Forums: September 2011 Kickstart Forum: Iron Update
Created on: 09/26/11 02:55 PM Views: 739 Replies: 6
sparkledee Joined: 09/04/11 Posts: 48	Iron Update Posted Monday, September 26, 2011 at 2:55 PM Hi Susan and all who are reading, I did go to the Dr this morning and went directly to the Lab to have blood drawn to check iron levels (I believe he said there are 3 different tests and things they check for). If any one of the 3 are high, he will then send me for the Hemochromatosis test (I think he said there are now 3 or 4 different genetic markers for that as well). He's also checking Thyroid function - hopefully more in depth than the basic one they do annualy. It takes about a week for him to get results. I go back next Monday, so I'll keep you posted. I did ask for a vitamin/mineral panel to be done to see where I stand (deficiencies? overload?), but he wouldn't do it without a good reason he said. I guess that might be a guideline of the Blue Shield HMO I have. I was really curious about it and would love to have been able to get the results of that too, especially B12. I guess the most important thing now for now is to find out about the Iron. Hope everyone has a good week! I'll keep checking in and posting too. It's been a great 3 weeks! Dee
	Edited 09/26/11 2:58 PM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2068	RE: Iron Update Posted Monday, September 26, 2011 at 3:07 PM sparkledee wrote: He's also checking Thyroid function - hopefully more in depth than the basic one they do annualy. Dee Yes, there's free tsh, T3, and T4 testing. It is possible to have a 'normal' standard tsh test and a normal T3 test but an abnormal T4 because T3 has to be converted to T4 (or is it vice versa? I can never keep that straight). That's what happened to my sister - her tests kept coming out 'normal' until they did the individual break downs and poof! There it was. Also, sometimes even if the tests are in the middle of the 'normal' range, it might not be right for you. For my sister, her level that feels 'right' (energetic, able to maintain healthy weight, etc) is right at the low end of the 'normal' range. If it goes higher (into the middle 'normal' range) she starts feeling tired, bloated, weight gaining, achy, etc. Keep in mind too that hypothyroid can run in families, so if possible check around amongst the females in the family - weight issues, hair loss and oddly enough hirsutism (hair where it doesn't belong like mustache hair on women), achy, tired, reproductive issues are all possible symptoms of hypothyroid. And, if it turns out that you are hypothyroid, let others in the family know - when I was diagnosed, I let my mom and sister know. At their next annual physical, they asked to be tested and sure enough, there it was. --Deb R
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Susan Levin Joined: 12/26/09 Posts: 1188	RE: Iron Update Posted Monday, September 26, 2011 at 5:23 PM I like how you are taking control of your doctor's appointment! Good job. We'll be here if you want to check back in with results. Susan Levin, MS, RD PCRM Director of Nutrition Education
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deborahjm Joined: 09/06/11 Posts: 161	RE: Iron Update Posted Monday, September 26, 2011 at 9:16 PM Dee- So glad to hear that your doctor is listening to you. Does he think you could have absorbed the iron from the hot mineral pool? Deborah
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sparkledee Joined: 09/04/11 Posts: 48	RE: Iron Update Posted Monday, September 26, 2011 at 9:58 PM Quote: Keep in mind too that hypothyroid can run in families, so if possible check around amongst the females in the family - weight issues, hair loss and oddly enough hirsutism (hair where it doesn't belong like mustache hair on women), achy, tired, reproductive issues are all possible symptoms of hypothyroid. Deb - Thanks for elaborating on the tests. I was wondering though, on the regular TSH, you said your sister feels better when hers is a bit below normal. Doesn't that mean her thyroid is slower functioning? Wouldn't that put on the weight or cause tiredness? I've had, or still have, all those listed above (no reproductive issues though and now I'm post menopausal). I'm glad I went today and I feel better that I've got the ball rolling and will know one way or the other if I have an iron overload or thyroid problem, or neither and have to look further into other possibilities. Deborah, my doctor said the mineral pool has nothing to do with the iron issue. He said it does not penetrate the skin deep enough, and that you'd have to drink it to develop problems. Funny, last night I saw a woman filling her glass and drinking the water as it flowed in. I thought hmmmm... I wonder how good that can be to drink. But people swear by it. I always thought there were microscopic parasites in there. The water, without being cooled (through some kind of chamber that doesn't alter the water content) comes in at 130 degrees!!! By the time people sit in it its 104. So maybe thats enough to kill whatever might be harmful. Have a good night all! Dee
	Edited 09/27/11 1:19 AM Quote | Send PM | Link | Top | Bottom
Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2068	RE: Iron Update Posted Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 8:04 AM [quote="sparkledee"] Quote: Deb - Thanks for elaborating on the tests. I was wondering though, on the regular TSH, you said your sister feels better when hers is a bit below normal. Doesn't that mean her thyroid is slower functioning? Wouldn't that put on the weight or cause tiredness? I've had, or still have, all those listed above (no reproductive issues though and now I'm post menopausal). Have a good night all! Dee No, she's not "below" normal - she is at the lower end of the 'normal' range (it's not a single value, it's a range). And, when TSH is lower that means that your body has to 'kick' the thyroid less which means it's functioning better. TSH is thyroid STIMULATING hormone. That's what your system produces to tell the thyroid to get to work. The more TSH circulating, the more work your body is doing to try to get the thyroid going and producing the needed amounts of it's output. Excess TSH decomposes chemically into other things, including byproducts which inhibit ovulation. It's kind of like if you have a sluggish furnace - you have to keep turning the thermostat down or hitting reset to get it kick on, which takes fuel and generally is less efficient. With an efficient, properly working furnace, you just need to turn it to the setting you want and it goes. --Deb R
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sparkledee Joined: 09/04/11 Posts: 48	RE: Iron Update Posted Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 10:15 AM Thanks for the excellent explanation and analogy. Helped me to understand it clearer! Dee
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