Interpreting results

[mill44]

Can i please have some opinions re the following test results please. I am on 100mg levothyroxine daily and still feel no better than over two years ago when I finally got my doctor to test.

TSH 1.32 (0.27 - 4.2)

Free Thyroxine 20.93 (12 - 22)

Total Thyroxine (T4) 116.5 (59 - 154)

Free T3 3.71 (3.1 - 6.8)

Also

thyroglobulin antibody 370 (0 - 115)

thyroid peroxidase antibodies 342 (0 - 34)

These were a private blood test - my doctor would only test TSH.

He says my bloods are fine and my medication does not need changing but my body is telling me otherwise.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

mill44 Most treated hypo patients feel best when TSH is 1 or below. Considering where your FT4 lies, your FT3 is very low. This shows you're not converting T4 to T3 very well and that could be because of low nutrient levels. Have you had the following tested, all need to be optimal (not just in range) for thyroid hormone to work properly and conversion to take place

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

**

Your high antibodies mean that you are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it.

You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

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

Gluten/thyroid connection:

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

As you have Hashimoto's or autoimmune thyroid disease it's highly likely that you may have low vitamin D, folate, B12 and or ferritin

Hashimoto's affects digestion, often due to low stomach acid, leading to low nutrients (regardless of how good your diet is). If any of these four vitamins/minerals are too low then body struggles to use the thyroid hormones

When you have these test results including ranges come back with new post for advice on supplements.

Extremely common with Hashimoto's to find that strictly gluten free diet helps reduce symptoms, and may over time lower antibodies too.

Read as much as possible about Hashimoto's. The Thyroid Pharmacist website has masses of info, so does Chris Kresser, Amy Myers and scdlifestyle.com

[nickis]

I have been prescribed levothyroxine as well. I felt awful taking it! I mean absolutely awful! So I asked my daughters doctor, of all doctors.... about it. She told me that when taking a prescription for certain things, thyroid being one of them do not get the generic form. That you need to get synthroid. I haven't done this yet, so I cannot tell you if it works or not, but you may try it. Hope it helps a little.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to nickis]

It's not the brand that matters, usually, but the fillers in the tablets - all brands and generics have different fillers. You might need to look for lactose-free or ones without acacia, for example. No Synthroid in the UK; it's US brand.

[nickis in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Oh ok! Thank you!

[Tile in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

It's the brand and the country it was sourced from hopefully not China and India. Made in USA doesn't always mean every ingredient was from USA.

[mill44]

Hi,

I have finally found a doctor who was prepared to listen to me and accepted that although my T4 was fine - all she could test for - I was not getting any better. I gave her copies of my Medichecks tests and the opinions from your good selves. She is looking into what she can do for me as a GP and looking at a referral to an endo. She can let me choose. Has anyone any recommendations for one near me. I live in the Southport area and can choose Ormskirk, Chorley, Blackpool, Liverpool areas even Wirral and suggested that I look into choices. She admits that everyone has their own opinions of thyroid medication and, I think, wants me to make my own choice.

So can anyone help please? Waiting lists for appointments vary from 30 to over 80 days - but I have been down for long enough now I would wait to get the best.

Many thanks in anticipation.