I'll try to cut a very long story short but on a hunch that I was hypothyroid I took a blood test with Thriva back in March after a number of years of infertility.
Results were a surprise to me and came back:
TSH 0.01 range 0.27-4.3
FT4 31.67 range 12-23
T4 176.4 range 64.5 - 142
FT3 11.8 range 3.1 - 6.8
TPOAB 76.1 range 0-34
TGAB 669.5 range 0-115
GP ran a set of bloods (only know that my Free T4 was 23.6 and TSH 0.01) put me on PTU and arranged for me to see endocrinologist. Went to see endocrinologist - he examined me...found a bruit over the thyroid, said that I had fine tremors, repeated bloods changed PTU to 20mg carbimazole and ordered a scan on my thyroid. Bloods came back as written without ranges:
MCH 24.4 (low)
MCV 75 (low)
LDL cholesterol 3.5 (high)
Blood cholesterol 5.5 (high)
Non- HDL cholesterol 4.1 (high)
No abnormality Cholesterol HDL ratio, blood at 3.9
TSH 4.56 (high)
Free T4 5.2 (low)
TPOAB 83.2 (high)
Was kept on 20mg carbimazole and told to go to GP for more bloods in four weeks. In the meantime my scan came through and had a great doctor. He told me I had hashimoto's as confirmed by the scan. Two weeks later, results from GP show a TSH of 38 and he reduced the carb to 5mg and I got my follow up endo appointment. I was feeling dreadful, hair falling out in clumps, skin so dry if I touched my face, I ended up with flakes of it on my clothes, I was struggling forming sentences, tired and so cold...Endo didn't even examine me. I asked about Hashimoto's as confirmed at my scan and he dismissed it saying "that's just an inflammation of the thyroid". Keep on the carbimazole, back to the GP for bloods in four weeks. I was so frustrated having availed myself of some information in the meantime.
On an unrelated matter I went back to the GP and got a different one to the one I have been seeing. He is almost retired and now just fills in when required. I have known him 20 years. He took one look at me, looked at my notes and told me to stop the carbimazole immediately and come back for full bloods in five days. Anyway, without all of the boring TSH coming down tests in the middle to finally "normal" range (which I am making an assumption about as I didn't get my normal day after blood test call from GP three weeks ago) I decided to take a medichecks test as a result of following these boards. Anyhow....after looking at my prior results and a bit of research in between I have been supplementing 800mcg folate and 10,000 IU of Vitamin D3 along with ferrous sulphate as I have a history of anaemia and very heavy periods
Here are my Medichecks results after four weeks without medication and taking the supplements
TSH 6.88 range 0.27-4.2
FT4 11.44 range 12-22
TT4 86.3 range 59-154
FT3 5.32 range 3.1 - 6.8
TGAB 501 range 0-115
TPOAB 73.4 range 0-34
FERRITIN 16.3 range 13-150
VIT D 99 range 50-200
Folate 13.99 range 2.91-50
Vitamin B12 241 range 140-724
So my questions for all of you with greater knowledge than I are - what other supplements should I be taking? Am I doing the right things and in preparation for my next endo appointment - given the Hashimoto's diagnosis and the Antibodies what should I be pushing for medication wise? In terms of symptoms I'm up and down, lots of hair loss, craving carrots(!!). I've also developed a small wart, eyes and skin very dry and getting stys which I haven't done in the past but have had four or five in the last few months.
Apologies for the long post!!!
Written by
motojay
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That was one hell of an ignorant endo you had there! No way should he have kept you on carbimazole with such a high TSH and Hashi's antibodies! But, then, endos can be hellishly ignorant about thyroid, and the problem is, they think they know it all!
You were not hyper, in the strictest sense of the word, you were having a Hashi's 'hyper' swing, where the dying thyroid cells dumb their store of thyroid hormone into the blood, temporarily raising blood levels. The levels go down by themselves, and you become hypo. And I find it amazing that endos have no idea that this happens, and just dismiss antibodies as unimportant. They are very important.
So, what can you do to lower them. The best way, of couse, is to keep your TSH suppressed. But, this isn't easy because doctors, in their ignorance, are terrified of a suppressed TSH. As soon as they see one, they want to lower your dose.
You could try a 100% gluten-free diet. That could lower antibodies, and make you feel better. And, you could try taking selenium, which might also lower antibodies, and also help with conversion.
If you are taking vit D3, you should also be taking vit K2 - MK7. Taking D3 increases absorption of calcium from food, so K2 makes sure it goes into the bones and teeth, and doesn't build up in the soft tissues. And, also magnesium.
Your folate isn't too bad, now, so you can reduce the dose. But, your B12 could be higher. It should be at least over 500. So, try taking 1000 mcg sublingual methylcobalamin daily. And, with that, take a B complex, to keep the Bs balanced. And, if you get one with methylfolate, that will keep your folate up.
Another thing you could try, is zinc. But, don't start taking all these new supplements at the same time. Leave at least two weeks between starting each one.
Your ferritin is dire, and I'm not sure you're taking enough iron. But, I don't know much about iron, so hopefully, someone else will pop up to guide you.
Thank you grey goose - I was so frustrated! I was his last appointment of the day and he was running half an hour late and hadn't even looked at my latest bloods or scan results until I asked him questions. I went away knowing the treatment was wrong and not having a clue what to do!
I'll start with the K2 seeing as I'm already doing the D3 and introduce the others gradually. I'm due another endo appointment and more GP bloods so we'll see what they have to say then!
Always struggled with my iron levels so will increase that too.
I'm guessing I'm at the start of a long journey and these boards have taught me far more than either my GP or endo!
By now, you probably know a lot more than your GP or endo! And that's why it's such a long journey. If they knew what they were doing, we'd get better much faster.
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and (if/when taking Levo) don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after.
When you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
Hashimoto's affects the gut, very often leading to low vitamin levels.
As your vitamin D is now up to 99 you should reduce your dose. You'll need to experiment as to what you need as a maintenance dose, probably 2-3000iu. With Hashimoto's we use or need more. Well done on improving so quickly.
As you have Hashimoto's then hidden food intolerances may be causing issues, most common by far is gluten. Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms and eventually start to lower antibodies. Very very many of us here find it really helps and is essential to be gluten free
As greygoose sats, don't start everything at once. Add one thing, wait a week or fortnight, to assess reaction. Keep good records too
Endo sounds sadly even worse than normal. Now you are improving your vitamins your blood tests show you are in need of Levothyroxine. They should start you on 50mcgs.
Vitamin C can help support adrenals, they get quite a bashing with all the instability
Look at SeasideSusie vitamin posts for advice on ferritin supplements
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