Blood tests

I have just received my private blood tests and was hoping someone could help me understand them. I'm currently on 150 recognitions. I have bought Thyroid S but don't know whether to take them or not. Any advice appreciated.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

You have autoimmune thyroiditis aka Hashimoto's disease. If you aren't already, then you should seriously consider going completely gluten free in order to try and reduce the antibody attacks. Some people also find they need to be dairy free. Supplementing with selenium may also help reduce antibody attacks and also helps T4 convert to T3.

Your B12 is low, it needs to be up around 900-1000. Supplement with Solgar or Jarrows sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges.

Your folate is very low, you can increase this by eating leafy greens and taking folate. When supplementing with B12 you should take a B Complex to balance the B vits. You could use Thorne Basic B and that contains 400mcg folate.

Your FT4 is converting but maybe not well enough.

Have you had Vit D tested?

All Vits and mins need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work properly, and the selenium will help with conversion. Along with going gluten free that might be enough. It might be better to get those sorted and see if Levo will then work better and then maybe consider NDT further down the line. Life is so much simpler if Levo does work, you don't pay for your meds, you keep your GP on side and blood tests get done through the surgery. If it doesn't then there are the alternatives to try.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SeasideSusie, much appreciated. I don't think I had vitamin D tested, I will have that done next. If I have hashimoto's does that mean I swing from hypo to hyper? I find it really difficult to understand.

I will order all the vitamins you have suggested and I will have to look into going gluten free. I would do anything to feel like a human being again. Thanks so much for your help.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Hidden Having Hashimoto's means your symptoms (and results) will fluctuate, which is why it's a good idea to try and reduce the antibody attacks. I'm not Hashi's so no personal experience but from reading posts on here you will need to go scrupulously gluten free, mainly gluten free won't cut it, so best of luck ☺.

Some reading about Hashi's

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

hypothyroidmom.com/10-reaso...

Oops, sorry, didn't mean to give you so many. Never mind , knowledge is power, go stun your doctor, he probably needs educating anyway 😁.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

I will read as much as I can about hashimoto's, to be honest I had no idea I had hashimoto's! I have both sttm books but I cannot retain information! I have ordered some of the vitamins you suggested and will get some from the health shop. I won't be telling my Dr about private blood tests as I don't think she would approve. I will get my vitamin D tested asap. Thanks for your help, it's much appreciated.

[radd in reply to Hidden]

Gracie,

T4 is half way through range and T3 under half way through range. I would say TSH allows for a small increase in meds but addressing nutrient deficiencies should help get meds working.

Good advice from SS above. However, I would say it better to supplement a separate Methylfolate to accomodate your low level as the amount found in a Vit B Complex will not be enough. Also many Hashi sufferers have problems with the folic acid commonly found in many Vit B Complex.

Iron could be low and falsely elevated as raised CRP shows inflammation in the body. If this were me I would retest iron in 3 months after going totally gluten free & supplementing selenium, which will hopefully reduce thyroid antibodies (and so inflammation.) Iron is huge in the actual production of thyroid hormone and helps carry hormone to peripheral tissue.

Vit D is majorly important. Post results when you receive them for members comments.

If you eat a good diet be aware these nutrient deficiencies may be due to malabsorption caused by low stomach acid. Hydrochloric acid (HCL) is produced by parietal cells in the gut & allows us to digest and absorb our foods & nutrients.

Parietal cells also produce something called intrinsic factor allowing vitamin B12 and folic acid absorption. Unfortunately low thyroid hormone encourages low stomach acid so if you have gut issues, it may be worth considering Betaine HCL with Pepsin.

I agree with SS that if you still feel ill after addressing all nutrients deficiencies and reducing thyroid antibodies, then that is the time to try alternative meds.

.

Dr Myhill advises on Hypochlorhydria

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/hypochl...

[Hidden in reply to radd]

Thanks Radd, I take omeprazole for reflux so maybe I should check my acid levels. Where do I get beatine HCL ?

[radd in reply to Hidden]

Gracie,

You can't supplement Betaine HCL if you are medicating acid reducers.

Many people with low thyroid hormone suffer LOW stomach acid which is misdiagnosed by doctors as high.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

We need magnesium for thyroid hormones to work

Many find magnesium supplements (along with vitamin d) can help

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I would agree totally with SeasideSusie. Before looking at alternatives to Levo, first consider, as you gave Hashimoto's, looking at the immune and antibodies issue and low vitamins. You may then find Levo works fine.

Going gluten free can be a transformation for many of us, calming immune response, improving symptoms and for some, even lowering antibodies over time.

Improving your low B12 and folate should definitely help too.

You can get vitamin D levels checked via City Assay - £28.

I personally have found going gluten free a revelation and much easier to do than expected. I also recently started supplementing Selenium with vitamin E too.

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks SlowDragon, it's not easy having a thyroid disorder and a brain that refuses to work . I will try going gluten free and hopefully find some improvement with my health. Thanks so much for taking the time to help.

[BlueHorizonMedicals]

Hidden if that is one of our tests and quite recent give us a call and see if we can run Vitamin D as an add on!

[Glynisrose]

Start any NDT on a low dose and build up over a few weeks rather than do a direct swap.It never works, I have a theory that doctors tell you to do a direct swap so they can say'Well, we ruled that out!' As if it was inevitable.