Sorry to be here again. My husband has never been diagnosed with a thyroid problem or Hashimoto's but has been feeling really tired for months and is suffering from brain fog. We used medichecks to test his thyroid. These results were done on 17/5/17:
TSH 13.37 (0.27-4.20)
Free thyroxine 12.24 (12.00-22.00)
His cholesterol was also raised : LDL 3.3 (0.00-3.00); non HDL 5.03 (0.00-3.89). He has been on statins for over a year. Lasttie the GP tested his cholesterol, he was told it was fine.
Antibodies were not tested for.
To me, he appeared an obvious hypothyroid case. We emailed his GP asking if they would accept private blood results so he could get prescribed levo (the brain fog is affecting his ability to function effectively at work) but were told he needed to be retested on the NHS. These results were therefore done on 26/5/17:
TSH 4.8 (0.3-4.20)
Thyroid peroxidase antibodies 235 (<60)
The GP did not test T4 or cholesterol.
His GP phoned him today to say that no action will be taken as a result of the latest blood tests except that he should have his bloods redone in 3 months. My husband was disappointed that he won't be offered levo as we fully expected him to get it.
When my husband asked how the TSH results could be so different, the GP suggested either the body was healing itself or implied there was something wrong with medichecks (saying he'd never heard of them.) My husband reiterated that he is struggling at work and mentioned he starts a new, very demanding, job in September which concerns him. My husband mentioned the antibodies result -the GP seemed unconcerned saying yes, they were a little raised.
We'd really appreciate your advice as to what to do next. I have booked my husband in to see a different GP in a couple of weeks but am unsure if we should be arguing strongly for levo and, if we should, what evidence we should cite to get the dr to listen. I'd also love advice relating g to any of these questions-
1. Has he got Hashimoto's or do we need to test for the second set of antibodies to be sure?
2. How could his TSH fall so much in 9 days? He fasted for both tests, the first was done at 6am, the NHS one at 9am. Can 3 hours affect the results that much?? Could a Hashis swing result in a lower TSH like this?
3. Is the GP's 'wait and see' approach really a valid one given there are antibodies and symptoms present?
4. Could this be nothing to do with thyroid damage? Am I pushing him too hard to get treatment? I've recently been diagnosed with Hashis and must admit I'm obsessed with lowering my antibodies and learning everything I can. Could I be doing my husband damage by assuming it's a thyroid condition?
Again, I apologise for posting yet again. I have had some wonderful advice on this forum since diagnosis and would love my husband to get the same and start to feel better.
Thank you so much in advance.
Kipsy
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Kipsy
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Hi Shaw- he fasted for both tests. The medichecks one (TSH 13) was done at 6am and the NHS one at 9am (the earliest appointment he could get.) Could his TSH really have fallen that much due to a 3 hour difference in testing times?
Can you do a full Thyroid & vitamin test from Medichecks. Most popular one is thyroid plus ultravit £99. (Often have money off offers on Thyroid Thursdays.) This tests vitamin d, folate, B12 & ferritin. As well as both antibodies, TT4 and FT3 as well as TSH & FT4
The high TPO antibodies means he does definitely have Hashimoto's.
Very common with Hashimoto's to have poor nutrient levels due to gut being affected and very common to be gluten intolerant (you don't have to have any obvious gut symptoms) Going strictly gluten free may help significantly
See The Thyroid Pharmacist website for masses of info about Hashimoto's
Thank you, Slow Dragon, for confirming the Hashimoto's. That's really useful. He did the wellman ultravit medichecks test which showed he's very low in vitamin D and he's supplementing with 4000iu and vit K2.
Do you think he should be pressing the GP for levo? I've read it can slow down the destruction of the thyroid gland a little. I can't believe the GP thought the antibodies result to be of no significance.
I don't know how TSH can fluctuate so much in 9 days but the NHS TSH result is still above range. It is protocol to wait 2-3 months to retest after the first abnormal TSH result to rule out a non-thyroidal illness or virus elevating TSH.
