Elevated Iron Levels.

[flydragon]

Recently my blood work showed an RA actor of 77 which sent me to a rheumatologist for more testing.  All of his tests came back nonindicative of RA and he sent me on my way.  I am a thyroid cancer survivor...over 20years, but have struggled with hypo systems for the last 5 years,  Recent thyroid tests came back normal, but my fatigue, hair loss and weight problems continue despite the fact that I am a fitness trainer by trade.  Doctor ordered vit D, b12, and iron levels.  Iron came back elevated.  Everything I google comes up hemochromatosis, but liver tests done by rheumy came back normal.  I should also say that I am on bioidentical hormones and had my estrogen levels lowered 6 months ago due to bleeding.  I am 56 years old and female.  Is this all related?

[TheLightSeeker]

Hey Deb,
I don't mind celebrating thanksgiving again, lol!
Happy thanksgiving to you too.

Hope you get your health issues resolved, but meanwhile, post your labs
anytime you have them and keep in touch.

Wishing you well.
Niko

[flydragon]

My gut instincts are telling me to go back on Armour too.  I'll post the iron lab results as soon as I receive them.  I was just about to wish you a happy thanksgiving, but I see you're in Canada.  I guess you've already had yours...lol.

[TheLightSeeker]

Something does not jive here.
Do you have a copy of your labs regarding all iron levels, including ferritin
and lab ranges?

I'm familiar with the Armour situation which has been resolved.
I'll have a look at the thyroid community to see your thyroid lab results.
What you're saying makes a lot of sense.
Beware, synthetic thyroxine has a history of problems and it might be wise to go back to NDT.

If you get your thyroid issues resolved, your chances of getting Lupus diminish!
When I was studying Dr.Barnes work (one of the top experts in thyroid research-diagnosis and treatment), one particular finding stayed with me.
From ALL the thousands of patients he treated for hypothyroid
(using natural desiccated thyroid!) NONE of these patients developed Lupus!!!
The ones who had been already diagnosed with Lupus,  NONE developed any new signs of organ involvement, while being treated by Dr. Barnes for hypothyroid.

Your B12 should be methylocobalamin (neurological B12).

Cheers!
Niko

[flydragon]

I can't say for sure, but I think an ANA was done by the rheumatologist.  I have a family history of lupus and he thought my symptoms were similar to sjordgrens  (spelling?) syndrome.  His tests saw nothing to indicate that.

[flydragon]

Hello Niko...I appreciate you responding to my question.  I should clarify that prior to the bleeding incident, I had not had a period in 5 years so there was no bleeding prior and there is no bleeding now.  I spent all of my menstrual years anemic and now this?  My thyroid lab results are posted in the thyroid community.  I'm sorry that I don't have them in front of me right now.  The other results are not yet available to me through the lab.  I was told iron was slightly elevated along with my B12.  I have been taking a b12 supplement for energy and sometimes 5-hour energy, but not iron.  The change 5 years ago was when the makers of Armour Thyroid changed their formula and all hell broke loose after that.  After trial and error with compounded thyroid meds which did not work at all, we landed on the cytomel/synthroid combo.  I read recently on STTM that if I had been told to chew the Armour, I may have not had any issues.  I think I should have stayed on that.  Maybe I wouldn't have all this now.  Thanks...Deb.

[TheLightSeeker]

Hi flydragon.

Once iron is absorbed, there is no physiologic mechanism for removal of excess iron from the body other than menstrual or other bleeding, trauma, etc.

Your lower estrogen is directly related to your iron overload-
NOT Hemochromatosis (yet) - since your bleeding (Menorrhagia?) is decreased (and nothing else has changed).

Congratulations on your exceptionally rare success story as a 20 year thyroid cancer survivor. I think your fitness trainer career had a lot to do with that!
Can you tell me more about your thyroid cancer treatment and how is your thyroid function regulated now? What tests, test results, lab ranges, regarding thyroid, iron, vit. D, and B12.? And what you think changed in the last 5 years-since you developed hypothyroid and other symptoms?

Looking froward to your reply.

Best wishes.
Niko

[CP3kids]

Your quite welcome.  I was curious about how long it had been between checking your thyroid levels, and perhaps didn't word it correctly.  I was attempting to discover whether you were on a decline and that if it had been a year (or more) since your last check on it.  The reason for that was that I wasn't aware that you were already hypothyroid, and was thinking that perhaps you were on a decline from a hyperthyroid state.   At any rate.  The HCTZ, Cytomel and Tramadol can cause fatigue (in the case of Cytomel extreme fatigue as well as appetite changes and weight gain).   HCTZ can cause hair loss as one of it's side effects.   I don't find anything specific to these meds causing any blood dyscrasias (as in elevated RA level or high iron) so I don't think it's relative to your current medications.  Perhaps if no ANA has been done on you, that may help provide further answers?  

[flydragon]

Thank you for your quick response.  My current medications are Synthroid, Cytomel, HCTZ and Tramadol.  The thyroid tests done were TSH, Free T3 and t4.  I'm not sure I understand your question about the blood draw, but it was a repeat test from about 3 months ago with fresh blood...one vial.  I asked endo for a reverse t3...he refused.  Does this answer your question?

[CP3kids]

Are you on any other medication at present?  Many medications can cause some blood dyscrasias (abnormalities) and that could be the reason for the abnormal result in your RA panel. They also can cause weight gain, fatigue, hair loss, etc  So knowing the answer to that question is relevant as well.  Which thyroid tests were run on you?  Also, were the recent tests on your thyroid repeat tests, or was it drawn as a first sample or a sample in a long time spread apart?  I'll await your response!