Hi I posted on here a couple of days ago, have been to see GP this morning and my Vit A is now in normal range. I also got my last Thyroid test results as suggested.
It says there has been a change in assay methods for TFTs?
Free T4. 20.8. pmol/L . 11-26
TSH. 0.65. mU/L. 0.27_4.20
I'm on 150mg of thyroid and have been for years. I asked if I could possibly see endocrinologist as before CFS is diagnosed? The tiredness , thinning hair, muscle spasm, joint pain, gut problems may be thyroid related? The GP is going to speak to the local endocrinologist and get back to me. They still say these results are good? I admit I don't fully understand them. Any advice?
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Ingridann
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They're good as far as they go. But, just because your FT4 is good, doesn't mean that you're converting all that T4 into T3. You really need your FT3 done, if you still have symptoms.
If they have not been done ......Suggest you ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones (our own or replacement ones) to work in our cells. Very common to have low levels.
Also have you ever had thyroid antibodies checked? There are two sorts TPO Ab and TG Ab. (Thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin) Both need checking, if either, or both are high this means autoimmune thyroid - called Hashimoto's the most common cause in UK of being hypo.
(NHS rarely checks TPO and almost never checks TG. NHS believes it is impossible to have negative TPO and raised TG. It's rare, but not impossible, there are a few members on here that have this.)
Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out. Alternatively you can now ask for online access to your own medical records. Though not all surgeries can do this yet, or may not have blood test results available yet online.
When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advice on any vitamin supplements needed
If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately
Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these. £99
This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later.
Usual advice on ALL thyroid tests, (home one or on NHSu) is to do early in morning, ideally before 9am. No food or drink beforehand (other than water) If you are taking Levo, then don't take it in 24 hours before (take straight after). This way your tests are always consistent, and it will show highest TSH, and as this is mainly all the medics decide dose on, best idea is to keep result as high as possible
If you have Hashimoto's then you may find adopting 100% gluten free diet can help reduce symptoms, and lower antibodies too. Selenium supplements can help improve conversion of T4 to T3.
You do not need to have ANY obvious gut issues, to still have poor nutrient absorption or low stomach acid or gluten intolerance
Best advice is to read as much as you can. Vitamin and minerals levels are very important, but standard NHS thinking, doesn't at the moment seem to recognise this. You will see, time and time again on here lots of information and advice about importance of good levels of B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D, low stomach acid, leaky gut and gluten connection to autoimmune Hashimoto's (& Grave's) too.,
Long research article - final conclusion paragraph below
"In conclusion, bedtime intake of levothyroxine in our study significantly improved thyroid hormone levels. This may be explained by better gastrointestinal bioavailability at night or by less uptake interference by food or medications. As shown in this study, bedtime administration is more convenient for many patients. Clinicians should inform their patients about the possibility of taking levothyroxine at bedtime. A prolonged period of bedtime levothyroxine therapy may be required for a change in QOL to occur."
Thank you, some excellent information there, I take Vit D3 20,000 ug fortnightly( on prescription) plus a multi Vit. I do have quite severe stomach issues. I have been reading that selenium is very helpful in UAT and can really help with the upsetting hair loss I'm experiencing at the moment. If you have one of the private tests such as blue horizon, what is people's general experience on GPs acting on them?
My GP looks at them, says the ranges are different and orders NHS REPEATS. I assured her that the ratio would be the same. Total waste of money. But, it shows that I am determined to have answers. Good luck. In over 20 yrs I haven't seen an endo.
Hi ingridann if you have stomach problems have you thought about your gut health? I eat foods with good microbes in them cheese from unprocessed milk vegetables like celaraic I was recommended to read the diet myth s by Tim Spector it's biringish but very interesting my bloated stomach (I had a leaky gut) has never been so good
That's interesting, I too have bloated tummy and pain and sometimes nausea and vomiting. I am trying silocolgel at the moment with good results so far. How do you know if you have leaky gut? I've had IBS for many years and diverticulitis for around 8. I also take a probiotic and try to eat live yogurt, sauerkraut etc. I will look that book up, thanks debs.
Hi slowdragon , yes coeliac came back negative as did h pylori, endoscope showed gastritis and benign polyps so actually high stomach acid, they also tested me for b12 as grandad had pernicious aneamia but that came back clear too. I can't fault my GPs thoroughness, it's just before we went down the CFS clinic route I wanted to be sure that it couldn't be anything else.
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