Hashimotos?

[Michellea]

Hi by the looks of things I have Hashimotos? TPO antibody 445 (<34) TG antibody 356.3 (<115) TSH 7.2 (0.2 - 4.2) Free T4 13.8 (12 - 22) Have always taken 75mcg of Levo. GP testing me for coeliac disease. Thanks for any advice, I am not feeling too good right now.

[Nanaedake]

You won't feel well until your TSH is nearer to 1.0 or a little lower with your FT3 and FT4 near the top of the range.

You need to have your vitamin levels tested as many of us are deficient due to hypothyroidism which causes gut dysfunction and therefore poor vitamin absoption from food.

If you've had Vitamins tested then post them here. Many people find going gluten free helps even if they do not have coeliac disease.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Why has your GP not increased your dose. The aim of Levothyroxine is to take high enough dose to lower TSH to around one, FT4 to be towards to of range eg19-20.

See different GP if possible on Monday and ask for 25mcg dose increase in Levo.

With retest to check, after 6 weeks, likely need further increase

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

Plus I have seen your dire vitamins on the other post - will reply about them on there.

You have high thyroid antibodies, this is Hashimoto's. Medics tend to just call it autoimmune thyroid disease and they ignore it/don't understand it.

Hashimoto's very often affects the gut, leading to low stomach acid, malabsorption and then 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.

Yours are dire but we can get them better

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

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...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

Low stomach acid can be an issue

Lots of posts on here about how to improve with Apple cider vinegar or Betaine HCL

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Other things to help heal gut lining

Bone broth

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Probiotics

carolinasthyroidinstitute.c...

The original cause can sometimes be an infection

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

Great film definitely shows why just testing TSH is inadequate and how complex it is

drbradshook.com/understandi...

Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Will reply to vitamins now