the moment - not remember half of what I'm told + want to

sleep half of the day!

P

>

> One of the problems of being hypothyroid and your body (and brain)

not getting the active hormone T3 - and probably T2, is that you

get 'grain fog' and short term memory. This can be a really awful

symptom and very worrying. It was only when I started taking Armour

that I regained my brain.

>

> Luv - Sheila

[Guest guest]

I've had a look at the PCOS stuff Bob. I don't seem to fit the bill.

P

>

> Hi P,

> This is from the Wiki on PCOS...

.............. I was going to ask if you had any signs of infection or

> inflammation...based on the paper above....??

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for letting me know about all of that Sheila.

Knowing that your brain is working properly again makes me think

that perhaps it is all 'thyroid' related. I can really relate to

what you have written. See below for my responses to what you wrote.

P

YOU WROTE: I would start to read something - before I got to the

next sentence, I had completely forgotten what I had just read.

MY RESPONSE:

I understand what you mean about reading. In my case, I read for

about an hour, feel like I understand it well, then I put down the

book and can't remember the content. Very frustrating.

YOU WROTE: walking around your house forgetting what you needed to

do.

MY RESPONSE:

My most recent classic was when I went to the kitchen to get pain

killers for my partner (I got up out of bed especially to get them

for him). I went to the kitchen and did stuff for about half an

hour and then came back to bed.....without the pain killers!!! He

had been sitting quietly in bed with a ripper of a headache and I'd

completely forgotten about his dilemma!

YOU WROTE: My neighbour was in the garden when we returned and asked

us where we had been. I couldn't remember one single place and just

told her " Oh, here, there and everywhere " .

MY RESPONSE:

I travelled with my family a couple of years ago. I can hardly

remember the towns that we visited or the direction in which we

travelled. I had to look through my notes again to work it out.

The scariest thing that happened to me lately was after I went and

did some volunteer work recently. I was lucky enough to be able to

listen to a fabulous speaker for 2 days. At the time, I thought it

was wonderful. A short time after the event, I spoke to a friend

who asked me about the content of the talks after I told her how

great the talks were. I was dumbstruck as I had no idea what was

discussed. I made my friend wait while I got out my written notes

so I could try and refresh my mind. How embarrassing!

YOU WROTE: I would sometimes look at somebody and wonder whether I

should be saying hello to them or something - did I know that person

well enough or was this just a face I had seen around.

MY RESPONSE:

I used to be really good with faces. I used to forget names but I

NEVER forgot a face. I travelled overseas last year and tonight I

saw someone who I THINK was living in a town that I stayed for a

while. I wasn't game to ask him because I wasn't sure if it was him

or not. It is embarrassing because I stayed at this small place for

5 weeks!

YOU WROTE: I can only tell you that when I started Armour Thyroid

(because I was not converting the thyroxine to T3) my brain was the

very first thing to come back. What a day!

MY RESPONSE:

I had my T3 levels tested recently and they are still at the lowest

end of the 'normal' reference range OR just below the reference

range. That doesn't make sense, does it? I'll explain what

happened. You see, I had two docs order the same test and the lab

wouldn't do 1 test and send results to both docs. They did the same

test twice with one lot of my blood. The funny thing was that one

test result for free T3 came back as at the lowest end of

the 'normal' reference range and the other test result for free T3

(using the same blood sample) came back as being LOWER than the

normal ref range (3.0. Range 3.1 - 5.4). Makes me wonder which one

is correct? Regardless of whether it is 3.1 or 3.0, my free T3

levels are dropping over time. I am going to see my 'new' doc in

just over a week, so I'll keep going with the thyroxine until then.

I'll get her opinion on what I should do re thyroid replacement

hormone. My other doc suggested that I take natural thyroid

extract, but I think I've mentioned before that I'm a bit scared to

do it because I had a really bad reaction on T3. It looks like I

may not have any choice but to take T3 because I can't sit back and

let the T3 levels drop even further and I feel lousy on the

thyroxine. When I see my doc, I will find out the test results for

my oestrogen and progesterone levels. i'll also find out if my

reverse T3 levels are still elevated above the top end of

the 'normal' ref range. They were too high a few months ago. I

hope the Reverse T3 isn't too high now. Will be an interesting

appointment I think.

YOU WROTE: Do you know whether your Dad could have had undiagnosed

hypothyroidism?

MY RESPONSE: Very unlikely. He was as fit as a mallee bull with

great energy levels throughout his life.

[Guest guest]

, that makes sense. My free T3 levels have been steadily dropping

since last year. I'm quite jealous that you can remember appts

without your diary. Sometimes I forget to look in my diary!!!

P

>

> Hi,

> Unfortunately this kind of' brain fog' is all too common when

you are hypo. Now I'm getting enough T3 my brain works a lot better. I

can even remember appointments without my diary some of the time. The

reading I have done over the years seems to indicate it is a shortage

of T3 that has this effect.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheila,

The T3 I had was 'bio-identical' and the capsules were made up in a

compounding pharmacy. I was curious about the T3 so I asked the

pharmacist if the T3 was 'synthetic' and he said no.

P

>

Just because you had a bad experience on synthetic T3 doesn't mean

this will happen on Armour. Armour has all the goodies your body

requires.

>

> Luv - Sheila

>

>