Bloodwork results from lab Summer 2014

[VitaminB12]

July 24, 2014 8 am (bus to lab)

TSH 5.95
Reference range 0.35 – 5.00 miU/L


Free T4 13
Reference range 12 – 22 pmol/L


Free T3 4
Reference range 2.6 – 5.7 pmol/L


Vitamin B12 746
Reference range >220 pmol/L


Ferretin/iron 37
Reference ranges 31 – 79  ug/L reduced iron stores, 80 – 300 ug/L normal iron stores

I found out recently that I having been drinking too much water given the high water content in my diet (plenty of vegetables and fruit). The symptoms I attribute to hypothyroidism are also symptoms of too much water. See my other post entitled Drinking too much water? I wonder if too much water is the reason I don't have enough iron in my system or if I have an absorption issue. I went to a talk about water by a medical professional at my local natural health store a while ago.  

[Barb135]

I hope you had a nice vacation, even though it was short.

I just looked at my milk carton and an 8 oz glass of milk provides 0% of the daily requirement for iron, though it's a good source of vitamin B12.  An extra large egg provides only 4% of the daily requirement for iron - still an excellent source of vitamin B12.

Like many doctors, yours has probably not mentioned your reduced stores of iron, because your levels are "in range" and aren't "flagged", so they haven't even caught his attention.  Most of the time, we can't wait for the doctor to offer information; we have to point these things out to them.

You're correct that liquid iron is supposed to be easier to absorb.  You should try to find one that says it doesn't cause constipation, since iron supplements are notorious for that.

[VitaminB12]

Thanks again for your post.

Please note I do include dairy and eggs in my diet as I am vegetarian not vegan. Perhaps I need to go back to taking the B12 supplement more regularly, but it has been slightly affecting my MCV and MCH as noted in a previous post.

I have been trying to get enough iron from my food. I have never taken an iron supplement. I hear the liquid is easier to absorb.

Hopefully the doctor will order an iron panel at my request. The thing is he has not even mentioned that my iron stores are reduced even though they have tested this way twice in the past several months.

[Red_Star]

I used to drink a lot of water due to excessive thirst but not all at once which does cause problems.  Reminds me of the death of a woman who died of water intoxication after drinking nearly 2 gallons of water (7.5 kg) in three hours without going to the bathroom in a radio game called "Hold Your Wee For A Wii."

[VitaminB12]

Thank you for your reply. I will have to respond in detail when I return from vacation. I'm leaving shortly for two nights away.

[VitaminB12]

Thanks for your post. Please note not everyone responds the same way to anything. Just look at the range of symptoms for those with thyroid disorders.

Too much water can wash away nutrients including vitamins and minerals.
My urine was clear and I had to go frequently. It has some colour since I reduced my intake.  My metabolism is slow, I get calf muscle cramps, insomnia, and I'm emotional.

My mom has low sodium from drinking too much water and tea.

[Barb135]

I saw your post and read the article on drinking too much water, but got called away from the computer and didn't have a chance to comment on it, last night... I'm sorry about that; I'll try to get back to it.

While drinking too much water can be an issue, judging from your recent labs, I'd say that your symptoms of hypothyroidism are really coming from hypothyroidism, even though it's possible you are drinking too much water.   Your TSH is too high and even though your FT3 and FT4 are "in range", they are too low in the ranges.  Your FT4 is only at 10% of its range, indicating that your thyroid is not producing very much hormone.  Since the thyroid produces much more T4 than it does T3, nearly everything you're producing, at this point is being converted to T3.  As we've noted previously, rule of thumb is for FT4 to be approximately mid range and FT3 to be in the upper half to upper third of its range.  Of course, this is the recommendation for those on med and you aren't, but it's still an indicator that your thyroid production is declining, rather rapidly.  

Additionally, your Vitamin B-12 is still too low in the range, as well, though I know you're supplementing.  Again, as noted in previous threads, many countries start their ranges at 500, so you'd barely be mid range, if that.  Most of us have to be near the top of the range in order to alleviate symptoms.

Ferritin and iron are 2 different tests.  Ferritin is the iron storage hormone and indicates how much iron you have in reserve.  Iron is the actual iron you have in your blood.  Is it safe to assume that the test you had done, with a result of 37, was ferritin, not iron?  Since your ferritin is low, you should ask for a complete iron panel.

As I noted above, drinking too water can cause issues, but that's primarily with electrolyte/glucose and sodium levels, as noted in the article (yes, I've gone back to reread it).  I think it might be a stretch to say the water could be diluting the iron in your blood - if that's what I'm reading from your post above regarding the low ferritin levels - if that's not what I'm reading, my apologies.  Are you taking actual iron supplements or are you simply trying to get it from your food?  It's possible that you simply aren't getting enough iron if you're only trying to get it from food, since you don't eat animal products, which is fine, but that's where the majority of iron comes from.  

There's a fine balance between too much and not enough of everything; that's what we have to find...

I don't know how much water you drink, in addition to the foods you eat.  I certainly wouldn't eat less food in order to get less water, because that would mean you'd miss out on so many of the important nutrients that you're already low in.  You might have to take a look at how much extra water you're drinking and go from there.

All things in moderation.