Glowwa?

[Danger-Mouse]

Hello, I am looking for some advice please.My hairdresser takes thyroxin and Glowwa. My doctor says I can't take Glowwa. I am confused and not sure if he is right or if he just had not checked properly. Does anyone know? Many thanks.

[greygoose]

Did he say why you couldn't take it? I'd be interested to know his reasoning.

Although, personally, I wouldn't take it myself. It's just a glorified B complex, but not a very good one. It contains folic acid and doesn't specify the type of B12 it contains. You'd probably be better off getting Thorne Basic B, or Igennus, and getting your zinc tested - you could have high zinc, some hypos do.

[Danger-Mouse in reply to greygoose]

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I phoned the surgery and got the message he said he didn't know and therefore no. I asked who I could ask that would no for sure or if he could say why and the message came back, you can not take it. I have an under active thyroid and I am worried about hair loss. I have not heard of Thorne Basic B. I will look into it. Many thanks,😊

[greygoose in reply to Danger-Mouse]

Sounds very weird. lol I don't know anything about it therefore you can't take it? Where's the logic in that?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

If you have hair loss you need to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing

Low iron/ferritin often linked to hair loss

Are you diagnosed as hypothyroid

Are you on levothyroxine?

If yes how much and which brand

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Danger-Mouse in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks so much. I never knew all of this. I have an under active thyroid. I take levothyroxine 150 1 day and 125 the next. Teva is the brand for 25 and accord for 50 and 100. I take Fultium D 800u caps x 2 daily and codliver oil 1000 mg a day. I did take iron as my levels were v low but then he said o.k so no longer take. I am not sure on all the other stuff. Really appreciate the advice. Feel less alone.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Danger-Mouse]

So first step

Get FULL thyroid testing

See what GP will test for you

Highly unlikely to get Ft3 tested on NHS

Do you know if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune?

Vitamin D - 800iu is low dose. May not be high enough to improve levels to OPTIMAL

Iron and ferritin are complex

Rare for GP to prescribe long enough to improve ferritin high enough

Are you vegetarian or vegan

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...

Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.

It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron

stop iron supplements 5-7 days before testing

Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

[Danger-Mouse in reply to SlowDragon]

I take vitamin D 800 x 2. I don't know if I am autoimmune. I will ask my doctor. I am not vegetarian but I don't eat much meat. I will sort out the tests and take it from there. Many thanks again.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Danger-Mouse]

Come back with new post once you get results

[Danger-Mouse in reply to SlowDragon]

Will do. Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Danger-Mouse]

Teva brand

Upsets many people

But for others (often lactose intolerant) it’s by far the best

Other 25mcg - Mercury Pharma or Wockhardt

[Danger-Mouse in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. How would I know if it was upsetting me? Really appreciate your advice.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Danger-Mouse]

Tricky to evaluate when it’s small dose and other tablets different brand

Only way is to experiment…..at next prescription either try Wockhardt or Mercury or get more Accord and cut 50mcg in half to get 25mcg

[Danger-Mouse in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, good idea

[Danger-Mouse]

Love the tips on blood tests too.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

examples of private testing results

Medichecks

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Blue horizon

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[humanbean]

Bear in mind that doctors get almost no training in nutrition. They might learn about scurvy (but never see it during their careers) and some other rare diseases caused by nutritional deficiency, but as a general rule I would never take nutritional advice from a doctor. They simply don't know enough.

[Danger-Mouse in reply to humanbean]

Thanks, I will. Very helpful.