Newly diagnosed with underactive thyroid

Hormones
1

Hi, 

I was told last Friday that I have an underactive thyroid and low Ferritin levels. 

I've been put on 50mcg Levothyroxine a day and was advised to take an over the counter iron supplement. 

I've had to stop taking the iron as it was giving me splitting headaches so I'll see the GP again next week for more advice. 

I just wondered if anyone else was in a similar situation?? 

My TSH was 5.7 

My Ferritin was 8.8

Thanks 

2

Angie,

​Try taking a lower dose, liquid formulation of iron in the ferrous gluconate or fumarate form with vitamin C (and without calcium or zinc which interfere with iron absorption).

​Try red meat, pumpkin seeds, spinach, dried apricots, and molasses with citric acid (orange or lemon for example) to help with absorption.  The headaches could be from the dose or formulation.  

3

Thanks 

I managed to get hold of some ferrous sulphate and I'm now taking that instead and it's not giving me headaches. I'm gradually increasing the dose to the correct level.