Hi All,
I'm looking to find a list of Endos/Thyroid specialists in London that are open to looking at my symptoms not just blood tests. I have high antibodies but my thyroid is seemingly functioning normally even though I feel like the walking dead and am struggling to function.
I am baffled at the response by my GP that I should be re-tested every few months until my thyroid stops functioning to be given medication.
Anybody have any recommendations?
i would also like a recommendation, I posted before but got no replies. For me specifically nhs endo. It must be by private message.
Could you ask your doc for a trial of thyroxine? My GP was willing to give it to me when I was borderline with blood tests10 years ago. She's retired now sadly, always want to hang onto a good doc!
So if your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also more commonly known by medics here in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease). About 90% of hypothyroidism in UK is due to Hashimoto's.
As you have found, medics tend to ignore raised antibodies
But Hashimoto's very often affects the gut, leading to low stomach acid, low vitamin levels and leaky gut. (Or leaky gut causes Hashimoto's)
Low vitamins that affect thyroid are vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Important to test these. If they are too low they stop Thyroid hormones working. Have these been tested, if not ask that they are. Always get actual results and ranges.
Low vitamins can really affect us. Again medics often don't test or consider this
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. Very, very many of us here find it really helps and can slowly lower antibodies.
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...
chriskresser.com/why-changi...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
Vitamin d test
betteryou.com/vitamin-d-tes...
If you can't get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting to get highest TSH
Email Louise at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists
Louise.roberts@thyroiduk.org.uk
Thanks for this response and suggestions!
I went to see a nutritionist in July who did electro-dermal testing and I was found to be intolerant to gluten and dairy amongst other things. I've cut all out and it's been 3 months but there is no change to my symptoms, literally none.
She also found me to deficient of B12 and potassium and I've been taking B12 supplements, gut flora/acid tabs and selenium but again with no change to my symptoms. In fact, I've just been feeling worse.
I shall definitely get in touch with Louise, I have an app with an Endo in a couple weeks and have insisted on a thyroid scan and extensive blood tests but I'm worried I'm going to get the same response re meds because my thyroid is in the 'normal' range.
Beyond the holistic treatment which I'm already taking, what are my options if the new tests still come up with 'normal' function. Do people treat Hashimotos?
I would suspect your TSH may have increased if you are correcting vitamin deficiencies
What about vitamin D, folate and ferritin levels.
What were your "normal" thyroid test results last time? Always get actual results and ranges. So often medics say fine when it's anything but
Important to recheck antibodies too - see if changes in diet are helping lower antibodies. They may not until your are on Thyroid replacement and TSH brought down to low in range
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
From this link
Subclinical hypothyroidism (where there are elevated TSH levels, but normal FT4 levels, possibly with symptoms) has been found in approximately 4% to 8% of the general population but in approximately 15% to 18% of women over 60 years of age.
Subclinical hypothyroidism can progress to overt hypothyroidism (full hypothyroidism with symptoms) especially if there are thyroid antibodies present.
If thyroid antibodies are found, then you may have Hashimoto's disease. If there are thyroid antibodies but the other thyroid tests are normal, there is evidence that treatment will stop full blown hypothyroidism from occurring.
Dr A Toft, consultant physician and endocrinologist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, has recently written in Pulse Magazine, "The combination of a normal serum T4 and raised serum TSH is known as subclinical hypothyroidism. If measured, serum T3 will also be normal. Repeat the thyroid function tests in two or three months in case the abnormality represents a resolving thyroiditis.2 But if it persists then antibodies to thyroid peroxidase should be measured.
If these are positive – indicative of underlying autoimmune thyroid disease – the patient should be considered to have the mildest form of hypothyroidism.
In the absence of symptoms some would simply recommend annual thyroid function tests until serum TSH is over 10mU/l or symptoms such as tiredness and weight gain develop. But a more pragmatic approach is to recognise that the thyroid failure is likely to become worse and try to nip things in the bud rather than risk loss to follow-up."
The results I got were as per below, I didn't get tested for vitamin D, folate and ferritin levels.
TOTAL THYROXINE(T4): 93 (59 - 154)
THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE: 1.37 (0.27 - 4.2)
FREE THYROXINE: 16.7 (12.0 - 22.0)
FREE T3: 4.1 (3.1 - 6.8)
Thyroglobulin Antibody: 369.1 (0 - 115)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies: 17.5 (0 - 34)
Emily_Nukem,
NHS won't diagnose hypothyroidism until TSH is over range or FT4 is below range and it is unlikely a private GP or endo will diagnose hypothyroidism while TSH is <3.0.
Your thyroid levels are euthyroid (normal) but thyroglobulin antibodies are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). UK doctors are quite dismissive about Hashimoto's and mine insisted my symptoms were non-thyroidal because I was euthyroid.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/resear...
medscape.com/viewarticle/76...
There is no cure/treatment for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it eventually causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
You might find supplementing 200mcg selenium to be helpful in supporting thyroid function.
NHS also only diagnose if TPO antibodies are high. I think gluten free only lowers TPO antibodies (but others might know if TG Ab are affected too)
High TG antibodies can be due to number of other things eg Chronic urticaria
emedicine.medscape.com/arti...
Definitely get vitamin D, folate and ferritin checked
You might consider a DIO2 gene test if symptoms still remain after correcting all ow vitamins
Worried about blood test results
private endos in London / Bristol willing to prescribe NDT and T3
Iron blood test - definitive list
New Blood test results
Endo blood test codes
