For almost a decade after I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease and an underactive thyroid, I felt like I was going backwards and forwards to the doctor with exactly the same symptoms. I was exhausted, my hair was still thin, I was permanently cold and I often struggled to concentrate. Each time they would test my thyroid, tell me my TSH was normal and that my Levothyroxine dose was fine. And while I completely understand why, because that was the condition I’d been diagnosed with, I always left feeling frustrated because I still didn’t feel well.
Eventually I decided to pay for an Advanced Thyroid Blood Test through Medichecks. It cost £89 and, looking back, it is probably the best money I have ever spent on my health. The test looked at more than just thyroid hormones and one result stood out immediately. My ferritin level was 14.
At the time I didn’t know much about ferritin, but I soon learned that ferritin is essentially your body’s iron store and that low ferritin can cause many of the same symptoms that people often associate with an underactive thyroid. Exhaustion, feeling cold, thinning hair, poor concentration and low mood were all on the list and I had every one of them.
Hashimoto’s Is About More Than Your Thyroid
The more I read about Hashimoto’s disease, the more I learned that it isn’t always just about the thyroid. Because it is an autoimmune disease, it can be associated with other autoimmune conditions, including coeliac disease and autoimmune gastritis, both of which can affect the gut and the body’s ability to absorb nutrients properly.
I also learned that people with Hashimoto’s can be more likely to have low ferritin and low vitamin B12, both of which can affect energy, mood, concentration and overall wellbeing. Looking back, this was a huge lightbulb moment for me because I started to realise that some of the symptoms I’d been blaming entirely on my thyroid might have had other contributing factors too.
What surprised me most was that when I eventually looked back through old blood test results, my ferritin had been low for years. In fact, throughout the previous decade it had never been above 50 and was often below 30. Yet nobody had ever mentioned it to me. My attention, and understandably the attention of my doctors, had always been focused on my thyroid.
A Slow Fix, But a Worthwhile One
I took the Medichecks results to my GP, who agreed my ferritin needed addressing and prescribed Ferrous Fumarate.
One thing I wish I’d known is that improving ferritin levels can take time. In my case it has taken almost two years of iron supplements and regular blood tests to get my ferritin level above 100. More recently, my GP told me that when thinning hair is a concern, ferritin above 100 is often a useful target to aim for.
It certainly wasn’t a quick fix, but it was worth it.
What Changed for Me?
The first thing I noticed was that I wasn’t constantly freezing. My energy gradually improved and my hair became healthier too.
What surprised me most, though, was the improvement in my concentration and mood. I hadn’t realised quite how tired, flat and foggy I’d become until those feelings started to lift. Looking back, I don’t think I appreciated just how much my low ferritin was affecting me.
I felt more like myself again.
Not cured. Not transformed overnight. Just better.
What I Wish I’d Known Sooner
If there’s one thing I wish I’d known earlier, it’s that having Hashimoto’s disease isn’t always just about your thyroid.
For me, ferritin turned out to be a huge missing piece of the puzzle. That doesn’t mean it will be the answer for everyone, and this certainly isn’t medical advice. It’s simply part of my story.
But if I’d understood the connection between Hashimoto’s disease, nutrient deficiencies and the wider picture of health years earlier, I suspect I would have asked a lot more questions.
And that’s exactly why I’m writing about it now. If it helps someone else join the dots a little sooner than I did, sharing it will have been worth it.
