Help with results please

[MiniMum97]

Levo increased from 50mcg to 75mcg 6 weeks ago. Very little change in TSH and my T4 has actually gone down! Vitamin levels have also barely changed or gone down despite supplementing.

GP put me up to 100mcg and had awful reaction today that I've posted about separately. Any thoughts on this anyone? Could the 25mcg not have worked? I certainly didn't feel any better

Let me know if you need more details I have completed a bio.

Thanks all

PS the image with the lower TSH are my most recent results and the others are from 6 weeks ago.

I left 24hrs between tests and levo, and tests were first thing on an empty stomach and I did not take any supplements for 4 days beforehand.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your ferritin is much too low.

See lots of SeasideSusie posts about ferritin and how to improve

Your vitamin D is also only just OK, supplementing say 1000iu may improve it a bit

[MiniMum97 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi Already supplementing iron, b12 and D3. I take 80mg of iron bisglycinate with 1000mg of vit c about 3 times a week and eating liver pate. Will up supplements to everyday. Stomach struggles with this do have to do on a full stomach. Was taking 5000iu vit d with K2 every other day but will put that back to everyday. Will also take b12 (5000mg) everyday rather than every other day. Thanks. Was wondering more whether people thought it was odd that levels haven't really changed on the extra 25mcg?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MiniMum97]

As you are already supplementing and levels low that suggests poor gut function/absorption

Hypos often have low stomach acid. Raising acid with Apple cider vinegar or Betaine HCL are often posted about on here

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Even though you have low antibodies perhaps gluten is an issue. You might consider trying 3-6 months gluten free

Not having high antibodies doesn't always mean not having Hashimoto's

drknews.com/unraveling-thyr...

[MiniMum97]

Hi I also have IBS so know my gut function isn't great. I've been strictly gluten free before however and it's not made any difference to my health. I am on a low fodmap diet for my IBS and can't eat lost of food which is not good long term for microbiome so don't want to cut anything else out at the moment. Also try not to eat overly proceessed gf food.

I've also been monitoring my thyroid hormones for a long time now and they tend to smoothly go up or down - there is none of the hashis flares that others report - or none that I've caught in the tests anyway! I also don't get a variation in my health generally - just feel awful all of the time pretty consistently! I've had numerous hashis blood tests and all were negative. Not a guarantee from the info in the article but I'll see how my levo goes for now and explore gluten free if anything indicates hashis.

I've used ACV before and had to stop because it was making me nauseous. I;ve read mixed reports on whether the acidity is actually enough to have any effect on your stomach acid. I also have v sensitive teeth and worry about the acid sloshing over them 3 times a day! However ACV has lots of other benefits for example at keeping blood sugar peaks minimised and I am have all sorts of bother with hypoglycaemic episodes, that I might give it another go for a while and see how I get on.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[shaws Administrator in reply to MiniMum97]

It is difficult to drink straight (ACV) and many dilute it with water or juice.

[MiniMum97 in reply to shaws]

Hi Yes I diluted it in water.

[shaws Administrator in reply to MiniMum97]

I think it is an acquired taste and not too good if it makes you feel nauseous.

[MiniMum97 in reply to shaws]

Yes definitely an "acquired taste"! I actually thought it wasn't too bad at first but as the days went by it started making me feel really sick - not great just before you are about to eat!

[shaws Administrator in reply to MiniMum97]

Maybe sips throughout the meal or your body just doesn't agree with it.

[MiniMum97 in reply to shaws]

Yes I might try sipping and see how that goes.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to MiniMum97]

I guess you've see this website- seems very good for gut issues

scdlifestyle.com

[MiniMum97 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I've seen this before and read a book on SCD as I was thinking about it at one point. I think there's been a lot of research into health and the microbiome published since I bought the book though that I think is more promising in terms of a long-term fix but my gut can't currently cope with pre-biotic foods etc. My gut symptoms are pretty well managed on low fodmap diet but I do need to reintroduce however I can't face it frankly while my thyroid is making me feel so ill. Current plan is to get my thyroid and vitamin levels right (through supplementing) and then when I feel a bit less like I am walking through treacle everyday, I will start reintroducing foods and getting my microbiome in a better position. I have been reading the Clever Guts Diet book by Michael Mosley and implementing what I can now - I make & eat kefir, take probiotics, try and eat a wide variety of foods (as much as low fodmap will allow) and try to limit refined carbs and sugar although i do struggle with the latter when feeling exhausted all the time as i do try to keep going regardless. Baby steps!