Hi just wondering if GP should be addressing any of these? Thank you
TSH 33.8 (0.2 - 4.2)
FREE T4 10.3 (12 - 22)
TPO ANTIBODY 608.5 (<34)
TG ANTIBODY 269.3 (<115)
FERRITIN 22 (30 - 400)
FOLATE 2.3 (2.5 - 19.5)
VITAMIN B12 148 (190 - 900)
TOTAL VITAMIN D 25.5 (<25 SEVERE VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY. PATIENT MAY REQUIRE PHARMACOLOGICAL PREPARATIONS)
Diagnosed June 2017 and take 25mcg levothyroxine
Another inept doctor. Your TSH is far too high. Your dose is far too low. 25mcg of levothyroxine is an incremental dose. We have to read, learn and ask questions if we've to eliminate the clinical symptoms and feel well.
50mcg of levo is a starting dose with an incremental 25mcg every six weeks until TSH is 1 or below. Not somewhere in the range.
I am going to add SeasideSusie into your post as your Vitamins/minerals are dire. They should be towards the top of the range.
You have an autoimmune thyroid disease called Hashimoto's and it is the commonest form of hypothyroidim. Going gluten-free can help reduce the antibodies which attack your thyrid gland until hypo, they wax and wane. Sometimes you have too much and at others there is less.
We have to ask questions, read and learn in order to recover our health.
Even your FT4 is below range when it should be at the top but FT3 is even more important but rarely taken.
You have to ask GP to test the intrinsic factor of B12, to exclude you have Pernicious Anaemia. The recommendation is a B12 at the very top of the range to prevent alzeimers/dementia. All vitamins/minerals have to be optimal. Don't supplement with B12 until you have the intrinsic factor checked.
Blood tests always have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.
Most of us take levo when we get up with one full glass of water (tablet can stick in throat) and wait an hour before eating. Food can interfere with the uptake.
Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges as you've done so above.
Delsina Yes, your GP should be addressing all of them. Has he seen these results and what has he said?
FERRITIN 22 (30 - 400)
Ferritin should be half way through it's range. As yours is under range you should have an iron panel, full blood count and haemoglobin test to see if you have iron deficiency anaemia. If not done, ask for them.
You really need an iron infusion to bring your level up within 24-48 hours as tablets will take months. If you are prescribed iron tablets then take each one with 1000mg Vitamin C to aid absorption and help prevent constipaton. Always take iron 4 hours away from thyroid meds and two hours away from other medication and supplements as it will affect absorption.
For iron deficiency anaemia the correct amount is one ferrous fumarate two or three times daily. With your current ferritin level you probably need the maximum.
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FOLATE 2.3 (2.5 - 19.5)
VITAMIN B12 148 (190 - 900)
You are both folate and B12 deficient. Have you been tested for Pernicious Anaemia? Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency b12deficiency.info/signs-an... .
Post folate, vit B12, ferritin/iron results on the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum for further advice, and mention any signs of B12 deficiency you may have healthunlocked.com/pasoc
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TOTAL VITAMIN D 25.5 (<25 SEVERE VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY. PATIENT MAY REQUIRE PHARMACOLOGICAL PREPARATIONS)
You are 0.5 away from severe deficiency. You need loading doses of D3 as per the guidelines
NICE treatment summary for Vit D deficiency: cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d...
Treat for vitamin D deficiency if serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels are less than 30 nmol/L.
For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, the recommended treatment is based on fixed loading doses of vitamin D (up to a total of about 300,000 international units [IU]) given either as weekly or daily split doses, followed by lifelong maintenance treatment of about 800 IU a day. Higher doses of up to 2000 IU a day, occasionally up to 4000 IU a day, may be used for certain groups of people, for example those with malabsorption disorders. Several treatment regimens are available, including 50,000 IU once a week for 6 weeks (300,000 IU in total), 20,000 IU twice a week for 7 weeks (280,000 IU in total), or 4000 IU daily for 10 weeks (280,000 IU in total)."
Each Health Authority has their own guidelines but they will be very similar. Go and see your GP and demand that he treats you according to the guidelines and prescribes the loading doses. Once these have been completed you will need a reduced amount to bring your level up to what's recommended by the Vit D Council - which is 100-150nmol/L - and then you'll need a sensible maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/
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TSH 33.8 (0.2 - 4.2)
FREE T4 10.3 (12 - 22)
Are these the results you were diagnosed with and prescribed 25mcg Levo? If so unless you are elderly, frail, have a heart condition or are a child then you could have been started on more.
You need regular retests/increases of 25mcg Levo until your symptoms abate and you feel well. This should take place every 6 weeks.
The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo only.
When having thyroid tests, always book the earliest appointment of the day, fast overnight (water allowed) and leave off Levo for 24 hours. This gives the highest possible TSH which is needed when looking for an increase or to avoid a reduction. It also gives continuity of conditions so that you can accurate compare results in future.
Take Levo on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after food, with a glass of water only. Keep supplements and other medication away from Levo by at least two hours, some need four hours.
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TPO ANTIBODY 608.5 (<34)
TG ANTIBODY 269.3 (<115)
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. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.
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...
Hi these are the results I was diagnosed with. Thanks for reply and will go to the other site now.
Yes.
Diagnosed June? What was your diagnosis - Hashimoto's Autoimmune Thyroiditis & Hypothyroidism? Are these your second blood tests or third ? What date where these bloods done.
Is there a reasons you were started on such a low dose of Levothyroxine and not the 50mcg dose?
Who diagnosed you - Endocrinologist or GP and have you had any other investigations?
Were you presribed anything else other than the Levothyroxine?
Do you have Arthritis?
Did GP do these tests or Endo or are they private tests. Everything needs addressing urgently as already covered.
I would ask GP to arrange urgent test for Pernicious Anemia or URGENT referal to Haematology.
X
Hi diagnosed June 2017 with hypothyroidism and they are my first blood tests. These tests were done in June 2017 and I was started on such a low dose of Levothyroxine because of my low weight. I was diagnosed by my GP. I don't have arthritis but I get problems in the joints in my back, they lock up and stop me from moving. These were all done by GP.
Can you see a different GP at the practice asap?
Yes there is another one I can see
Good!
Thyroid results 
Blood results
New medichecks blood results 
Test results