It's a pity your GP isn't accepting the Medichecks result as it seems obvious that elevated antibodies (Hashimoto's) is making your husband hypothyroid not a non-thyroidal illness. There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.
Clutter- huge thanks for your reply. Really value your insight and experience. Do you think he should wait a couple of months and get retested or, given the fact he's fatigued all the time and has antibodies anyway, he should press for thyroxine as soon as he can? I have made him an appointment for a different GP in a couple of weeks which I'd go along to to argue his case for thyroxine if you think we should go down that route rather than wasting time waiting for more bloods.
Because he has positive antibodies and TSH is over range and has been much higher I think there is little doubt he is hypothyroid and will benefit from Levothyroxine if you can persuade another doctor to prescribe it.
Ask Medichecks which body they are accredited by so you can demonstrate to your husband's GP that Medichecks is as good as the lab the GP practice uses to analyse bloods.
Clutter- that is absolutely brilliant advice.thank you so much. It's the confirmation that I needed to know I'm pushing in the right direction. I will also speak to Medichecks- great plan- and I will get my husband to read this thread tonight. So grateful to you, as always. Have a great day.
Your husband may have had a Hashi's flare-up between the first and second results. This would have led to a dump of thyroid hormones into his bloodstream/body which would have lowered his TSH.
Timing of blood test does affect TSH as well. The difference between maximum and minimum TSH during a 24 hour period varies from person to person. Some people have large variation between min and max, some people have small variation. I have to say, if I was a betting person I would suspect a Hashi's flare causing the big reduction in TSH.
Huge thanks to you too, humanbean! I too had wondered if it was a Hashis flare but the research you sent though is also fascinating. I've printed it off to read at leisure but you're absolutely right about the graph on page 3! I'm now wondering how anyone establishes their TSH result at all with so much fluctuation possible.
My husband did the first blood test just before 6am and the next around 9am as he couldn't get an earlier doctor's appointment. It just shows what a difference a few hours can make and, to me, underlines how important it is that doctors take note of our symptoms and not just the TSH when altering our dosage. So sad we all have to fight our conrner like this.
Anyway, many many thanks again. Have a lovely day.
Raised cholesterol is a Hypo symptom due to low metabolism. Thyroid testing was not available until the early 70's so before that time people with raised cholesterol had their thyroids treated !
Is your husband still on statins ? We need cholesterol to make VitD in the body - the brain is 26% cholesterol - cholesterol needed for the formation of hormones - some of hubby's symptoms could be statin induced 😴
You may wish to remind your GP that he should have prescribed CoQ10 as Statins block it and it is the spark needed for every cell in the body - including the heart !
Also statins block VitK2 - which is responsible for directing calcium away from soft tissues and the arteries. Athersclerosis anyone ?
Marz- thank you to you too for such invaluable advice. It gets more and more complicated! Yes husband is still on statins. I've had a look at the link you sent through- it makes me want to hide the wretched things! The statistics are also fascinating- I will certainly encourage him not to accept a higher dose even if he feels he should keep taking them. Getting him to go 100% gluten free will be enough of a challenge! (I've gone paleo for my Hashis and I know it helps). Thank you so much once again. Take care.
There is a research paper - Statins cause heart disease. Google it and add PubMed - it might be good for hubby to read. Sorry cannot do links on my phone 😊 It covers the VitK2 issue.
You are doing a grand job ! I was instrumental in my hubby's Hashimotos diagnosis some 5 years ago 😎 He is looking great at 78 and does not take any other meds. I think thyroid hormones are preventative medicine which is possibly why Docs are reluctant to diagnose and treat .......
Thanks ever so much Marz, especially for the encouragement. Often us women are the driving force behind our husbands!! I'm grateful I've learnt a lot since my Hashis diagnosis so I can help him. I will google the article. Am delighted your husband is doing so well- mine is 48 so hopefully we can get him sorted and he can enjoy life fully again! I'm now hoping to get my mum to listen as I'm convinced she's hypo/ Hashis but, at 80, she's reluctant to pester the dr....
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