Just back from GP - went OK! But no Levo yet.

Took all my BH results in to show my doctor, explained how I'd been feeling over the past few months and also that my mother had suffered from Graves. Whilst she said my thyroid was currently 'normal' i.e. all values within range, she did spot the raised antibodies and said I would go on to develop hypothyroiditis. She said that she wanted me to do another blood test since it's been 6 weeks since the last one, and if my TSH goes over range (it wasn't too far under last time), and my FT4 is low, then she would prescribe Levothyroxine. So I suppose that's a good result, really! She didn't want to give me Levo with my current values as she was concerned I would end up hyper.

I also showed her my vitamin results. She said they were all normal (no surprises there!) but she did say the iron was on the low side and I should eat more leafy green veg. No mention of supplements. My B12 was apparently quite OK (at 342 in a range of 191-663). I didn't have the heart to say I was already taking a bunch of supplements now.

I guess that was a reasonable outcome, and better than many here have experienced. At least she recognised I do have thyroid problems. I told her I went gluten free, her facial expression was one of 'why would you need to' but since I said I felt somewhat better on it, she suggested I could also test for Coeliac, provided I hadn't gone more than 6 weeks gluten free. Perhaps it's worth going back on gluten to test for TTG, although she admitted it wasn't a 100% accurate test.

[bluebug]

The coeliac test doesn't pick up everyone with the disease and it also won't pick up if you have an intolerance rather than an allergy to gluten or wheat.

[Hidden in reply to bluebug]

Yes I'm aware, but probably worth doing just in case it does come back positive.

[Hidden]

Oh and the doc also wanted me to do a HbA1c blood test, which I'd never heard of. Apparently it's a simple blood test used to help diagnose diabetes and assess sugar control through identifying blood sugar levels over the previous 6-8 weeks

[Treepie]

Your B12 is not OK ,should be aiming at 1000 ,regardless of the range.

[Hidden in reply to Treepie]

Indeed. I'm already supplementing. It's amazing how they just go 'oh your levels are all normal' ! Even though I repeatedly said I didn't feel well.

[shaws Administrator]

If you have high antibodies you have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called Hashimoto's. If you email [e-mail] and ask for a copy of Dr Toft's (ex President of BTA) Pulse online article and in it he says if we have antibodies we should be given levo and the dose.

Gluten-free appears to help lots of people with Hashi's.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Yes I asked the doc 'so do I have Hashimoto's?' and she hedged a bit over it, but basically it was a grudging sort of yes! LOL. I mentioned the gluten-free idea but she didn't look at all convinced, however I said 'it can't hurt to try' and 'I do feel better without the wheat anyway' so she didn't object.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hidden Not sure if you know this, but book your blood test for the very earliest appointment and fast (nothing to eat since the evening meal previous night, breakfast when you get home) but you can have water. This should ensure the highest possible TSH and hopefully push it over range for you. Later in the day and after eating will mean a lower TSH.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes thanks, last time I had already eaten so this time I'll be sure not to!