Some help with vitamins please

[Jillyb15]

All

Was diagnosed hypothyroid in 2014 and started on 25 mcg of levothyroxine. Doctor at the time increased in 25 mcg increments to 75 mcg, which made me feel quite unwell so was dropped to 50 mcg where I stayed for over a year. I asked for an increase and eventually following an NHS blood test in August which came in at 4.59 min/L (0.36 - 3.5) my dose was increased to 75 mcg. Compared to so many others on this forum I haven't felt too bad however over the winter some of my symptoms have returned, e.g., itchy skin, cold hands and feet, dry and thinning hair, horrible sinus problems cos I have nasal polyps, and awful of awfulness my bladder incontinence has returned (which I never thought of being a hypo symptom until something greygoose said which I can't find!) all of which lead me to a Blue Horizon blood test. Results as attached.

I also have glaucoma and my asthma diagnosis has now been changed to COPD. I was by the way diagnosed HYPERthyroid some 15+ years ago which was corrected using medication quite readily. It was picked up via a blood test, I don't think I had symptoms which I reported

Blood tests taken whilst fasting and over 24 hours from my last dose of levo. In fact as I take my levo at night it was possibly too long after? Reading the forum as I have done for awhile now I probably did leave too long.

So possibly thyroid meds ok, but obviously I need to do something with my B12 and vit D but looking at Amazon and all the varying meds not sure what's best to choose.

Any help much appreciated

Jill

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Jillyb15

Vit D - Buy some D3 softgels 5000iu like these bodykind.com/product/2463-b... and take one daily. Retest in 3-4 months. You are aiming for the recommended level of 100-150nmol/L. When you've reached that level then reduce to one alternate days. Retest once or twice a year.

D3 has important co-factors which we need to take

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs it to bones and teeth where it's needed rather than arteries and soft tissues where it can cause problems. D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

A good K2-MK7 - amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-MK-7-90...

Magnesium comes in different forms, check here to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

**

B12 is low, anything under 500 can cause neurological problems, recommended level is very top of range, even 900-1000. Buy some Solgar sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges 5000mcg and dissolve one under the tongue daily. When you've finished the bottle buy some 1000mcg ones and take one daily as a maintenance dose.

When taking B12 we need a B Complex to balance all the B vits. Don't buy cheap supermarket, Boots or H&B own brand, look for a good brand on Amazon and buy one containing methylfolate rather than folic acid.

**

As you have high antibodies which means that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's, are you strictly gluten free and supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily to help reduce the antibodies? Keeping TSH suppressed also helps reduce antibodies.

**

Are you taking an iron supplement? Your ferritin is rather high.

[Jillyb15 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for speedy response.

No I'm not taking any supplements at all. I have read on here I think - that taking B12 reduces ferritin? Could well have wrong end of stick.

I'm not currently gluten free nor am I taking selenium.

What might be a silly question, but which vitamin do you think I should start with? Obviously everything needs to be introduced over a few weeks? I was thinking possibly B12? Then the B complex and than the D, followed couple of weeks later by selenium?

Jill

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jillyb15]

Jillyb15 I haven't heard of B12 reducing ferritin.

It's possible that your raised ferritin could be due to inflammation.

I think you've got it spot on with the right order to introduce the supplements, but follow the Vit D with K2-MK7, then magnesium, then selenium, leaving a week or two before introducing the next one in case there is an adverse reaction, that way you'll know what caused it.

Many Hashi's members have found that being strictly gluten free has helped enormously

Gluten/Thyroid connection - chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

Hashi's Information:

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

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

[greygoose]

So, you know you have Hashi's, right? So, you weren't really hyper, you were just on a Hashi's hyper swing, which is where all the dying cells dump their hormone into the blood stream, meaning that you temporarily had high levels in your blood. Not like real hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid is over-producing hormone. But, I don't suppose they bothered to test any antibodies when they 'diagnosed' you 'hyper'.

Are you gluten-free? Are you taking selenium? Both of these can bring antibodies down. But your TSH is much to high for someone with Hashi's. It should be suppressed.

OK, so you left too long a gap between the last dose of levo and the blood draw, which means you have a false low on your FT4. But that wouldn't affect your FT3, which is just too low. So, looks like you need another increase in dose.

Bladder incontinence is a hypo symptoms in that the bladder is a muscle, and muscle weakness is a hypo symptom. But, it should get better when your FT3 is optimal.

[Jillyb15 in reply to greygoose]

Yes now I remember about the muscle weakness!

I did have hyper "markers" by the way, I.e. A swollen neck and my eyes were starting to bulge. In fact my dentist commented on it and told me he was going to suggest I might have a thyroid problem when I told him about my new meds. This was whilst I was in Derbyshire and doc told me the Derbyshire goitre was quite well known!

Thanks for your response.

By the way it wasn't until I had the BH test that I found out I had Hashi's - if not for that I doubt I would ever have known!

[greygoose in reply to Jillyb15]

Perhaps you had Grave's and Hashi's, then. It's not unknown.

[Jillyb15 in reply to greygoose]

Really quite frightening to think I may have been ill for over 15 years ........ surely not. Lucky I suppose that until about three years ago I had no obvious symptoms.🤔

[greygoose in reply to Jillyb15]

That is, indeed, lucky.

[Rapunzel]

Have you seen this ? Maybe we should go to Derbyshire and be 'successfully treated' ?

derbytelegraph.co.uk/local-...

[Jillyb15 in reply to Rapunzel]

Thanks for that - fortunately my swelling wasn't quite so severe. I like the statements that it doesn't occur anymore, then they talk about increased thyroid testing. Could that be why I wonder🤔

[helvella in reply to Rapunzel]

Maybe for anyone interested, this Wellcome library link could be worth a look:

blog.wellcomelibrary.org/20...

[Jillyb15 in reply to helvella]

Thanks most interesting

[Butterfly_lady]

I have just been diagnosed with hashimotos. I'm waiting for my next blood test in a couple of weeks to check vitamins. I'll be in a similar situation as you. Only taking vit d at the moment. Take care x

[Jillyb15 in reply to Butterfly_lady]

Thanks for your interest yes it's a strange journey this illness

[silverfox7]

Good presentation. I'm not far from Derbyshire so it caught my eye a while back.

[Jillyb15 in reply to silverfox7]

Sorry missed this. I've moved away from Derbyshire now to the flatter lands of Norfolk. Still miss the hills though!

As you say an interesting presentation- not sure whether the reduction in the goitres seen is due to better nutrition, or if iodine was added to the water?

[silverfox7]

I read once that Derbyshire is done way from theses so not getting iodine in the airclikexyou do in the coasts.