Patty or anybody - Thyroid Question

[Guest guest]

Sorry, I haven't been on the board much. I have been busy studying

for an insurance ed test - I passed! Yippee.

I had some routine bloodwork fun and it showed my Ferritin is pretty

low. Mine is 11 and range is 10-154 (so not abnormal but close).

I researched and came across info on Stop The Thyroid Maddness site.

(see below)

Due to my " restricted " diet and food sensitivies, it is rough to eat

enough iron filled foods. I am thinking of an iron supplement - does

anybody suggested one?

Maybe iron is the kick I need to help - hope so. If anybody else has

info on this topic, please let me know.

Thanks,

Lynn

Ferritin and hypothyroid

A large body of thyroid patients have been surprised to discover that

being hypothyroid also results in having low Ferritin, or storage

iron. Ferritin is an iron-storage protein. So when Ferritin is

measured via a blood test, it is basically measuring your storage

iron, or the iron you have tucked away for future use. You can

have " normal " iron serum levels, yet a low Ferritin.

Why do we often have low Ferritin? Because being hypothyroid can

result in a lowered production of hydrochloric acid which in turn

leads to the malabsorption of iron. It can also lower your body

temperature (common for those on thyroxine, as well) which causes you

to make less red blood cells. Additionally, being hypo can result in

heavier periods, which causes more iron loss.

Why is having low Ferritin a problem? First, though the slide into

low Ferritin can be symptomless, it eventually becomes the precursor

to being anemic. And once the latter occurs, you can then have

symptoms which mimic hypothyroid–depression, achiness, easy fatigue,

weakness, faster heartrate, palpitations, loss of sex drive, and/or

foggy thinking, etc, causing a patient to think they are not on

enough Armour, or that Armour is not working. Excessively low

Ferritin can also make it difficult to continue raising your Armour!

Biologically, insufficient iron levels may be affecting the first two

of three steps of thyroid hormone synthesis by reducing the activity

of the enzyme thyroid peroxidase, which is dependent on iron. Iron

deficiency, in turn, may also alter thyroid metabolism and reduce the

conversion of T4 to T3, besides modifying the binding of T3.

Additionally, low iron levels can increase circulating concentrations

of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).

Iron, in addition to iodine, selenium and zinc, are essential for

normal thyroid hormone metabolism.

What's the solution? The solution, after you have verified low

Ferritin with a blood test (i.e. lower than the 50's), is to

supplement your diet with iron. Foods rich in iron include lean

meats, liver, eggs, green leafy vegetables (spinach, collard greens,

kale), wheat germ, whole grain breads and cereals, raisins, and

molasses.

But most patients have found it necessary to supplement with iron

tablets, which includes Ferrous Sulfate, Ferrous Glutamate, Ferrous

Fumerate, etc.

Ferrous Sulfate is usually the cheapest–just be sure you are taking a

good Vit. E with it since there is evidence that it's depleted with

the use of Ferrous Sulfate. And always take it with food. The owner

of this site had to take 2-3 325 mgs. of Ferrous Sulfate with food

and throughout the day, for months to even BEGIN to get her Ferritin

up. plus 800 mgs Magnesium.

Ferrous Gluconate may cause fewer symptoms and is milder on stomach.

Ferrous Fumerate is often prescribed by doctors as it, too, has fewer

side effects, absorbs well, and is easier on the stomach.

Beware of liquid iron that is animal based (heme)–it can blacken your

teeth, as it did to the owner of this site. VEGETABLE BASED (nonheme)

liquid iron avoids this.

How much iron supplementation do I need, and how long do I take it?

When Ferritin is low, you have to give yourself many weeks, into

months, to improve the levels..taking up to 200 mg. of ELEMENTAL IRON

daily, with meals. BE SURE AND READ THE LABEL TO SEE HOW MUCH

ELEMENTAL IRON IS IN EACH TABLET. The general goal is to get your

Ferritin to a minimum of 70-90, according to our own research. And

you may have to stay on iron to maintain those levels.

Should I take anything with the iron to help? Yes. It's recommended

to take Vitamin C, which helps absorption of iron. At the very least,

drink down your iron tablets with orange juice or a drink like

Emergen-C. Also taking a mineral supplement can assist the

absorption, as can B-vitamins.

What about the constipation I get from taking iron supplements? If

you do find yourself with constipation or very hard stools, add

Magnesium Citrate as a supplement, taken twice a day, until you find

the amount that softens your stool. You'll know within a few days if

the amount you are taking is enough….or even too much (i.e. too much

will cause diarrhea).

Can I take iron at the same time I swallow my Armour? If you swallow

your Armour instead of doing it sublingually, it's important to avoid

swallowing iron with your Armour, since the iron will bind to some of

the thyroid hormones and make them useless. If you are doing your

natural thyroid sublingually, you are fine whenever you swallow your

iron.

What if I can't tolerate oral iron? If you have problems absorbing

oral iron due to a previous stomach surgery or other issue, another

option is to use Venofer - an intravenous iron which helps replenish

body iron stores. (Thanks go to " Chenille " for this info)

Once I get my ferritin levels back up, will it stay up? Several of us

have had our ferritin levels plummet again, so it may be wise to

stick with a small dose of supplemental iron and eat iron rich foods,

especially if you are female and still menstruating. Once into

menopause, your ferritin levels may stay where they need to.

Near a LabOne facility? They can do the ferritin test via blood

without a doctor's prescription, and you can order it here: