Antibodies attacking thyroid!

[Jaye4]

My thyroid is being attacked by my antibodies,my thyroid is constantly tight and hard to swallow,recently been put on 50mg of thyroxine but no improvement yet,is anyone else having these problems?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How long since you started 50mcgs?

Levothyroxine is not a quick fix, it takes at least a week to ten days for dose to begin to trickle in, and at least 6 weeks for body to adjust, bit by bit.

You should have blood rechecked after 6-8 weeks to see how you are getting on. Dose is increased in 25mcg steps, always waiting 6 weeks minimum and retesting each time

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, this gives highest TSH and most consistent results

What was the thyroid results before you started on this dose?

Hashimoto's very often affects the gut, leading to low stomach acid, low vitamin levels and leaky gut.

Low vitamins that affect thyroid are vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. When they are too low they stop Thyroid hormones working.

Have these been tested yet?

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

[Jaye4 in reply to SlowDragon]

Helli 😊my my antibodies test was 163-my tsh level was 25.59 and t4 5.6?😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jaye4]

Was this result before you started on Levo?

You should be retested after 6-8 weeks maximum

You have Hashimoto's, so definitely get vitamins checked

Gluten free diet helps reduce symptoms for very many.

Also avoid all soya including soya lecithin if possible

Changing to flouride free toothpaste

Check if you local water supply is fluoridated, if it is consider bottled water

[Jaye4 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes this was before,been in letho for 5 weeks just waiting on blood results,its the cinstant fullness for months in chest n thyroid that drives me mad! Just hope the lethroxyne helps soon x

[Rmichelle in reply to Jaye4]

It will take a while i was told thyroid probs are not a quick fix.there is light at the end of the tunnel, still waiting for it jaye4.ha. we will get there!!😨

[Jaye4 in reply to Rmichelle]

I do hope so hun xx

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jaye4]

When you get results put them in a new post, members will advise

[Jaye4 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok ty x

[Jaye4 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi slowdragon i now have my vitamin results-b12 302,serum folate 4.8,serum c protein level-1,ferritin -8,vitamin d-56,creatinine-45,can you tell me if ok plz?x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jaye4]

Can you add the ranges.

Each lab has different ranges.

These look low....but can't be sure till you add ranges

[Jaye4 in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok -b12-302 range is 130.00 -800 and setum folate is 4.8 and range is 4.00-20.00 - vit d is 56 and range is 30.00-300.00- lymphocyte is 1.4 and range is 1.50-4.0010 x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jaye4]

OK

Going to add SeasideSusie in on this

B12 302 (130-800)

Folate 4.8 (4.0-20)

Vitamin D 56 (30-300)

Ferritin 8 No range?

What supplements are you taking if any?

You should be due retest on Thyroid very soon. How long since you started 50mcgs?

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH and most consistent results

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to SlowDragon]

Jaye4

B12 302 (130-800)

Folate 4.8 (4.0-20)

B12 and folate work together, Folate is very low and B12 is too low. An extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok: "We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550". "For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

I have read (but not researched so don't have links) that BCSH, UKNEQAS and NICE guidelines recommend:

"In the presence of discordance between test results and strong clinical features of deficiency, treatment should not be delayed to avoid neurological impairment."

Do you have any signs of B12 deficiency - check here b12deficiency.info/signs-an... If so then please post on the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum for further advice healthunlocked.com/pasoc If not then you need to raise your level and you can do that with sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges 5000mcg to start, finish the bottle then change to 1000mcg as a maintenance dose.

When taking B12 we need a B Complex to balance all the B vitamins. A good one with 400mcg methylfolate will help raise your folate level, eg Thorne Basic B.

**

Vitamin D 56 (30-300)

The Vit D Council recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L so you need to increase yours. As you have Hashi's you'll better absorb an oral spray such as BetterYou which comes in 3000iu and 1000iu. I would start with 6000iu daily for 3 months then retest. When you've reached the recommended level then you'll need a 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/

There are important cofactors needed when taking D3

vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.

Magnesium helps D3 to work and comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

Check out the other cofactors too.

**

Ferritin 8 No range?

For thyroid hormone to work (that's our own as well as replacement hormone) ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range.

The ranges we generally see here are something like 13-150 or 30-400, I imagine you are below range so you need to speak to your GP. Ask for an iron panel and full blood count as you may have iron deficiency anaemia (low ferritin often points to that).

If you are below range then ask for an iron infusion, but you may only be prescribed tablets which will take months to raise your level whereas an infusion will raise your level within 24-48 hours. If prescribed 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.

[Jaye4 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi slowdragon i still dint feel right,had blood test done and they are now 2.5 tsh,which apparently is right,im on 50mg levo as explained before,i had a neck and thyroid scan 3 minths ago which showed inflammation and thats it,my antibodies test was 169,my thyroid feels like its swollen bad! Been like it most of year so i know its not the levo,asbeen on it 5 weeks,my only release is when im eating but after that its back to this horrible feeling and hard to swallow!im fed up!

