Hi, I'm hoping someone here can help me decide what to do next! These are my blood test results:-
TSH 1.94
T4 TOTAL102.6
free T4 14.61
free T3 4.69
Reverse T3 29.0
Reverse T3 Ratio 10.53
Anti Thyroidperoxidase abs 216.50
Anti Thyroglobulin Abs 313.20
Vitamin B12 234
Serum Folate 20.16
I'm not on any medication and have been back & forth to the doctors for the past year with symptoms of hypothyroidism. I have thyroid nodules on one side only which have been scanned & apparently fine to leave. I think I was told I have sub clinical hypothyroidism? but as far as the NHS is concerned my thyroid is fine. I'm 57 so was told most women my age suffer from my symptoms. (not really very helpful, I thought)
My diet is now the healthiest its ever been, yet I'm the heaviest I've ever been. (my body fat reads 38% on my scales & it's all round my middle) My concerns are the weight gain, achy body and fatigue. (I fall asleep if I sit still for any length of time. ) I'm feeling despondent that my doctors can't advise me on how to help myself, I just seem to have to wait until my Thyroid fails or I get some other condition!
I'm hoping some of you here will offer some advice as I would very much appreciate it. Thanks.
Hidden It would be a big help if you gave the reference ranges for all your results, but I am assuming that for the antibodies the TPO should be <34 and TG <115 in which case.....
You have autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's, as confirmed by your positive antibodies. This is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it resulting in full blown Hypothyroidism eventually. Hashi's isn't treated, it's the resulting Hypothyroidism that is. The reason you haven't been diagnosed is because your TSH, FT4 and FT3 are all in range.
You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members enormously. Gluten contains gliadin which is a protein thought to trigger antibody attacks.
Dr Toft, leading endocrinologist and past president of the British Thyroid Association, said in Pulse Online magazine that where antibodies are present then starting Levothyroxine can 'nip things in the bud'. You can obtain a copy of the article by emailing louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org.uk to discuss with your GP.
*****
B12 is low at 234. Anything under 500 can cause neurological problems. The recommended level is very top of the range, even 900-1000. I don't know if it low enough for further investigation for Pernicious Anaemia as you haven't given the low end of the range. You may be able to just supplement with B12.
Thanks for the response and the links. I will certainly give the gluten free a go, (I've recently given up sugar so am sure i can manage the gluten) along with a B12 supplement. My B12 result registered in the insufficient range, 140-250.
Yes, my antibody ranges were <34 & <115.
My folate, at 20.16 was within the range of 8.83-60.8
My Vit D was 87 which was OK, insufficient range was 25-50 & ferritin 47.9 , again ok. Range 20-150
Hidden I think B12 might be OK to supplement with Solgar sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges. Start with 5000mcg daily and when you've finished the bottle (60 lozenges) you can then take the 1000mcg dose. You might want to check with the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum here on Health Unlocked first, but as the lower end of the range is 140 I think that should be OK.
Folate should be at least half way through it's range and with your range that is 35+ so it needs bumping up a bit. When taking B12 we also need a B Complex to balance the B vits. Thorne Basic B contains 400mcg methylfolate which will help raise your folate level.
Vit D is recommended to be 100-150nmol/L so you might want to nudge yours up, particularly during the winter months when we can't get natural Vit D from the sun. When we take D3 we also need K2-MK7. D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs it to bones and teeth rather than arteries and soft tissues. As you don't need a large dose of D3, you could consider a combined supplement rather than separate ones. You can get drops or capsules, best to choose something with oil to aid absorption, eg
Magnesium is another co-factor of D3 and most of us are deficient in this anyway so it's recommended to take it.
Unfortunately, your ferritin level is not OK. All vitamins and minerals need to be at optimal levels, not just in range. Ferritin needs to be a minimum of 70 for thyroid hormone (our own or replacement) to work properly, best for females is 100-130. If you're not vegetarian then the easiest way to raise ferritin is to eat liver once a week. Otherwise iron tablets taken with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation are needed and retesting ferritin to ensure you keep to the recommended level will be necessary.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Newbie with possible hyperthyroidism and looking for advice please.
Supplements advice for newby please 
Looking for general advice please.
Newbie Advice Please - NHS not helping
Newbie looking for advice