[Rmichelle]

Hi there, i have hashimotos but hyperthyroid, i also have the same horrible symptons of not being able to swallow properly food or water and my neck and throat are tight along with breathlessness. Since being on carbimazole it has eased slightly now after 9 weeks of taking it as its not a quick fix- none of these meds are whether you are hypo or hyper and when you have a auto immune disease its double trouble. I have a thyroid scan in 2 weeks to see whats going on in there, nodules etc. Take care.☺

[Jaye4 in reply to Rmichelle]

Its horrible isnt it,my scan just showed inflammation no nodules,its antibodies attacking it! For months ive lives with like a fullness in my thyroid and chest ,its stops me from living my life normal do u have this x

[Rmichelle in reply to Jaye4]

Yes i have been off work, its my 3rd month off as i cant do my normal duties, there has been slight improvement whilst taking carbi but still not feeling my old self, i hate that tight feeling in the chest and neck and throat like you cant breath and ive a couple of visits to hospital. But ive learnt to deal with it better and keep resting and on days when i feel quite good i go out and about but i know what you mean by feeling you cant live your life the same as before i too feel the same its been real tough and used to feel very upset, especially the summer hols when have not been able to go out and about to theme parks and holidays with my 12 year old daughter and hubby but i try to dwell on it too much and concentrate on getting better. I will get there.xxx

[Jaye4 in reply to Rmichelle]

Wow you sound just like me im sorry youre going through it,as i know how horrific it is ,its been 8 months for me and only been on thyroxine for 5 weeks 50mg,i manage it best i can xxx

[Rmichelle in reply to Jaye4]

Yes ii starting feeling poorly back in may but not diagnosed till end of july its been rubbish but yes you have to get on with it. Im 47 and feel like 77 some days but i feel like i took my health for granted before but now its the most precious thing ever.x

[Jaye4 in reply to Rmichelle]

Im 41 and like you i used to take life for granted,its so precious,just wish this choking feeling would go away,its nice to talk to others about it who has it xx

[Rmichelle in reply to Jaye4]

My god yes my choking as eased slightly and get it now and then but not as bad but at its worst i choked on water it was dire, swallowing tablets was a nightmare as they got stuck and then i would have a panic attack, never suffered with those either before being hyper. You will find many people on this site who are the same.x

[Traceycrete in reply to Jaye4]

Hi jaye4 hope you don’t mind me messaging, but I’ve just come across your mess about the choking feeling you had and tightness in the throat. I am under active and taking 75mg levo which up till last week was on 50mg. Swallowing is hard and woke up choking the other day, couldn’t breathe for like 15 secs. Frightening. Thyroid doesn’t look swollen like a goitre would but really doesn’t feel right. Did you get a scan done at all to check for nodules ? If so how easy was it. This thyroid seems to be taking over my life these days. Just want my health back. Any info would be great thankyou.

[Ari3 in reply to Traceycrete]

Where do you get scans as my gp doesn’t do thyroid scans I think.Do you do it privately or as gp?

[Jaye4 in reply to Rmichelle]

Hi hun how u feeling now x

[Rmichelle in reply to Jaye4]

Hi there nice to hear from you- and how are you. I am feeling rough again as i have started another titration dose of carbi 5mgs got heart palps back, breathlessness, trembling all again, feel whacked, i see endo again in 2 weeks. I also had thyroid scan done 3 weeks ago and have got thyroid nodules and thickening of the isthmus in keeping of hashis but dont know what endo is doing about that yet if anything.

Enough about me how is the tight neck and throat? I still get that occassionally still.xx

[Jaye4 in reply to Rmichelle]

I still got it hun a fullness in my thyroid ,on 50mg of thyroxyne ,but generally dint feel great! Paying private to see a thyroid specialist on monday for advice i let u know,so hope u feel better soin xx

[Rmichelle in reply to Jaye4]

Ooh yes do let me know what you think, dont blame you spending your pennies for private their is so much time wasted hanging around for nhs appointments shen all we want to do is get better. Good luck and i hope you like your choice made in endo and get answers. X😊

[Rmichelle in reply to Rmichelle]

Also jay4, Heloise suggested gluten free maybe thats something you could try, alot of people adopt this strict food regime as it has benefits if you have hashis, i am also cealiac so have to be gluten free as its not a choice for me.x

[Jaye4 in reply to Rmichelle]

Does it calm down the feeling in yr throat?x

[Rmichelle in reply to Jaye4]

Too early to say really but i know what you mean some days i get a sort of inflammed hotness in there, like a burn. Dont know if yours is the same. You have only been on your meds fir 5 weeks also, so perhaps not enough time yet, ive been on mine for 9 weeks.x

[Jaye4 in reply to Rmichelle]

Ive certainly changed as a person this year,just wish i was well again,feel for u hun xx

[Rmichelle in reply to Jaye4]

Thankyou, i feel for you too, its rubbish but we get a lot of support from people here and we realise we are not the only ones. Thyroud patients are very poorly managed and treated. X

[Rmichelle in reply to Jaye4]

Take care and keep in touch.xx

[Jaye4 in reply to Rmichelle]

Will do hun xx

[Jaye4 in reply to Rmichelle]

Let us know how it goes hun good luck x

[Heloise]

Jaye, Thyroid tissue has some of the same structure as gluten. You immune system has been riled up because of toxins like fluoride or bromide and gluten is becoming an instigator to the immune system as well. There is a lot of science behind the issue. I posted something about it yesterday and am convinced it has to be addressed. It's also implicated in other autoimmune diseases like Alzheimer's.

[Gemz123]

My antibodies and tsh level is so bad im now been look at by hospital specialist while on thyroxibe so make sure they so regular blood test because they didnt with me and ive ended up in this situation x

[Jaye4]

Do u feel yours in yr neck hun?i constantly feel mine inflammed x

[Bobbing]

I never made that connection-figured it was going to be lung cancer! Yes indeed they came together. My GP only believes in TSH and psychiatrist put me on 25 mcg, then 50 mcg of thyroxine. He is not familiar with T3 prescriptions and my temperature is still in the 96's.